Not long ago (I guess about a week ago, considering that’s when the DVDs hit) Stephan said to me, “Why don’t you do a review of the Season 7 DVD releases?” I agreed as we both thought it would be something I could have loads of fun with. So here we are, typing away a text review. Something I rarely (read: never) do, since I started doing video reviews of bad movies. But this felt like a good chance to stretch my verbal muscles. So onto the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles season seven’s four DVD slices.
Let’s start with the packaging, as you have to deal with it to get to the disks themselves anyway. For some weird reason, unknown to even myself, I have this weird habit of trying to remove the DVD top label and if successful, taking that sticker and placing it on the inside of the plastic DVD case. Recently I’ve noticed, as video manager at our local grocery store, some DVD companies have gone to an eco-friendly case that uses 20% less plastic and exposes 90% more of your disk to the elements. You see, the plastic case itself has a giant recyclable symbol on the front and large “pie piece” holes under the disk itself.
This means the only thing protecting the bottom of the disk from damage if the thin, clear, plastic, window and the paper DVD slip page. The lack of extra plastic makes the case ultra flimsy and squishy. Not only that, but the recyclable symbol is a hindrance to my OCD tick. That said, with the TMNT DVDs themselves, they seem like a waste. Hear me out on this. The DVD’s come cased in the new 20% less plastic DVD cases, BUT that case is further encased in a cardboard box, with a cardboard insert to support a small plastic action figure, which to some people just wanting the DVDs (not myself, they’re sooo cute.), is in itself a further waste of plastic. In essence, the waste of the cardboard and the figures plastic has to overreach any benefits the eco-friendly cases bring to the table. Oh well. The power is YOURS!!
Now onto the DVDs themselves. Leo and Mikey’s slices are “meh”. They hold the oft disliked European Vacation episodes, which were meant to air much earlier than season 7. These episodes range from the afore mentioned “meh” to “oh, my God, what is this?” My biggest problem with the European Vacation episodes is the whole premise of it. Not only are the Turtles touring Europe, but April (and sometimes Irma and Vernon) are also traipsing across the “old country.” If that weren’t bad enough, for some reason Shredder and Krang’s plans land them right in the same European country as the Turtles. You’d think they’d realize the Turtles were out of New York and finally “take over the City.” But, no. They have to go where the Turtles are, or there’s no show. One thing about this whole conceit got me in the 1st two episodes on the Leonardo slice. In the introduction episode to the vacation arc (Tower of Power), Shredder encounters the Turtles in Paris, but in the very next episode (Rust Never Sleeps), he is shocked to learn the Turtles are in Paris. You just saw them in Paris, but now you’re suffering from amnesia, Tin Grin? There is one other thing to say before jumping to the Donatello and Raphael slices and that is that Rob Paulsen, one of my all-time favorite voice actors, is AWOL as the voice of Raphael for the entire European trek, and we are treated to Hal Rayle’s Rob Paulsen impression. It’s better than it was in Ninja Sword to Nowhere but it’s just not the same. James Avery is also missing in all but one episode as Shredder, replaced by the incomparable Jim Cummings, and Barry Gordon misses one episode and is replaced by Greg Berg as always. (Sorry, the voice actors are why I love the Original Turtle Animated Series.)
Moving now to the Donatello and Raphael slices. They feature the better episodes of the “season” and also see the return of David Wise as lead writer. The stories are slightly darker and more action packed, and also very, very well written. Some of my personal favorite episodes of the series are on these disks including The Legend of Koji, Night of the Dark Turtle, Night of the Rogues, and Dirk Savage: Mutant Hunter. These stories kept the humor and wit of the previous seasons, but also brought back the action of the first two. It’s sad that this paragraph is so much shorter than the last, since these two disks feature such great episodes, but maybe it’s because I tend to be critical, and I can’t be critical of these episodes. The only gripe I could have is that again James Avery is gone (thanks Fresh Prince) and is this time replaced by Michelangelo voice actor Townsend Coleman. Now, I by no means mean any disrespect to Townsend, but I prefer James Avery as Shredder, and if not him Jim Cummings did a stellar job as Shredder. Often when I hear Townsend as Shredder, I hear the Rat King just pitched a hair lower. Not that that’s bad, but there are other actors I prefer.
I guess if this is going to be a true DVD review we must discuss the bonus features. Each disk “shell-abrates” (gah, I loathe that pun) an aspect of the TMNT’s 25 years: Leo’s slice has a feature on the toys, Mike’s has new interviews with the creators, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, Don’s slice talks about the TV show’s success, and Raph’s disk has interviews with 3 die-hard fans, one of whom is such a freak he has turtle tats. What a spaz. (Love you, Stephan. In that totally plutonic Leo & Raph in the first movie after Raph recovers from his Foot beating kinda way) The content isn’t that great. They seem rather thrown together and rushed, but it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye, right? As a fan of the series cast, I hoped to find the Donatello Slice’s feature the most interesting, but they mainly interviewed David Wise, which was cool, but not as cool as interviews with Barry, Cam, Townsend, Pat, Renae, and of course Rob. (Man, I have an unhealthy man-crush on that man, but he was a huge part of my childhood, and for that I’m thankful.) Of the features I found myself liking the fan segment the best, probably because I “know” the 3 fans featured, and they seem cool. It was also nice to see Michelle Ivey not made to look like a total loon, and I’m sure she appreciated it too. Though that tattooed guy…wack-o city. 😀
So there it is, my review of the TMNT Season 7 slices. All in all I’m glad I picked these up. (Ok, so even if the episodes were mind numbingly moronic (I got a plug in, hooray!) I’d have still bought them…I LIKE TURTLES!) The first two disks were a little iffy, but the later two more than make up for it. So Turtle fans, get them…get them while you can. Ok, at least get the Donnie and Raphie slices. They’re the ones that are worth your $9.96 + tax at your local Wal*Mart.
Great work Jest.
Thanks boss.
Pretty stellar review, sir. I almost forgot I bought these until I read this.