The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been capturing the admiration of fans for 35-plus years and has shown no signs of stopping. Making their debuts in the black and white pages of a comic book, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, & Michelangelo have worked together to take down their foes using the martial arts that they learned from their father, Master Splinter.

While the turtle brothers have since been adapted countless times on film and television, both in live-action and in animation, we will be looking back at their foray into live-action film with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Led by Steve Baron, this adaptation would see the brothers taking on the Foot Clan in the streets of New York City. This movie has aged well in the time since its release, and we are looking back at why families should add this to their movie-night rotation.

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Fun For Children

     New Line Cinema

While the original comics featured graphic violence, the franchise would pivot towards family-friendly content over time. Kids enjoy the different personalities that the turtles display, often identifying with at least one of the central characters. Whether it be the determination of Leonardo, the intelligence of Donatello, the anger of Raphael, or the humor of Michaelangelo, kids everywhere always had a favorite brother.

The film also debuted in the middle of the original animated series’ run, leading many children to ask their parents to take them to the theater to see their favorite ninja brothers come to life. Getting to see April O’Neil, Master Splinter, Casey Jones, and even Shredder come to life was also an awe-inspiring feat.

Nostalgic for Adults

The kids that saw the film when it first came out now have children of their own. With the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise still going strong, parents may decide they’d like to show their children the series’ roots. When these parents turn on the film, they’ll be taken back to the ’90s with the old-school cinematography and the gritty looks of New York City.

Given that modern adaptations of the Turtles have had significant changes, such as Raphael losing his sai in favor of tonfas, and Michelangelo using a yo-yo weapon instead of his classic nunchaku, parents will be happy to see the turtles being shown as they were initially intended. While some characters aren’t featured in the original film, such as Bebop & Rocksteady, or Shredder’s granddaughter, Karai, there are original characters introduced that help to be the gateway for any new fans, such as the children these families would be introducing the film to.

Family Values

An important aspect of films that modern-day families are mindful of is that there is a positive message imbibed within. While some will be turned off by the violence featured throughout the film, most will be happy to see that Master Splinter generally asks his sons not to go seeking trouble and instead only use their martial arts to defend themselves and others. Another important aspect that is taught throughout the film is teamwork, as when faced with heavy opposition, the turtles always have a better chance at victory when they work together.

The film isn’t all action, with there being time devoted to the turtles growing closer as a family and bonding as they spend time together on April’s farm. Even Raphael and Leonardo were able to set their differences aside after fearing they may have lost one another due to the injuries they had suffered at the hands of Shredder. CommonSenseMedia has the recommended age set to 8 years or older, with the most significant concern for parents being the heavy amounts of merchandise their children will want after watching. Financial considerations aside, with plenty of examples of growth and maturity featured throughout the film, there are essential values that families can instill using key moments from this film.

An Introduction to Martial Arts

While some parents don’t agree with violence in children’s media, some are open-minded to the idea that their children can learn self-defense and become more active by practicing martial arts, similar to how the turtles had been raised. While you won’t see many children wielding katanas and sai, children may be inspired by seeing their favorite heroes standing up to their opponents.

When looking at reality, there are many families that come together by sharing a love for martial arts, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may be an easy way to start a discussion with children on the essential values of martial arts, such as self-defense, self-control, confidence, and in some cases a healthy competitive spirit. Seeing the turtles stand up for their friends and protecting one another even during the midst of an ambush helps paint a positive image that while they may be mutants, they still use practical means of self-defense that anyone can learn.