Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)

The turtles find themselves transported back in time to ancient Japan.

Director:

Stuart Gillard

Writers:

Kevin Eastman (based on characters created by), Peter Laird (based on characters created by)

Stars:

Elias Koteas, Paige Turco, Stuart Wilson

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elias Koteas	...	Casey Jones / Whit
Paige Turco	...	April O'Neil
Stuart Wilson	...	Walker
Sab Shimono	...	Lord Norinaga
Vivian Wu	...	Mitsu
Mark Caso	...	Leonardo
Matt Hill	...	Raphael
Jim Raposa	...	Donatello
David Fraser	...	Michaelangelo
James Murray	...	Splinter
Eidan Hanzei	...	Kenshin (as Henry Hayashi)
John Aylward	...	Niles
Mak Takano	...	Benkei - Honor Guard #1
Steve Akahoshi	...	Honor Guard #2 (as Steven Getson Akahoshi)
Kent Kim	...	Honor Guard #3

Storyline

When a magic scepter accidentally transports April back through time to 17th Century Japan, the boys take-off in hot pursuit, cowabungling their way out of the sewers right into Samurai-O-Rama! Now they must battle the evil Lord Norinaga to reclaim the magic scepter that will bring them back below the subways of New York City.

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Plot Keywords:

raphael character | splinter character | michelangelo character | donatello character | leonardo character | 

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Taglines:

They're Back in Time . . . for Their NEWEST MOVIE Adventure!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for swashbuckling violence and mild language

Details

Country:

USA Hong Kong

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Sacred Scroll of Death

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$42,660,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Harvest Company, Clearwater Holdings

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was originally going to be followed by a fourth installment in the franchise "TMNT: The Next Mutation". In this concept the Ooze that transformed the Turtles and Splinter was still in their bodies causing a much more drastic second mutation. Another plan that was discussed was to add a fifth turtle named Kirby (named after comic artist Jack Kirby). However, the project got stuck in development and plans for a fourth theatrical live action movie was nixed. The concept of having the Turtles mutate into creatures did see the light of day in the 'New Mutation' saga of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) cartoon. Later the live action "Next Mutation" installment moved to television in a live-action series produced by Saban titled, Saban's Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997). This series delivered on the promise of a fifth turtle, but changed it to a female turtle named Venus Di Milo.

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Goofs

Walker never grabs the scepter after he rescues his bird, a sack just appears over his shoulder holding it.

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Quotes

Donatello: You were expecting maybe the Addams Family?

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Alternate Versions

The depiction of chainsticks on screen was rarely allowed in the UK, so the movie was heavily cut or reframed to remove every last trace of them. In total 7 secs were removed from the reframed print with most of the edits made to the opening scene where Michaelangelo practices with the nunchakus and hits a punching ball (this was replaced with images of the turtles dancing). The cuts were fully waived in 2002 for the DVD.

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Connections

Referenced in The Angry Video Game Nerd: Fester's Quest (2007)

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Soundtracks

Can't Stop Rockin'
Performed by ZZ Top
Words and Music by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By arrangement with Warner Special Products
© 1985 Hamstein Music Company (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission. International Copyright Secured.

User Reviews

I love it - An underrated solid action fun sequel from my childhood!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in my opinion it is a underrated solid good sequel to the original flick. Everyone hates this film and going for the second film. This one get's the crap for it and the second one gets the praised. This film was actually the first film in the trilogy that I have watched. As child I wanted so badly to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the original movie it was my biggest childhood wish, I heard that Splinter throw Shredder off the roof, I didn't know in which movie that was, so my mom bought me Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III on VHS in 1993, when this movie come out. The VHS sadly had a terrible picture quality and awful sound but even with all that I still liked the film not seeing the first two films. But after watching the first two films, they both become my favorite films, but I hated this one because there was no Shredder, Rocksteady, Bebop, Foot clan or Krang in this movie, that was than. I was really surprised by this film. They don't use jokes in here, they try too, but they aren't cartoonish like are in the second one. They actually use weapons and swords, nunchakus, not their fists they are Ninja Turtles so they are using weapons which I love that. The only thing that hurt the film are the costumes they aren't Jim Henson's Creature Shop, they are more cheap costumes that were provided by Effects Company the animatronics, that is a minor flaw.

Plot: The four turtles travel back in time to the days of the legendary and deadly samurai in ancient Japan, where they train to perfect the art of becoming one. The turtles also assist a small village in an uprising.

It is my childhood film. I love that the story is original, no one brings back the characters who died back again. Elias Koteas reprise his role back as Casey Jones and he also plays another character Whit a double spy by Walker's army. There is less humor in this film and it is more serious. Turtles are using there weapons. Leonardo is a bad ass. Fighting Japanese Samurai was awesome. I love that Turtles are back in the time in ancient old Japan, where the air was more cleaner, than it is today. I love Stuart Wilson as the villain Walker. A year later he was another villain in Lethal Weapon 3.

Seriously I don't see the hate for this film I love it a lot! I love that Elias Koteas plays two double roles, one as Casey Jones and the second one as Whit. Again a lot of people are complaining because Casey Jones doesn't do anything in the film, just sit around, really? Seriously? Haven't you watched the movie? Whit (Elias Koteas) kills Waalker on the end of the film, when he fires a fire ball on Walker, while he try's to escape. Leonardo defeats Lord Norinaga (Sab Shimono) in a sword fight, even tough the scene was hilarious I still have enjoy it. I love the music score and song Tarzan Boy by Baltimora and of course Rockin' Over The Beat by Technotronic. Paige Turco did outstanding performance as April O'Neil much better than she did in The secret of the Ooze. I grew up with this movie as a child a lot, I have even had Michelangelo and Walker's toy's, I Think I even had a Raphael figure I am not sure.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is a 1993 American action comedy film based on the comic book characters the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It is the second sequel to the 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film.

Overall: I love this movie it get's 6 by me, I love Ninja Turtles in here, I love how Michelangelo saves a child from a flammable house and Leonardo saves him from dying, by giving him a mouth to mouth and he saves him. So why would I hate this film? when the effects are good and the acting is solid. Turtles saved and they prevented the war, they help people out. I think this film for me personally is better than second one and the reboot. I love this film to death and it is my second favorite film of the three.