Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Synopsis
“The Turtles Are Back… In Time.”

What do you do with four ninja-fighting, pizza-loving, surfer-talking teenage turtles when their arch-enemy has already been killed twice? Send them back in time to feudal Japan, naturally. And that’s exactly what the makers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III did with Michaelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo, those green-shelled heroes of TV, movies, video games and more.

In this third Ninja Turtles film, reporter pal April O’Neil disappears right in front of the boys’ eyes, replaced by 17th-century Japanese heir to the throne Prince Kenshin. The confused young nobleman was trying to recruit four warriors from the future to help battle his father, the cruel Lord Norinaga. Kenshin has fallen in love with peasant rebel leader Mitsu, and the only way to win her love is to overthrow his father. Using a magical scepter, Kenshin made a time grab for the turtles, but now April is stuck in feudal Japan instead.

Again using the scepter’s magic, the turtles head back for a rescue mission, replaced in 1993 by four Honor Guards from Kenshin’s time. While the five feudal Japanese men learn the subtle pleasures of television and pizza, the Ninja Turtles become heroes to the masses in 1603. Lord Norinaga hooks up with English trader Captain Walker, who outfits the despot’s forces with gunpowder and muskets. Armed only with their ninja weapons, the turtles storm the imperial fortress, setting up the long-awaited battle royale.

It wasn’t quite new territory for the “heroes in a half shell”—1991’s arcade hit “Turtles in Time” had taken the amphibious foursome to several spots in history—but it was a change of pace from the first two films’ Shredder-fueled antics. As always, the boys responded with good-natured wisecracks and plenty of chop-socky action.

A much more modest hit than the earlier movies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles still brought in adoring young fans. The cartoon still had plenty of juice, running on CBS’ Saturday morning schedule for another three seasons, but it was the last Ninja Turtles theatrical adventure to date.

Release History 1990 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1991 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1993 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Sub Categories live-action
sci-fi/fantasy
action/adventure
comedy

Studio Golden Harvest Productions, New Line

Cast

Casey Jones		Elias Koteas
Whit Whitley		Elias Koteas
April O'Neil		Paige Turco
Captain Dirk Walker		Stuart Wilson
Lord Norinaga		Sab Shimono
Mitsu		Vivian Wu
Leonardo		Mark Caso
Raphael		Matt Hill
Donatello		Jim Raposa
Michaelangelo		David Fraser
Splinter		James Murray
Prince Kenshin		Henry Hayashi
Niles		John Aylward
Benkei (Honor Guard #1)		Mak Takano
Honor Guard #2		Steven Getson Akahoshi
Honor Guard #3		Kent Kim
Honor Guard #4		Ken Kensei
Yoshi		Travis A. Moon
Grandfather		Tad Horino
Jailer		Glen Chin
Young Priest		Koichi Sakamoto
Sam		Tracy Patrick Conklin
Dave		Edmund Stone
Murata		Jeff Kawasugi
Rider		Phil Chong
Blacksmith		Yeon Kim
Michaelangelo (voice)		Robbie Rist
Leonardo (voice)		Brian Tochi
Raphael (voice)		Tim Kelleher
Donatello (voice)		Corey Feldman