Mostly.
Flash forward to one year later. The franchise is coming under heavy fire from parental groups for its violence. The most notable issue being Michaelangelo's nunchucks, which ended up being removed entirely from the cartoon. This would play a massive issue when it came to the obvious sequel for the film, which is today's choice for quick review, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.
It's not too long since the defeat of the Foot Clan and the literal crushing of the Shredder. However it's long enough for April O'Neil to transform from Judith Hoag to Paige Turco. The turtles and Splinter are still living with her while trying to find their new home, while also fighting thugs with everything but the weapons strapped on their back. Also, no Casey Jones. Boo. Instead we get some kid named Keno. I don't care for Keno.
However things change when it turns out the Shredder is still alive and reforms what's left of the Foot to raid the TGRI laboratory, which is where the ooze that mutated the turtles and Spinter is located. The turtles learn of the ooze as well, and try to get it back first. However, Shredder lucks out, and kidnaps the lead scientist (Played by David Warner) to help him create two mutant warriors of his own. And they are of course, not Bebop and Rocksteady, but Tokka and Rahzar.
So, it's a battle between the Ninja Turtles and Shredder's baby mutants, which leads to far less action, more corny one-liners, and what will no doubt always be a relevant moment, a fight in the middle of a Vanilla Ice concert.
I don't know why this one was my favorite as a kid, because this one is definitely not as good to come back to. It has its moments, and is far better structured a movie over the third film. The puppetry has improved over the last one, albeit the turtles have a more cutesy, and far less gruff look that they did in the first. This would sadly be the last film work of Jim Henson before his passing, and the film is dedicated to his memory.
The first movie knew how to be gritty and dark, while still having those moments that were fun for kids. On this occasion, it's too much focus on being kid friendly that really hurts the film. They never use their weapons, and without their weapons, they lose a lot of what makes them ninja turtles in the first place. On the note of Tokka and Rahzar, I don't mind them, but everyone wanted Bebop and Rocksteady. And you can get pissed at Michael Bay for a lot of things, but apparently plans are for the rhino and warthog to finally make their big screen debut in the next Turtles movie.
I don't hate this movie. It's still fun in a lot of places, but compared to the first one, this is an okay at best turtles movie hampered by butting in of parental groups. I'd say it's still worth a watch at least, but go in with low expectations. Though I will say, for as wussified as this movie was...
It could be a lot worse.