The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (cyber named TMNT) are back on the big screen. This comic book, video game, genre giant franchise continues to haunt the underworld. Sensei Master Splinter, the turtles’ guardian, has sent Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor) to a remote Central American locale to hone his skills and become a better leader.

The Japanese actor Mako voices Master Splinter. He appeared in Memoirs of a Geisha and he died in July 2006. 

Meanwhile, crime has not taken a holiday. The biggest threat comes from a 3,000-year-old curse. Thirteen monsters will be released on civilization, once they are all assembled in one place, along with their horrific leader. Max Winters (Patrick Stewart) is a mysterious collector and benefactor, who has hired April (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to bring back the ancient artifact that is the ferocious leader of the pack. Winters is gathering all the monsters, shielded in glass containers, in order to destroy them and keep humanity safe. He will also finally be free of his curse of immortality.  

While in Central America, April persuades Leonardo to come back home. Leonardo’s absence has left a void in the relationships between his three brothers. They have gone their separate ways. Raphael (Nolan North) has become brooding, and turned himself into an avenging angel that the media calls the Nightwatcher. Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield) and Michelangelo (Mikey Kelley) seem to be floundering in their purpose. April’s boyfriend Casey (Chris Evans, The Fantastic Four features) has even joined forces with Raphael as his sidekick, which puts Casey in real danger. 

When Leonardo returns, everyone is happy to see him except Raphael, whose continued impetuous behavior allows Leo to be captured and passed off as the 13^th monster. 

Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha, House of Flying Daggers) voices Karai, who heads a league of stone soldiers, that Winters has hired to round up the monsters.  

There’s little new in this animated feature directed by Kevin Munroe, who co-wrote the script with ‘Ninja Turtles’ comic book developers. CGI technology offers no exciting landscape for the storytelling. But devoted TMNT fans will still be delighted.