Siskel & Ebert (TV Series)

I Love You to Death/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Cry-Baby/The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover/Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)

Gene Siskel: Self - Host

Quotes 

• Gene Siskel - Host : [reviewing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"]  I don't know what all the excitement is about. The four turtles have mostly interchangeable characters, they set about their boring task of conquering dull villains, the turtles talk like surfers, guzzle pizza, and pay only lip service to ninja teachings. I suppose they pay only lip service if turtles have lips. I didn't like the picture, and I hope this isn't a case of kids just settling for something familiar. Actually, I think it is. The movies ought to be a more magical experience than this, that's why I hate those countless product plugs. Why have kids be reminded of the world in which they spend all of their days?

  Roger Ebert - Host : Yeah, and why would a pizza company want to advertise that it's the pizza preferred by turtles who live in sewers? That's an interesting plug. I was also interested in the high level of your criticism when you point out that these turtles only pay lip service to ninja teachings. I suppose you would've liked it better if...

  Gene Siskel - Host : No, but...

  Roger Ebert - Host : ...It had been a more devout and religious film.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Well no, but if, if somehow, I'm looking for SOMETHING there for kids.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

  Gene Siskel - Host : If, if, y'know, like the "Karate Kid" film. At least there's a suggestion of some kind of, uh, altruistic behavior.

  Roger Ebert - Host : What you have here is marketing carried to the ultimate degree.

  Gene Siskel - Host : I think so.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Now, you mentioned the Saturday morning TV show. You didn't mention the Nintendo game...

  Gene Siskel - Host : Now, see...

  Roger Ebert - Host : ...Which is one of the top-selling Nintendo games in the country. And I played it for our Christmas Gift Guide last year, until it drove me crazy. These little turtles running around and doing their flip-flops. And actually, the visuals in this movie look a lot like, not only the TV show, but also like the video game. And so kids have already been brainwashed to the point where they've GOT to see this movie. That's why it opened so strongly: They HAD to see this movie. And I GUESS they liked it, I don't know. Maybe they're not that critical when they're five years old. But you're right: It's kind of a dark, brooding, kind of depressing looking movie. And even though I admired the set decoration, I thought they did a good job of making those sewers, uh, it didn't have the bright and bouncy feeling that you'd like to think kids would enjoy when they're that age.

  Gene Siskel - Host : I don't know WHAT the appeal is. When I sat there, I, I knew it was a big phenomenon, I couldn't figure it out. I think it IS just what you said: Marketing. In other words, they want to see the turtles because they've seen the turtles on the tube and in the thing, and so they HAVE to see the turtles.

  Roger Ebert - Host : It beats me.