Hello and welcome to the final edition of Movie Reviews 2025. Yes, after 50 weeks of continuous movie reviews, Movie Reviews 2025 ends here.
Over 250 movies have been reviewed since January, and this latest edition brings everything to a close. But wait, dry those tears, because this is not quite the end!
First and foremost, there are still reviews to get through, which this week include the highly anticipated Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy! The former is in cinemas this week, while the latter has just received a fancy new boxset.
So, yep, all this is still to come. But there’s more! While this is (sadly) the final edition of Movie Reviews 2025, Movie Reviews 2026 arrives next year.
There’s a short break for Christmas (around 2-3 weeks) and then things will resume, albeit with a slightly new title, and maybe some tweaks. Sound good to you? Great! Then let’s get things started with some classic pizza-munching action courtesy of the Turtles!
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On disc…
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy (1990 – 1993)
OK, so let’s begin with a new box set which is out this week courtesy of Arrow. The set includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993).
All three films come from a time before CGI ruled the industry with the main special effects brought to life via a mix of stuntmen, rubber suits, and puppetry. But fear not, this was classed as state-of-the art movie magic back during the early ‘90s (or at least it was to begin with), and the magnificent Jim Henson’s Creature Shop was involved for the first two entries.
The result is a trio of movies which gave the Turtles their first break in film. And one of those movies, 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was a big box-office hit, taking $202 million (from a budget of $13.5 million), to become the highest-grossing independent film of the time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Directed by Steve Barron, and starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Jay Patterson, and James Saito, alongside the voices of Brian Tochi, Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Robbie Rist, and Kevin Clash, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a superhero action movie based on the comic book characters of the same name.
And it’s important to note this film is based on the comics, rather than the popular Turtles cartoon which was doing the rounds at the time, because this ain’t no cartoon! The animated show was light, bright, and breezy, whereas the original comic and this film are dark and gritty.
As such, the film has more in common with Tim Burton’s Batman than it does a Saturday morning cartoon. For this reason, it is a more adult take on the Turtles, rather than a movie which plays directly to kids.
Anyway, Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles introduces Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo – a quartet of humanoid Turtles, who live in the sewers of New York with their surrogate father, Splinter. He’s a rat who was transformed into humanoid form (along with the Turtles) after stumbling across some strange ooze.
Over the years Splinter cares for the Turtles and teaches them ninja skills, which they pretty much have no use for. That is until the awesome foursome rescue ace news reporter April O’Neil, after she finds herself in a tricky situation with the villainous Shredder and his evil Foot Clan!
Featuring likeable characters, plenty of action, and those marvellous Turtle suits (and puppetry), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an enjoyable romp and one of the best Turtles films to date. Sure, it feels very much of its time, and the plot is threadbare, but boy, watching this film is a great way to spend 90 minutes of your time – especially if you like dark comic book films.
There is a gritty realness to the fantasy; there are some great stunts; and then there is the sense director Steve Barron is trying to make the characters as believable as possible. For an independent movie, which brought live-action walking, talking Turtles to the big screen in a convincing (enough) way, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a triumph.
OK, so better comic book movies have come along since, but this film achieved a lot back in 1990. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also has the distinction of serving up the best-looking Turtles to date.
Is it perfect? Nope, but similar to the aforementioned Batman, the movie’s rough edges can be overlooked because it gave the Turtles their movie break, and it is entertaining.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles proving extremely profitable at the box office, and ‘Turtlemania’ in full swing during the early ‘90s, it didn’t take very long for a sequel to be put into production. Arriving in cinemas in 1991, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze continues the story, albeit in a less adult manner.
One of the criticisms of the first movie was that it was too dark for young Turtle fans; there was also some ongoing concern and censorship regarding the Turtles’ ‘violent’ weapons. Addressing this situation, director Michael Pressman went lighter and more playful for the sequel, injecting a more cartoonish tone.
As for the story, Shredder returns (despite being killed off in the first film), and has plans to create mutant henchmen using the mysterious ooze which created the Turtles. These new mutants materialise in the shape of Tokka and Rahzar, who prove to be more than a match for the Turtles.
With the fate of the city in the balance, the Turtles jump into action, with help from new pals Keno (Ernie Reyes Jr.), and Professor Perry (David Warner), as well as returning friend April O’Neil (Paige Turco taking over from Judith Hoag). Oh, and ‘90s rapper Vanilla Ice drops by for a cameo, as the Turtles demonstrate their dance skills.
Despite skewing for a younger audience, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is a heck of an enjoyable ride. The lighter touch brings a different, yet appealing vibe and energy to proceedings, while the Vanilla Ice cameo (accompanied by the iconic ‘Ninja Rap’) is goofy fun in the best possible way.
The Turtle suits and practical effects for Tokka and Rahzar are also top notch, while the brief appearance of a jacked-up ‘Super Shredder’ (another creature effect) provide a last minute highlight during the climax. While technically not as strong as what came before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is a firm favourite amongst fans of the trilogy.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II was released, the Turtles were at the height of their ‘90s popularity, but by the time Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III materialised, widespread interest in the franchise was in decline. And it shows in this perfectly watchable, but mostly tired third outing from director Stuart Gillard.
The plot sees Leo, Don, Raph, Mikey, and April travel through time to feudal Japan where they encounter a forgettable villain and a clear reduction in budget. The story lacks anything remotely interesting; the Turtle suits (no longer the work of Henson) don’t stand up to scrutiny; and there’s the general sense the wheels have come off.
The end result is a slow-moving, uninspired offering. It’s not a car crash of a film, it just lacks the spark which made the previous movies enjoyable.
The relocation to Japan should make this a standout affair, but the script is hollow. The film also makes the mistake of not using one of Shredder’s ancestors as the main antagonist, thus robbing the Turtles of any personal connection to their foe.
So, a trilogy which ends on a lacklustre entry, but the first two films are fab. If you’re a ‘90s nostalgia junkie, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Oozeare like crack.
And this new limited edition boxset from Arrow does the films proud. Housed in an outer cardboard slip, and bundled up with supplementary material, each film comes complete with a wealth of bonus features, ranging from interviews, trailers, and featurettes, to image galleries, new director commentaries and more!
As for the supplementary material, the set includes a booklet, 8 trading cards, 4 stickers, 3 posters, and a pizza delivery business card. Plus each case has a reversible sleeve featuring the original cover art as well as new artwork.
Should you wish to grab a copy, the boxset is available in two formats: Blu-ray and 4K UHD. The Blu-ray set is priced at £44.99, while the 4K set is priced at £49.99.
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In cinemas…
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
And from the Turtles to Avatar: Fire and Ash – the final movie to be reviewed this year. Directed and co-written by James Cameron, and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Jack Champion, Oona Chaplin, and Kate Winslet, the film is the third entry in the Avatar series, which began with Avatar (2009) and continued with Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
This latest instalment picks up shortly after the events of The Way of Water with Jake and Neytiri doing their best to cope following the tragic death of their son. However it isn’t long before they have a new problem on their hands when they encounter an aggressive Na’vi tribe who ally themselves with old enemy, Quaritch.
OK, so let’s cut to the chase with this one and I’ll paraphrase something I said during my review of The Way of Water. Those who love the Avatar movies will be more than satisfied with this latest entry, which is good news for fans; but if the first two films weren’t really your thing, and you haven’t given them a thought since they were released, then you’ll probably feel exactly the same way about Fire and Ash.
This isn’t to say this is in any way a bad film – it’s not at all, it’s enjoyable, and James Cameron brings all the expected spectacle, wizardry, and general hoopla you might want. Some of the effects are top notch, and it’s clear the filmmaker is 110% invested in this world.
The problem is, these films are all starting to feel a bit repetitive. We all marvelled at the technology on display in Avatar back in 2009, and certainly paid money to go and see The Way of Water in 2022, but it’s now 2025 and we need more than just some blue people getting caught up in another long, drawn-out battle.
And this is essentially what this film is – a long, drawn-out battle. Fire and Ash clocks up a sizeable 197-minute runtime, making it the longest Avatar movie to date, and at times it certainly feels it.
There’s a bit of bloating here, some swelling there, and a touch of Cameron self-indulgence. Put simply: This story could be told in a more efficient way, but instead it’s told this way, and it is a bit of a slog.
On the plus side, the visuals are impressive and of course this is what the Avatar films are known for. If you adore the wonder and spectacle of the Avatar universe, and can’t get enough of all the imaginative flora, fauna, and flamboyance, you’ll be in heaven here.
Likewise, the action sequences are energetic; the villainous new tribe is suitably menacing; and Jack Champion’s ‘Spider’ continues to be the best new addition to the series. Spider plays a key role in the story and whenever he’s on screen and taking the focus away from the dull Sully, and the frankly annoying Neytiri, the film is better for it.
So, there is plenty on offer and the entertainment level is high. It’s difficult to fault Cameron’s commitment to these films, and if you just want pure escapism you certainly have it, it’s just all getting a little ‘samey’.
There’s no denying Fire and Ash has a lot going for it, and anyone already invested in this sprawling story will be overjoyed at the dazzling drama. It’s also clearly going to make lots of money, and should do well over the Christmas period.
But it is all starting to feel like we’ve been here before. If Cameron is going to press ahead with the much mooted Avatar 4 & 5, let’s hope he has something else up his sleeve.
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Movies of the Year
No Movie of the Week this week, instead a trio of top titles from earlier in the year which you may wish to check out if you missed them:
- Sinners (2025) – Ryan Coogler calls the shots in this supernatural drama in which two brothers set up a juke joint in the Mississippi Delta in 1932 only for it to attract the wrong kind of attention.
- Weapons (2025) – Zach Cregger’s brilliant mystery horror about a small community shaken to its core when seventeen children suddenly disappear in the night.
- One Battle After Another (2025) – Paul Thomas Anderson directs Leonardo DiCaprio in this black comedy action-thriller about a father in search of his kidnapped daughter.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s almost it for this week and pretty much it for this year. Which just leaves me to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has followed along with Movie Reviews 2025 for the past 50 weeks – I do hope I’ve pointed you in the direction of some good movies.
I also hope I’ve helped you steer clear of a few stinkers. And if you ignored my warning and decided to watch Amazon’s War of the Worlds, one of the stinkiest films of the year, well, I’m afraid you only have yourself to blame.
Anyway, with this being the final edition of Movie Reviews 2025 for the year, there are no more reviews or recommendations for the next couple of weeks. However, a few big movies are due out between Christmas and New Year, which you may wish to look out for, including Anaconda with Jack Black and Paul Rudd; Song Sung Blue with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson; and Marty Supreme with Timothée Chalamet.
If you go and see these films, or any others over the Christmas break, be sure to drop some comments with your thoughts.
Looking beyond this, Movie Reviews 2026 will arrive in January to kick-start a whole new year of films. Highly anticipated titles on the horizon next year include Wuthering Heights, Scream 7, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Masters of the Universe, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Clayface, Dune: Part 3, Avengers: Doomsday, and many, many more.
Will you join me for another jaunt through film next year? I’ll take that as a yes.
Have a great Christmas and New Year and I’ll see you in January.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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