Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles behind-the-scenes special

Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Inside the Action is a behind-the-scenes special hosted by stars Megan Fox (April O’Neil) and Will Arnett (Vern Fenwick) inexplicable in front of a collection of speakers and boomboxes.

Arnett stays in character as a self-centered glory hound Vern. He constantly teases his big scene, the snow sequence, in which Vern drives a big rig to help April and Raphael rescue the rest of the turtles, who have been captured.

The real-life origin of the turtles is touched on with clips from the new documentary Turtle Power: Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They got their start in a comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, who each improved on the other’s work. The character designs mutated to have more human features and eventually included and entire team complete with their iconic weapons.

The latest actors to play the heroes in a half shell used motion capture suits to bring the characters to life but their weapons were all too real.

“There was definitely a significant level of training involved. I would hurt myself otherwise,” said Alan Ritchson, who plays Raphael.

The special features several clips from the movie including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles introducing themselves to April, who mangles their moniker.

“So you’re ninja mutant turtle teenagers,” April asks.

“Well, when you put it like that it sounds ridiculous,” Donatello replies.

The special ends with an extended look at the snow sequence, which was actually filmed during the summer. The white stuff on the ground was artificial snow and the rest was computer generated.

The icy conditions cause the big rig to slide backwards down the mountain. While Vern’s driving skill leave a lot to be desired, the turtles ninja skills help them shred the slopes on their built-in sleds. Leonardo uses his katana swords like ski poles. Donatello pushes a button to extend his staff like a pole volt and launch a pursuing vehicle into the air. Michelangelo rides a jet-powered skateboard onto the roof of another vehicle. Rapheal is more hands on than his brothers. He cannonballs himself into a vehicle and throws driver out, then lets out a Bruce Lee “woo.”

Unfortunately, Donatello hacks the broadcast and explains they have to go save the world.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles release date: August 8, 2014

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