“Only one remains. All must be avenged.”
A Darker, Matured Vision of the Turtles
The cinematic adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (2025) is not the playful, pizza-loving tale fans grew up with. Instead, it is a harrowing, dystopian vision that strips away nostalgia and replaces it with grief, resilience, and the haunting echoes of brotherhood lost. This is a film that dares to reimagine a pop culture phenomenon as a tragedy of Shakespearean weight.
The Burden of Memory
At the heart of the story lies Michelangelo, now the last surviving Turtle. Gone is the jokester with a skateboard; in his place stands a warrior, scarred by time and tragedy. He wields not just his own nunchaku but the weapons of his fallen brothers — Leonardo’s katanas, Raphael’s sais, Donatello’s bo staff. These instruments become more than weapons; they are reliquaries, heavy with memory and regret.
New York City itself has transformed into a graveyard of dreams, suffocated by the tyranny of Oroku Hiroto, Shredder’s ruthless grandson. Every step Michelangelo takes through its broken streets feels like a conversation with ghosts. The film finds its most poignant moments when silence fills the screen, allowing us to dwell in his grief and determination.
The Legacy of Brotherhood
The Last Ronin is not content to let the past fade. Instead, it resurrects it — in hallucinations, memories, and whispered voices. Leonardo’s calm guidance, Raphael’s fiery rage, Donatello’s wisdom — they live within Michelangelo, shaping his path even in death. This internal dialogue transforms him into a vessel of collective memory, embodying everything the Turtles once were.
Casey Marie and the Spark of Hope
Just when the narrative threatens to drown in despair, it introduces Casey Marie Jones, the daughter of April O’Neil and Casey Jones. She is fearless, idealistic, and determined to keep the fight alive. Their unlikely alliance bridges generations: the hardened survivor and the fiery inheritor of a cause. Together, they remind us that legacies are not only carried — they are passed on.
A Cinematic Farewell
Directed with an unflinching sense of gravity, the film spares no effort in crafting its epic farewell. Action sequences are brutal, but never gratuitous. Flashbacks provide aching contrasts between the joyous past and the ruined present. And visually, the film is nothing short of striking — muted palettes of decay clashing with vibrant bursts of memory.
- Strengths: Emotional depth, mature storytelling, powerful visuals, and a resonant performance from the voice of Michelangelo.
- Weaknesses: Its heavy tone may alienate casual viewers expecting lighthearted adventure.
Final Verdict
The Last Ronin is not merely a film; it is an elegy. It acknowledges the weight of history, the inevitability of loss, and the stubborn persistence of hope. Where so many adaptations exploit nostalgia, this one earns it — by giving the Turtles the ending they deserve: somber, reflective, and unforgettable.
Rating: 4 out of 4 stars