History YMMV / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIII

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically, visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, giant overbites, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery, cartoony look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet, as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet and tail are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements. This is largely because of the Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop not returning for the film, and a company less experienced in creature effects, Eric Allard's All Effects Company (who are better known for their robotic and on-set effects work in the likes of ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and ''Film/DemolitionMan'', to name a few), taking over instead.

* {{Sequelitis}}: Mercilessly panned by both critics and fans alike; the movie featured an outrageous plot even by the franchise's standards, an uninspired villain, fewer fight scenes (although the fights that ''are'' in the movie are longer and more elaborate), and [[SpecialEffectFailure costumes/animatronics that looked unbelievably cheap]] due to the absence of Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop. [[FranchiseKiller There wouldn't be another Ninja Turtles movie]] until the franchise was rebooted [[WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}} in 2007]], and no live-action movies until [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 over twenty years later]]. Some longtime fans go as far as to say this film was the end of the initial Turtle mania wave that started in the late 80s and early 90s, arguing this film didn't just hurt the film series, but the franchise as a whole, something many longtime fans still resent the film for. At the very least, it led to a lull in the franchise that would last until ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' came along and proved that the Turtles had staying power well past their initial popularity.

* {{Sequelitis}}: Mercilessly panned by both critics and fans alike; the movie featured an outrageous plot even by the franchise's standards, an uninspired villain, fewer fight scenes (although the fights that ''are'' in the movie are longer and more elaborate), and [[SpecialEffectFailure costumes/animatronics that looked unbelievably cheap]] due to the absence of Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop. [[FranchiseKiller There wouldn't be another Ninja Turtles movie]] until the franchise was rebooted [[WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}} in 2007]], and no live-action movies until [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 over twenty years later]].
** Some longtime fans go as far as to say this film was the end of the initial Turtle mania wave that started in the late 80s and early 90s, arguing this film didn't just hurt the film series, but the franchise as a whole, something many longtime fans still resent the film for. At the very least, it led to a DorkAge that would last until ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' came along and proved that the franchise had staying power well past its initial popularity.

* SpiritualAdaptation: This movie felt more like an ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'' movie than it did a ''Ninja Turtles'' movie.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: After being absent from the previous film, Casey Jones returns to...babysit some Japanese guards. He doesn't even fight anyone.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: It's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting in feudal Japan. A concept that could have been awesome if put in the hands of competent filmmakers.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: It's the TMNT fighting in feudal Japan. A concept that could have been awesome if put in the hands of competent filmmakers.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically, visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, giant overbites, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery, cartoony look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet, as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet and tail are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements. This is largely because of the Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop not returning for the film, and a company less experience in creature effects, Eric Allard's All Effects Company (who are better known for their robotic and on-set effects work in the likes of ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and ''Film/DemolitionMan'', to name a few), taking over instead.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery, cartoony look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet, as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet and tail are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery, cartoony look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet, as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet, as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** At one point, Walker is referred to as "Zorro dude". Walker's actor Stuart Wilson would go on to play the BigBad in ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro''.

* TearJerker: The film comes close to one at the end when Mikey admits that he would rather stay in the feudal Japan of the distant past, which he actually finds preferable to the 20th century, where he has to live in a sewer. Raph and even Leo agree that they feel better off in the past than in their own present. It's a rare moment where Mikey steps outside his usual "party dude" persona and shows a different side of himself.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious robotic puppet,as opposed the advanced hand puppet of the first two films, that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and poorly blended spots on their bodies, giving them a more rubbery look. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured implying separate props were constructed[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however, when he's sitting in a chair crosslegged, though his legs are still obscured as a result[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

* {{Sequelitis}}: Mercilessly panned by both critics and fans alike. The movie featured an outrageous plot even by the franchise's standards, an uninspired villain, fewer fight scenes (although the fights that ''are'' in the movie are longer and more elaborate), and [[SpecialEffectFailure costumes/animatronics that looked unbelievably cheap]] due to the absence of Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop. [[FranchiseKiller There wouldn't be another Ninja Turtles movie]] until the franchise was rebooted [[WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}} in 2007]], and no live-action movies until [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 over twenty years later]].

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two[[labelnote:*]]his feet are shown in one scene, however when he's sitting in a chair, though his legs are still obscured[[/labelnote]] and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, eyeholes under the bandanas that are just slightly visible in half the film, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two and has poor lip-syncing between the voice and the animatronic mouth movements.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs like they do in the first two.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCircuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** The movie has Music/ZZTop's "Can't Stop Rockin'" and Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy," both '80s chart toppers.

%%* FanonDiscontinuity: Almost certainly falls under this for many fans.

* EarWorm: The movie has Music/ZZTop's "Can't Stop Rockin'" and Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy," although both were former '80s chart toppers.
* FanonDiscontinuity: Almost certainly falls under this for many fans.

* NightmareFuel: Meta example; [[https://twitter.com/brainexploderrr/status/1178802877193691137?s=21 this is what happens when the costumes are simply left in storage for nearly thirty years…]]

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly and robotically[[labelnote:*]]fitting, as the effects team behind the film were responsible for ''Film/ShortCurcuit'', ''Film/ClassOf1999'' and the legendary Advertising/EnergizerBunny campaign, which all feature proper robotic characters unlike this film[[/labelnote]], visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs.

** The turtles and Splinter look a lot more cheaply made this time around. The turtles have mouths that move too quickly, visible seams where the neck meets the headpiece, and liver spots on the top of their heads. Splinter is a ''very'' obvious puppet that was seemingly only built from the waist up, as the viewer never sees his legs.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Its the TMNT fighting in feudal Japan. A concept that could have been awesome if put in the hands of competent filmmakers.
* TearJerker: The film comes close to one at the end when Mikey admits that he would rather stay in the feudal Japan of the distant past, which he actually finds preferable to the 20th century, where he has to live in a sewer. Raph and even Leo agree that they feel better off in the past than in their own present. It's a rare moment where Mikey steps outside his usual "party dude" persona and shows a different side of himself.

* HeReallyCanAct: Creator/EliasKoteas does an excellent job as both Casey and his (possible) ancestor Whit. Some viewers even questioned if Whit was indeed played by a separate actor.