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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Into the Storm
Starring: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Matt Walsh
About: Eighteen years ago, the world got a tornado disaster movie classic in "Twister." In that time, plenty of improvements have been made in terms of special effects. So it makes sense that people in Hollywood would go to the well again. This time it's about tornado chasers and local residents caught in a string of super storms. You don't go into a movie like this expecting greatness — either in terms of acting or story. You hope for some interesting characters, a decent and easy to follow plot, and some good special effects. On those terms, "Into the Storm" is simply OK. Some people have complained about the characters and story, but I thought it was OK. I was annoyed by the found footage feel of a lot of the film, which is all the rage still and needs to die quickly. The special effects were pretty good here, and there was some fun storm carnage. But what hurts "Into the Storm" is the lack of compelling characters. "Twister" had some inane dialogue, and might have been unbelievable in spots, but it had some great actors who created some compelling characters. That's not the case here. In fact, when the film was over, I couldn't remember most of the character's names. I couldn't remember much of their back story, and I wasn't greatly effected when they got sucked up into the storm. That's a bad sign for the movie. This film is just OK, and it's hard to imagine it being a disaster movie classic in 10 years.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense destruction and peril, and language including some sexual references.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Starring: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, and William Fichtner
About: It’s been 24 years since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their debut in a live-action film. In 1990, on the heels of a successful cartoon presence, men in giant turtle costumes tried to bring the story to life on screen. That wave of films included two more live-action turtle films, each one worst than the last. But that wasn’t the end of the turtles pop culture presence. The cartoons have continued, and more cartoon films have debuted in the years since. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remain a presence among younger viewers, with the modern cartoons keeping the turtle legacy alive for a new generation of fans. So, it only makes sense that the Turtles would be re-born on the big screen in a live action film again, too. And producer Michael Bay makes sense as a person to accomplish that feat. A number of toy/cartoon franchises from the 1980s have been reborn as film franchises. Bay has been the most successful, offering four “Transformers” films that have been commercial successes. While he’s not behind the camera for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” which opened on Friday, his influence is evident in the finished product. After nearly 30 years in popular culture, most people are familiar with the origin of the Ninja Turtles. They live in the sewer. They gained powers from a lab experiment. They’re named after famous painters. And they love pizza. This latest big screen incarnation makes a few modifications on the origin story, but basically sticks to the script. While the technology has improved since the original live-action film in 1990, little else about the approach to this film has changed. It hits all the same kind of notes that made “Transformers” a successful adaptation, but this isn’t as compelling a film. This feels like it’s aimed at a younger audience, probably building on the popularity of the cartoon. There have been few kid-focused movies this summer. Only a couple animated features have been released, and many of the other offerings have been more violent action films or adult comedies. This film is PG-13, and it does have violence, but it also feels a little more accessible to a younger audience. That probably also explains its big opening weekend at the Box Office, which quickly led to the announcement of a sequel. Doubtless the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film will spawn a new franchise for a new generation. If I was still 12 years old, I’d probably be pretty excited about more of these movies. But as an adult, there was little to get excited about with this latest incarnation. There were a few amusing jokes, some fun sequences and some action battles. It was a by-the-numbers action film, the kind we’ve been getting all summer. The only difference was that the protagonists are heroes in a half shell.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, August 15 — "The Expendables 3," "The Giver"

Friday, August 22 — "When The Game Stands Tall," "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," "If I Stay"

Wednesday, August 27 — "November Man"

Friday, August 29 — "As Above, So Below"