Ninja Turtle Movie Honored by Sci-Fi Academy

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films has given its golden scroll award to the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie, the group’s president announced.

The live-action film, unlike the animated TV series on which it is based, relies on actors in Jim Henson-designed costumes to portray the swashbuckling, pizza-loving, martial arts turtles.

The movie, to be released later this month, explains how radioactive ooze in a New York City sewer caused a clutch of ordinary turtles to mutate, acquiring the gift of speech in the process--but don’t expect too many details here.

In the movie, the turtles join forces with TV investigative reporter April O’Neil to solve an epidemic of crimes carried out by The Foot, a clandestine organization.

During their exploits the turtles come face to face with their archenemy, the Shredder, who has abducted their ninja master, a four-foot-tall sewer rat named Splinter.

This plot might strain the credulity of some viewers, but many parents will vouch for the wild popularity of the comic book characters, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, especially among boys.

“Without speculating, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it is also remembered come nominations for our prestigious Saturn Awards, recognizing the year’s best film,” said Donald Reed, the academy’s president and founder.

The golden scroll recognizes outstanding achievement in films.