Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (1991)
Related: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
This movie should be avoided because it involves and/or promotes blasphemy (God's name is taken in vain via minced oaths at least 7 times, all of which by the "good guys"), defiance against God, disdain for authority, love of violence, and deceit. Since its heroes practice sin, this movie conditions viewers to substitute evil for good and good for evil (Isa. 5:20) by praising evildoers who ought to be despised (Ps. 15:4; Pro. 28:4).
Violations of God's Law
Defiance against God
This movie violates the First Commandment.
- Splinter and Keno are shown in Hindu poses, engaging in eastern style meditation, which is antithetical to Christianity and biblical revelation.
- At least 3 appeals to luck
Blasphemy and Profanity
This movie violates the Third Commandment. God has warned that he will not hold guiltless those who take his name in vain (Ex. 20:7).
- In one scene Raphael looks up at the sky and irreverently says, "I'm being punished, aren't I?" He also utters a minced oath at least three times
- Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and their ally Keno each utter a minced oath at least once
Disdain for Authority
This movie promotes violations of the Fifth Commandment. Those who disobey parents are worthy of death according to the judgment of God (Rom. 1:30-32); those who despise government are likened to brute beasts who will be condemned (2Pe. 2:10-12; Jude 1:8-10).
- Vigilantism: as self-appointed masked vigilantes, the turtles, along with their ally Keno, defy civil authority and ignore the laws imposed by duly appointed authorities. The turtles are trained to fight crime and avoid detection by the police.
- Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael ignore April's plea not to toss pizza at one another in her apartment
- Michelangelo is shown grumbling about his master Splinter disciplining him, and is later caught cheating
- Leonardo lies to his master Splinter's face
- Raphael maintains his rebellious character from the first film, with which he treats his master Splinter dismissively and speaks derisively to the group leader Leonardo
- He utters a minced oath in response to one of Splinter's commands, and later walks off
- He deliberately refuses to follow Leonardo's plan
- He conspires with Keno to infiltrate the Foot clan, directly against Splinter's instructions. Keno himself, who later argues with Splinter and ignores his instructions, refuses to follow Raphael's directions, until threatened with violence.
- April, also maintaining her disobedient character from the first film, is shown dismissing, ignoring, and directly disobeying her employer.
Abuse, Violence, and Murder
This movie promotes violations of the Sixth Commandment. God hates those who love violence (Ps. 11:5). The Bible says those who hate are murderers, and no murderer has eternal life (1Jo. 3:15).
- The turtles and Keno are all shown enjoying and relishing violence. Michelangelo celebrates when the Foot clan arrives, because it is an opportunity to fight. He later solicits praise from an onlooking crowd for the turtles' fighting prowess.
- After kicking a Foot soldier in the face, Donatello mocks, "I win, you lose!"
Immodesty and Sexual Immorality
This movie violates the Seventh Commandment. The Bible warns that those who do not repent of sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10), but will be judged by God (Heb. 13:4). We are commanded to "flee fornication" (1Co. 6:18).
- At the beginning of the film, an unnamed couple is shown kissing
- Michelangelo has a poster of a woman immodestly dressed in a swimsuit, to which he says, "We'll find a home soon, Paulina, and then it will be just you and me."
Deceit
This movie promotes violations of the Ninth Commandment. The Bible warns that all liars, whom God hates (Pro. 6:16-19; 12:22), shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
- While April is hiding the turtles from Keno, she lies when he asks about Michelangelo's nunchucks, claiming that they are hers.
- When Keno is given a test to join the Foot clan, Raphael secretly completes it for him
- When Splinter asks the turtles if they were seen, Leonardo lies, saying, "Of course not, Master Splinter."
Sinful Content in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
Warning! The following table contains direct quotations from the film, which include instances of blasphemy, profanity, and other vices.
| Timestamp | Classification | Character | Quote/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00:58 | Sexual Immorality | Couple shown kissing | |
| 00:01:58 | Luck | Keno | "Which one of you lucky girls gets a ride with me tonight?" |
| 00:03:58 | Profanity | Raphael | "Wicked!" |
| 00:04:07 | Minced Oath | Michelangelo | "Jeez." |
| 00:07:04 | Minced Oath | Raphael | "Jeez." |
| 00:10:30 | Disdain for Authority | Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael ignore April's plea not to toss pizza at one another in her apartment | |
| 00:10:44 | Luck | April | "So, any luck finding a new place to live yet?" |
| 00:11:31 | Disdain for Authority | Raphael | "Jeez, I was just—" (responding to Splinter, who told him to come away from the window) |
| 00:12:29 | Idolatry | Donatello | Crosses himself after Splinter reassures them that they don't have to give up pizza |
| 00:12:50 | Minced Oath | Leonardo | "Oh, gee, thanks." |
| 00:25:39 | Minced Oath | Donatello | "Gosh." |
| 00:28:18 | Immodesty | Michelangelo has a poster of a woman in a swimsuit | |
| 00:28:18 | Lust | Michelangelo | "We'll find a home soon, Paulina, and then it will be just you and me." (speaking to his poster) |
| 00:29:33 | Deceit | April | "Those are mine. I like to do a little chucking every now and then." (they are actually Michelangelo's) |
| 00:30:55 | Disdain for Authority | Michelangelo | "I can't believe every time—" (grumbling about Splinter disciplining him) |
| 00:31:35 | Keno | "These guys are looking for anybody they can find with martial arts talent, especially teenagers. And if I let myself get recruited, guess what that might lead us to?" (suggesting he should join the Foot clan as a spy) | |
| 00:31:39 | Leonardo | "Ah, no way, Keno. Forget about it." | |
| 00:31:44 | Raphael | "I really hate to say this, but the kid's got a point." | |
| 00:31:45 | Splinter | "No." (both Raphael and Keno ask, "Why not?") "Too dangerous." | |
| 00:31:53 | Raphael | "Uh, but I thought we could—" (cut off by Splinter, who says, "No!") | |
| 00:31:55 | Disdain for Authority | Raphael | "Ah!" grunts in response to Splinter, then walks off |
| 00:32:00 | Disdain for Authority | Michelangelo | He is caught by Splinter cheating on his flips he was instructed to do as a form of discipline |
| 00:33:33 | Luck | Raphael | "Wish us luck." |
| 00:34:29 | Disdain for Authority | Raphael | "Na-uh. That's it. I'm going up." (refuses to follow Leonardo's leadership and plan) |
| 00:37:00 | Disdain for Authority | Phil | April's manager, Phil says, "April. April, will you listen just for a minute? It's a ratings week." April: "Phil, I told you. I am following up on TGRI. There is more going on there than we know." (pointing her finger at him) |
| 00:37:12 | Phil | "Look, that story is over. We need something solid, something fresh." | |
| 00:37:30 | Disdain for Authority | Phil | "You are always so busy. I mean, I'm the news manager here, April!" |
| 00:37:52 | Disdain for Authority | April | Ignores her boss and takes a call |
| 00:39:08 | Michelangelo | Makes kissing noises to April over the phone | |
| 00:42:34 | Disdain for Authority | Both Raphael and Keno conspiring together for Keno to join the Foot as a spy, going directly against Splinter's instructions | |
| 00:42:44 | Minced Oath | Keno | "Gee, maybe I should write this down." (mockingly responds to Raphael's instructions) |
| 00:42:40 | Blasphemy | Raphael | Looks up at the sky and says, "I'm being punished, aren't I?" |
| 00:44:15 | Deceit | Keno is given a test to join the Foot, but Raphael secretly completes it for him | |
| 00:45:05 | Raphael | "I thought I just saw a ghost." | |
| 00:45:28 | Minced Oath | Raphael | "Jeez, whatever happened to service with a smile?" |
| 00:45:40 | Disdain for Authority | Keno | Raphael tells him, "Get out of here, kid. Go and tell the others. Go, now." Keno shakes his head and says, "Na-uh. I'm not just going to—" to which Raphael says, "Run, or I'll kick your butt." |
| 00:48:55 | Profanity | Leonardo | "What the—" |
| 00:50:30 | Minced Oath | Raphael | "Jeez! Why don't you just rip my lips off!" |
| 01:04:10 | Profanity | Professor Perry | "Pepperoni heaven." |
| 01:11:33 | False Religion | Splinter and Keno in Hindu poses, engaging in eastern meditation | |
| 01:12:05 | Disdain for Authority | Keno | Arguing with Splinter and ignoring his instructions. Takes off after saying, "Look, I know you're trying to help me, but you can't keep me here, you know?" |
| 01:13:30 | Violence | Michelangelo | Once the Foot clan arrives, he says, "It's party time, boys!" |
| 01:13:35 | Violence | Donatello | After kicking a Foot soldier in the face, celebrates, "I win, you lose!" |
| 01:14:54 | Violence | Michelangelo | "You like what you saw? Then give it up for us turtles!" |
| 01:20:50 | Deceit | Leonardo | When Splinter asks, "Were you seen?" he replies, "Of course not, Master Splinter." |