She Likes to Watch

Our heroes in a half-shell: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”

Meet Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael — everyone’s favorite pizza-scarfing, sewer-dwelling, skateboarding terrapins.

They fight crime. They practice martial arts. They love the ’80s.

Back in 1990, the Turtles burst onto the big screen with their very own movie — introducing the world to a brotherhood of crime-fighting dudes led by a giant rat named Splinter.

In “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” the quintet teams up with cute news reporter April O’Neill and sports-crazed vigilante Casey Jones against the sinister Shredder.

Based on a comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird intended to parody more serious titles like Frank Miller’s “Ronin,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” spawned a super-popular cartoon series, truckloads of action figures, video games, three live action movies, and, in 2007, a slick, computer-animated flick that failed to really get the point of the series. (I was a bit disappointed.)

The original “TMNT,” however, perfectly captures the Turtles’ blend of goofball humor, family values and exciting fight scenes. Coupled with vintage tunes and a plot that shadows the comics series’ darker nature, it’s an awesomely nostalgic romp. Cowabunga, dudes!

Watch “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” tonight at 7 p.m. or 9:15 p.m. at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

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The Palm Wednesday series continues with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” on Sept. 10, “The Warriors” on Sept. 17 and “Total Recall” on Sept. 24.

I hate to see a stupid ad campaign ruin a perfect good movie.

“The Dark Knight,” which opened Friday, has had one of the best advertising campaigns to date.

For months before the July 18 release date, we’ve seen posters and promotional Web sites, exclusive trailers and stand-up displays.

There was a “Citizens for Batman” funpack. A cake packed with a Joker playing card, a cell phone and a press pass for The Gotham Times. Fake newspapers. Rubber cowls.

Clever. Well-executed. All encompassing.

That is, before the Warner Brothers studio started pushing “The Dark Knight” via Domino’s Pizza ads and Verizon cell phone commercials.

Cross-promotion is one thing. But when you’re trying to sell a dark, brooding film by showing kids snapping pictures of the Bat Bike with their cell phones, you’ve got your wires crossed.

The same goes for the Domino’s ads, which hawk New York-style pies “shrouded in darkness” and “cloaked with 50% more pepperoni.” Seriously, Madison Avenue? Seriously?!? You want to “cloak” a pepperoni pizza?

It’s campaigns like this that ruin a film’s reputation, even when said film is as brilliant and well-executed as “The Dark Knight.”

We’re already going to see your movie, Warner Brothers.

Please.

Don’t insult us.