Armed with their brand-spanking-new movie out in theaters - that managed to karate-kick the beefed-up Spartans out of the No. 1 box office spot ­- four teenage amphibians are currently the coolest comeback story out there.

For those who remember the original explosion of turtle-mania, this could quite possibly be the perfect opportunity to completely submerge oneself in sweet, sweet nostalgia. Don the homemade bandana, colored to match your favorite turtle; enjoy annoying everyone with trite surfer lingo; and whip out those nunchucks from the back of your closet - Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo are back.

If seeing "TMNT" in theaters isn't enough mutant-ninja action for your taste, or you're wondering why, exactly, the turtle phenomenon faded away in the first place, let the Rental Of The Week help. In "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III", the four brothers are forced to travel back in time to 17th-century Japan to save April, who was transported there by ways of an antique golden scepter she picked up cheap at a flea market. While the rescue itself takes a little less than five minutes, the turtles find something else to occupy their time: Helping a rebel army fight the evil Daimyo and his English allies. While the story is a little thin and the absence of the infamous arch nemesis Shredder is acutely felt, the movie is, nevertheless, entertaining, cheese-tastic and the perfect recipe for a stroll down memory lane.

To my great dismay, the popularity of their kiosks is growing. People are flocking to them at the mall. The colors are seen all over campus - green, blue, red and pink.

What am I talking about? Crocs, the bright-colored, obnoxious shoe.

When I see Crocs, all I can think of is a garden clog, the rubber shoes my mom quickly slips on when gardening. The official Crocs Web site says the shoe was "originally intended as a boating/outdoor shoe because of its slip-resistant, non-marking sole. By 2003, Crocs had become a bona-fide phenomenon, universally accepted as an all-purpose shoe for comfort and fashion."

Fashion? I have to disagree. These shoes are obnoxious and ugly. Not to mention, each time I see someone wearing them, it looks as though the shoe is a size too big for them. That, combined with the bright colors they come in, makes them look like clown shoes. It's fine that the shoe was created as a boating shoe, but why are people finding them to be "cute" and wearing them with skirts, jeans and sweatpants?

As I checked out their product line, I discovered they have a "professional" set of Crocs, which the Web site (http://www.crocs.com) even goes so far as to say "[look] great at the office." Picturing someone in a full-on business suit paired with a set of Crocs makes me cringe. If Clinton Kelly and Stacy London of "What Not To Wear" could see such an outfit, I think they'd both die from a stroke.

It seems like the Croc Web site can't even come up with some good "reasons you gotta have 'em." Their site lists such reasons as, "Sold Everywhere," "Nothing's more comfortable," "Big air ventilation ports" and "Can save your marriage." (I'm not kidding; saving your marriage is listed on there.)

My point in this: Crocs are ugly. If you are going to wear them for boating, to the beach, fishing or gardening, great. I bet they'll be very useful as they're really easy to clean. All other purposes? Leave them in the closet.

Desiree Smith is the multimedia editor for the Northern Star.