There’s something inherently cool about ninjas. Assassins that subscribe to a fascinating, ancient and exotic code of beliefs, with amazing weapons and choice outfits – what’s not to like?
Ninja films, however, are generally pretty shit. I’m not even referring to garbage like that Ninja Turtles movie that came out not long ago, I mean proper ninja movies from the ’80s. They’re definitely lovably shit, but shit nonetheless.
But there are exceptions to the rule. In recent times there’s been a few ninja movies worth watching and one in particular that is not only one of the greatest B-grade action films of the last decade, but quite possibly the best ninja film ever made.
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear is finally out in New Zealand on Blu-ray and DVD, over a year since it premiered at Fantastic Fest in the US. Better late than never I guess and I have shelled out for it, even after getting the US version back in June, having given up hope of an NZ release then.
This movie is worth the wait and is right up there with The Raid 2 in terms of quality as an action sequel. Martial arts film hero Scott Adkins is exceptional and director Isaac Florentine’s skill at putting together exciting, visceral fight scenes has increased further to a superb new high.
There’s a lovely albeit very brief intro set in WWII, showing ninjas wasting a few Allied Forces. We then have a few scenes in modern day Japan where Casey (Adkins) has started a married life with Namiko, after the tumultuous events of the first Ninja. This wonderful Oriental pleasantness is short-lived. It’s snuffed out nastily by way of a spiked chain around Namiko’s throat. The mean men responsible are tied to an organised crime group in Myanmar.
What follows is a revenge tale that’s minimal on plot and packs maximum amounts of amazing ass-kickery. Florentine’s direction, Adkins’ physical prowess, fight choreography by Tim Man and Ross W Clarkson’s cinematography combine to create a devilishly delicious martial arts feast.
Like in the first Florentine/Adkins Ninja film, Scott does get into an awesome ninja costume and deals damage with a katana, but the focus is more on the hand-to-hand combat that this duo does so extraordinarily well. There’s a cool scene where Adkins goes to a market and buys a bunch of tools and ingredients, then uses them to construct some MacGyver DIY style weapons and poison. It’s the sort of scene that’s absent from most ninja movies and I really like that they took the time to include it.
I’ve been looking forward to this film for a long time and was fairly predisposed to loving it, so here’s some of what other critics said about:
“Ninja: The Shadow of a Tear is the new B-action King, a bright high point eclipsing former champions Universal Soldier: Regeneration and Undisputed III … I seriously cannot imagine a better action film” – Badassdigest.com
“Florentine, himself a well trained martial artist, shoots hand to hand combat better than anybody else working today while Adkins again makes the case that he is one of the absolute best screen fighters in the world, period” – Twitchfilm.com
“The actors move freely, but the camera seems to know just where to be to make you feel like you’re right there in the middle of every hard thrown punch and fierce kick” – The Examiner
“When the ever-impressive Adkins winds up for one of his mid-air summersault vertical roundhouse kicks, the audience feels the full thump of foot to shoulder. We also get to see the entire spectacle in full-view, something many a viewer has complained about with other, larger action movies” – Film School Rejects
Around the same time I watched Shadow of a Tear, a buddy lent me a very different ninja film on Blu-ray to watch. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, Ninja III: The Domination is a Cannon Film released in 1984. It opens with a Japanese chap getting his ninja gears from a hidden rock in a secret cave, before slaying a rich dude golfing, his lady friend and their four security guards, then a few dozen police. His weapons are mostly a katana and shuriken, but he also uses his fists a bit.
This scene quickly jumps from one level of ridiculous to the next, with several standout moments of greatness such as the ninja managing to get aboard an airborne police helicopter, kill everybody in it, then jump out. The multiple ‘deaths’ the ninja goes through as he’s shot a few hundred times is also astonishing – this is a ninja as a Terminator or superhero. It’s absurd and it’s awesome.
That’s like the first 13 minutes of the film – crazy, completely over-the-top super ninja action, without knowing who any of the characters are or any introduction of plot – it’s just boom! Straight into the madness.
It then cuts to a classic big-hair ’80s babe lady doing a spot of phoneline repair to sweet-as ’80s electro pop, which cuts off dramatically as the ninja stumbles across her. What follows is a nutty mix of sorcery, possession, aerobics, dry ice, lasers, back hair, chest hair and swords ‘floating’ around (dangling by string that is extremely visible on the Blu-ray).
Most of the film’s action sequences are comprised of fake-looking old-school effects, but they’re directed with a charming exuberance that I really dug. Like everything in this movie they’re insane, and very enjoyable.
Sho Kosugi stars – the dad of Kane Kosugi, one of the chaps in Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, which is a nice connection between the two franchises.
Ninja III: The Domination is a great example of how ’80s Hollywood viewed the Far East: with naivety, romanticism and ignorance. It’s also quite indicative of much of the Cannon Films catalogue, including another one also by Firstenberg that I’ll get to in Part II.
