Ninja

Since the demise of Cannon Films, there has been a distinct lack of movies about Ninja. While for many this will have slipped by completely unnoticed, there will be those feeling nostalgic for the days when Michael Dudikoff rushed around colourful Phillipino locations stopping for inordinate amounts of combat with mystical hooded assassins. After years of waiting, Ninja fans - and there must be some out there - have been rewarded with the release of 2 new movies. First out on DVD is the imaginatively titled "Ninja" - not be confused with the other bigger budgeted Warner Bros release "Ninja Assassin". This Ninja is unleashed by Nu Image, a company specialising in cheap and cheesy low budget action flicks. Not dissimilar to the glory days of Cannon in fact. The plot here is strictly standard issue: American Orphan Casey (Scott Adkins) has been raised in a Japanese dojo where he has been taught the ancient skills of ninjitsu by his mentor, Sensei (Togo Igawa). With a rogue assassin on… more »

Since the demise of Cannon Films, there has been a distinct lack of movies about Ninja. While for many this will have slipped by completely unnoticed, there will be those feeling nostalgic for the days when Michael Dudikoff rushed around colourful Phillipino locations stopping for inordinate amounts of combat with mystical hooded assassins. After years of waiting, Ninja fans - and there must be some out there - have been rewarded with the release of 2 new movies. First out on DVD is the imaginatively titled "Ninja" - not be confused with the other bigger budgeted Warner Bros release "Ninja Assassin". This Ninja is unleashed by Nu Image, a company specialising in cheap and cheesy low budget action flicks. Not dissimilar to the glory days of Cannon in fact. The plot here is strictly standard issue: American Orphan Casey (Scott Adkins) has been raised in a Japanese dojo where he has been taught the ancient skills of ninjitsu by his mentor, Sensei (Togo Igawa). With a rogue assassin on the loose and some precious artefacts at risk, Casey is ordered back to the States where he must protect a chest filled with sacred weapons belonging to the last great Ninja. Cue the requisite amount of twirling bodies, bone snapping and blood letting (though less gratuitous than "Ninja Assassin"). The swift pace helps to hide a dearth of originality, not to mention a thrifty budget - with a backlot in Bulgaria standing in for the mean streets of New York. Adkins makes for a bland hero, though at least he handles the fight scenes convincingly. The set pieces are competently staged by director Florentine, and while the movie manages to be moderately entertaining it will be quickly forgotten afterwards.