American Ninja
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Movie Reviews of American Ninja
Movie Review: American Ninja
Summary: 5 Stars
Martial Arts along with villan you Love to Hate. Not very realistic but a good movie just the same.Movie Review: Simplistic Kung Fu Fun.
Summary: 4 Stars
American Ninja is a simple-minded little Kung Fu action flick that is here simply for entertainment, no more no less. And let me start off by saying that American Ninja is by no means a film to be taken to heart, it's cheesy and hokey and is pumped full of the most annoying sword sound effects since The Street Fighter, but, American Ninja can be a fun little 80's flick that will keep you on the edge of your couch cushion for an hour and a half if you view it with all your logic in suspension and a nice bag of Act III. With all that said, let me get to the plot run down. Pretty boy Michael Dudikoff (with bulging biceps and all) plays new Army recruit "Joe", who, on only his second day on the job, gets caught up in a weapons heist while delivering Military supplies by a group of rogue guerrillas and a few Ninjas. Using his martial arts skills to fend off the lethal Ninjas, he saves himself and the colonel's daughter, Patricia Hickock, while 4 American soldiers are killed by the Ninjas. Upon his safe return to base, his fellow soldiers seem to have a newfound hatred for their "hero". All the while, a secret Military weapons exchange is being conducted among certain dirty Military head honchos and a local crime lord who feel that "Joe" is a threat to their operation and must be silenced. In addition to that sub-plot, we also learn a vague description of "Joe" and his past while the all too suspicious Black Star Ninja hounds his every move. American Ninja just tries too hard sometimes, I'm sure the minds who conceived this neato little Kung Fu flick intended for the film to be taken seriously, but deep down American Ninja is no more than a simple popcorn flick with a cute actor who bears his biceps nearly 90% of the film that by no means is meant to give us a new view on life and a warm-hearted feeling upon completion. By no means will you ever enjoy an ounce of American Ninja if you watch it expecting the likes of "Philadelphia". View it as nothing more than entertainment, or a WWE match with a plot, otherwise you'll be on here crying a river about how you got ripped for 10 bucks, just turn off your mind and relax.As for the DVD quality of American Ninja, I must say MGM pumped out a nice budget title and put some faith in a relatively forgotten film. The transfer is pure and crisp, flesh tones are bright and the picture is clear and vibrant with no sign of aging. A high quality 1.85:1 transfer for such a lost 80's hit. As for the sound, well, I guess the quality is fine; as good as it's going to get for a Mono mix. But I guess the constant, cheesy little sword slashes and fake punches got to me, not that this has anything to do with the quality of the mix, it's the sound effects that got bothersome in those few scenes. So other than that, the mix is great and the sounds are well divided and decipherable from one another. As for features, we get an interesting little trailer that die-hard American Ninja fans will adore. The trailer is an old little 80's trailer with that booming voice we are so familiar with that narrated half of the 80's Action flicks way back when that bears the original title American Warrior. Kind of nostalgic and one for the fans. Plus the trailer itself is in great shape and has some decent, if not tiresome and aged sound.
American Ninja is a simple film that will keep you munching on popcorn for a good 95 minutes. If you are a fan of Martial Arts films or the cheesy Action films of the Reagan era then I can give a full-hearted recommendation for American Ninja. Those who have the viewing mentality of Roger Ebert need to steer clear, you'll only be complaining of the lack of relevance American Ninja fails to hold. Simply put, American Ninja is simply for the Action fans or those who feel like adding another mindless title to their growing collection, and for the Budget price and the high quality transfer I can easily say it's worth the price. Thanks for reading my lengthy review of American Ninja; I hope it helps in your decision.
Movie Review: Believe it or not, I'm a deadly ninja
Summary: 4 Stars
There is but one "Greatest American Hero," and, as Michael Dudikoff shows, it isn't a big-haired William Katt in a red alien-leotard. A film that will surely endure for the ages, along with the Cold War-inspired "Gymkata" and Jackie Chan's infamous second American effort "The Protector," "American Ninja" is one of the many '80s martial arts flicks that, if released today, would have found itself sitting on a Blockbuster shelf collecting dust with the other straight-to-video B-fare.
Dudikoff plays Joe, a silent soldier with a shrouded past stationed in the Philippines. During an attack by mercenaries on an army convoy, Joe shows-off his martial arts skills, single-handedly taking out several men armed with automatic weapons. Too bad Joe leaves his other army buddies behind when a band of ninjas come.
After the deadly ninja-slaughter, Joe is ostracized by the rest of his camp who all blame the deaths of some good soldiers on his flashy hot-shot karate. He wins back his comrades' respect like any average Joe would: beating one of them up with a garden hose and dowel rod while wearing a bucket on his head.
After a series of army double-crosses, motorcycle jumps, exploding jeeps and attacks by foreign ninjas, Joe comes to learn about his true and martial arts-filled past. It turns out that Joe was raised by a Japanese soldier who trained him in the art of the ninja. Injured by man's drive to subjugate nature, Joe gets separated from his pseudo-adoptive ninja father when forested area by their home is blown up to make way for a highway.
Joe, now realizing he's not just a real American hero but also an American ninja, fights ninjas and mercenaries to save his superior's daughter and even gets to run through a ninja obstacle course reminiscent of a "Double Dare" physical challenge. But at the end of the day, Joe's still Joe and the movie is still great grade-B cheese.
Movie Review: "The Black Star Ninja has betrayed the code. "
Summary: 4 Stars
I watched this film earlier today and you know what? For being 20 years old this movie holds up remarkably well. Much better than the previous year's NINJA III: THE DOMINATION, which was instantly dated thanks to the FLASHDANCE influence.
New recruit Michael Dudikoff unwillingly gets mixed up in some illegal arms transaction between crooked Army brass and a group of ninjas. He also accidentally arouses the lustful attention of the Colonel's hot tan daughter! But before he can make sweet love he's got to stop the evil ninja clan!
Some reviewers mention this as a "guilty pleasure" I disagree. With great fight scenes, icky sound effects every time somebody gets stabbed, a fun story and a energetic performance by Steve James there's no way you can classify this as a guilty pleasure. It's too good for that.
Judie Aronson who plays Dudikoff's hot girlfriend gets naked a few times in FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER.
D: Sam Fastener (NINJA III: THE DOMINATION, REVENGE OF THE NINJA)
Joe Armstrong - Michael Davidoff (BACHELOR PARTY, TRON)
Curtis Jackson - Steve James (I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA, WEIRD SCIENCE)
Patricia Hickock - Judie Aronson (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER, WEIRD SCIENCE)
Movie Review: Dudikoff, baby!
Summary: 4 Stars
Our buddies at Cannon figured they should strike while the iron was hot and get a little more out of their successful ninja franchise. Having found success with already established action stars, they tried to make their own in the form of MICHAEL DUDIKOFF-THE AMERICAN NINJAAAAAA! Well, Dudikoff never achieved superstardom, but he'll always be recognized as "Joe". His screen presence isn't bad at all. He's got a boyish look and a rather soft spoken demeanor different from most action tough guys. He plays a soldier who, like Rodney, gets no respect. When he finally beats Steve James(a cool sidekick I might add) in a fight, he becomes rather popular. He takes on an army of evil ninjas that threaten the fate of the world! Ther lead ninja is a mean brute who kills his fellow ninjas during routine practices. This movie's fun.....very fun. Sure it's lame as all hell, but someone must have liked it coz it spawned four sequels.