026 4 This movie ranks right up there with Bruce Lee's best . Groundbreaking for 21st century martial arts movies . This one sets the standard and raises the bar so high that maybe only a sequel could come close to it . Great story ! Great foreshadowing ! Great acting ! And unbelievable fight scenes and visual effects ! This movie truly got the shaft at the Oscars ! Come on , not even a nomination for visual effects ? I would still understand an Avatar win , but come on , at least a nomination . Its only obvious downfall is the fact that it is more violent than every film Quentin Tarantino ever made , possibly put together . Not necessarily bad , but a turnoff if the movie-goer is opposed to excessive violence . For what this movie is , it delivers on every level ! I did not watch this movie , I experienced it !
008 4 I've seen a bunch of ninja movies from the 80 ' s on and so far , this is THE best ninja movie ever . Awesome fight scenes and sequences , great sound quality and Sho Kosugi is in it . If you haven't heard of him imdb him and you'll know why he's famous . I give the storyline 4 out of 5 but the overall movie action sequence puts this in the 5 scale . I love ancient martial arts being brought back in the modern world . If you love ninja action movies , this is a must see .
076 4 ive been a fan of karate movies since the 60 ' s and this one is the best so far . . . . better than crouching tiger hidden dragon . . . for both movies you must suspend your credulity but in ninja assasin you think . . . . . hmmmm well that could be possible
090 4 Awesome guy flick with tons of action . Great value to also get the digital download with it .
063 4 When I saw the previews I knew there was something great about this movie . Ninja Assassin takes the best of the ninja action from anime classics , such as Ninja Scroll , and brings them to life . What makes this movie better than most is not the hand to hand fighting , but the weapons and intense training employed by ninjas . Normally where in most movies with ninjas you would see a couple of shurikens thrown here and there , NOT HERE , that is where the fun comes in . It's feasible dozens are thrown over time like a storm and they come out of nowhere , it seems . There are a lot of things that set this movie apart from many others and it is definitely worth seeing .
030 4 if your a fan of japanese ninja movies like i am , this movie turns it on its ear as if this was an anime . I thought for a minut i was watching something from the creator of ninja scroll . this was a movie , man this was entertaining . blood , awsome f / x , good script good acting , and there is a little somthing in there for you female friend too . this was in all honesty . . . the s ! @ t .
060 4 THEY DONT MAKE MOVIES LIKE THIS ANYMORE ! THEY DIDNT HOLD BACK ON ANYTHING AND THIS IS A MOVIE I CAN APPRECIATE , WATCH OVER AND OVER , AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS GONNA BE A CLASSIC . I CANT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AND I HOPE THEY DONT MESS IT UP !
091 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
even though the story isnt the most compelling . . . WHO CARES RAIN WHUPS BUTT AND SLAUGHTERS EVERYTHING MOVING IN AN INCREDIBLY VIOLENT WAY AND I LOVE IT ! excellent ninja movie !
092 4 even though the story isnt the most compelling . . . WHO CARES RAIN WHUPS BUTT AND SLAUGHTERS EVERYTHING MOVING IN AN INCREDIBLY VIOLENT WAY AND I LOVE IT ! excellent ninja movie !
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE ! No doubt the reason why this is being so highly rated is because Ninja / Kung Fu movies have die hard fans . They usually can't see anything objectively through their Ninja colored glasses .
Ninja Assasin is a fun popcorn flick ( if you can keep your food down ? ) ! There is a choppy story line that is not bad . The acting on the other hand is ( for the most part ) . Rain a Korean Pop Star , plays a deadly Ninja named Raizo . he was abducted as a young child and trained to become a deadly assasin . The family kills the only thing he ever loved which sets Raizo on a hellbent course to destroy them . That's it . . . not really much else .
Now if you don't care for acting and execution , but you love stylized kung fu violence , this movie is for you !
NOW FOR MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS : This movie is probably best suited for full 1080p viewing ! It looks great , and sounds awesome too . FINAL THOUGHTS : Wait for it on cable ! NINJA FANS : Go get your black suits on and take out your foam nunchucks . . . BUY !
031 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE ! No doubt the reason why this is being so highly rated is because Ninja / Kung Fu movies have die hard fans . They usually can't see anything objectively through their Ninja colored glasses .
Ninja Assasin is a fun popcorn flick ( if you can keep your food down ? ) ! There is a choppy story line that is not bad . The acting on the other hand is ( for the most part ) . Rain a Korean Pop Star , plays a deadly Ninja named Raizo . he was abducted as a young child and trained to become a deadly assasin . The family kills the only thing he ever loved which sets Raizo on a hellbent course to destroy them . That's it . . . not really much else .
Now if you don't care for acting and execution , but you love stylized kung fu violence , this movie is for you !
NOW FOR MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS : This movie is probably best suited for full 1080p viewing ! It looks great , and sounds awesome too . FINAL THOUGHTS : Wait for it on cable ! NINJA FANS : Go get your black suits on and take out your foam nunchucks . . . BUY !
032 4 STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE ! No doubt the reason why this is being so highly rated is because Ninja / Kung Fu movies have die hard fans . They usually can't see anything objectively through their Ninja colored glasses .
Ninja Assasin is a fun popcorn flick ( if you can keep your food down ? ) ! There is a choppy story line that is not bad . The acting on the other hand is ( for the most part ) . Rain a Korean Pop Star , plays a deadly Ninja named Raizo . he was abducted as a young child and trained to become a deadly assasin . The family kills the only thing he ever loved which sets Raizo on a hellbent course to destroy them . That's it . . . not really much else .
Now if you don't care for acting and execution , but you love stylized kung fu violence , this movie is for you !
NOW FOR MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS : This movie is probably best suited for full 1080p viewing ! It looks great , and sounds awesome too . FINAL THOUGHTS : Wait for it on cable ! NINJA FANS : Go get your black suits on and take out your foam nunchucks . . . BUY !
042 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I truly was not anticipating how good this movie turned out to be , the actor , Rain was awesome in just about every aspect ! A decent story line , coupled with outstanding stunts & martial arts , made this a memorable film ! Even my fiance , who doesn't like martial art flicks , thought it was brilliant ! Buy it today & watch it over and over , without doubt . . . . FIVE AMAZING STARS !
043 4 I truly was not anticipating how good this movie turned out to be , the actor , Rain was awesome in just about every aspect ! A decent story line , coupled with outstanding stunts & martial arts , made this a memorable film ! Even my fiance , who doesn't like martial art flicks , thought it was brilliant ! Buy it today & watch it over and over , without doubt . . . . FIVE AMAZING STARS !
073 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( Video On Demand )
Concept from trailer seemed like fun , but the execution was poor . Some Kung Fu scenes were OK , but the plot and acting were terrible .
093 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
OK so I loved this movie . It is over the top and predictable . . . so what ? ! It is very , very gory . Definitely not for the squeamish . It reminds me of the graphic novel movies that have come out in recent years . Don't overthink it , just watch and enjoy .
094 4 OK so I loved this movie . It is over the top and predictable . . . so what ? ! It is very , very gory . Definitely not for the squeamish . It reminds me of the graphic novel movies that have come out in recent years . Don't overthink it , just watch and enjoy .
The Domination more times than I can remember . But why ? It was never about the plot , of course , but the fascinating and extraordinary world of ninja lore . Put that concept together with an actual Hollywood budget , the director of V for Vendetta , production by the creators of The Matrix , and even star the legendary Kosugi himself as the villain , and , aesthetically , you may have the best-looking ninja flick to date . Simple story aside , what the film excels at is brutal violence , some dazzling acrobatics , a mesmerizing mysticism , and a propensity for blood-spatter . Performing in his first major role , Rain does an excellent job portraying and conveying the relentlessness and grit of his character , while Kosugi plays the Boss character with wicked aptitude and a type of vigor that many will reminisce of from his glory days . If anything , my only complaint would be that movie ended before I knew it .
Video - 4.5
Presented by Warner Bros . in 1080p using the VC - 1 codec at an original aspect ratio of 2.39 : 1 , Ninja Assassin looks quite good . Black levels , the most important factor and dominant color within the photography , are dead-on . I saw the movie twice in theaters and admit having trouble actually watching a good majority of the ninja action within the darkness . But here on Blu-ray , I have absolutely no problem . Shadow delineation is flawless , resulting in zero loss of quality and allowing me to not miss a single beat of the choreography outside of a few fast camera cuts . Colors range from lush to vibrant , though remain predominantly red when copious amounts of blood fly all over the screen . Flesh tones are very accurate for the most part as well and never feel over-saturated be it a day or night time scene . Details and textures are sharp , revealing a great amount of depth and dimensionality . The only problem I have is with one instance of distracting contrast in the scene where Raizo cuts Ozunu's face . It's as if they're on two completely different planes , but it may just be a result of the special effects sequence . I think I also spotted a few specs of debris here and there . Other than those minor quibbles , though , this is easily reference material if you're wanting to showcase the color black .
Audio - 5.0
While the video presentation may be slightly debatable , the audio presentation is not . The DTS-HD 5.1 track for Ninja Assassin is a ninja fan's dream come true . High / low ends have no discrepancies , easily differentiating between heavy and light sounds . Directionality becomes extremely engaging when the shurikens start flying , blades start clanging , and chains start rattling from all directions , which are doubly complimented by the dynamic range of the LFE levels . Thumps , thuds , and bumps have all kinds of subtleties between the sound of music , bodies hitting the floor , and shurikens managing to clunk themselves into either a wall , a chunk of wood , or human flesh . Gunfire from automatic rifles and machine guns also emanate a good deal of bass . Dialogue is clear-cut and never suffers from any dropout or volume anomalies , and the track shows some particularly good examples of immersion when all the ninja voices start talking in unison . Definitely use this title to showcase your surround systems .
Extras 4.0
Although the extras clock in at just under 40 minutes , I actually found all of it to be quite informative and entertaining . The first feature , The Myth and Legend of Ninjas , is a discussion about their origins and evolved perception over the years . It's relatively short , but actually very interesting to hear about how the legacy has progressed from something so sacred into more of a sideshow these days . They basically give you a brief history lesson of the ninja , talk about their original purposes , display some of the weapons , and talk about ninjutsu as an overall martial philosophy . The second feature , The Extreme Sport of a Ninja , is another quick , although deceptively detailed , look at how they incorporated Parkour and a lot of other athletic disciplines into the stunt coordination and fight choreography , which really raised my appreciation for the filming process . And the final feature , Training Rain , is a surprising transformation of the Korean pop star's status from boy band-member to buffed-out stuntman . Yes , this proves that with a lot of grueling work , buff Asian guys can exist . The package also comes with a convenient DVD / Digital Copy disc that may prove useful for lending and traveling situations . The only other thing I wish they had that might've bumped the extras to a 4.5 or 5.0 is the inclusion of a Maximum Movie Mode . But oh well , it's still a good set .
Overall - 4.5
Ninja Assassin is an escapist fantasy world that's really bloody , but a lot of fun at the same time . Action , and especially ninja , fans should rejoice for this newest entry into , what seems , a long and forgotten genre that somehow got lost in the black sands of time . The plot for these films certainly aren't anything to write home about , but that was never the point anyway . It's about the atmosphere . In modern times , ninjas have always been about style , fluidity , grace , and yet this cold , fearsome paranoia that if I ever were to be targeted by one , I'd most likely die a terrible and blood-soaked death , which this movie exudes to a great degree . With near-reference video , a guaranteed pleaser for the ears , and a surprisingly entertaining set of extras , Ninja Assassin comes highly recommended .
001 4 If you want some extremely bloody ninja action , you'll get enough for three movies with Ninja Assassin . I can't think of a film that has as many limbs being cut off or higher body count than this one . Maybe the first Kill Bill flick and that's really saying something . After reading a lot of reviews from the critics , I expected a horrible story and acting to go along with the carnage , but neither were that bad . I never heard of the lead actor , played by Rain , but he is suppose to be a big singer in Asia . His performance was on and off , but his physicality stole the show . I felt the scenes that showed the main character's training from a young boy to a man at a secret assassin fortress added some depth . That sensei doesn't mess around !
Even though ninjas prefer to engage in combat in the dark , I like how you can still see what is going on in most of the fights . The many action scenes are the highlights for sure . They are brutal beyond belief , but some of the blood was a little too CGI for my tastes . Still , there were many creative kills using various slice and dice weapons . The opening scene has the most memorable kill , setting the tone for the rest of the film . And how can you not love seeing massive ninja stars being thrown at a machine gun rate of speed ?
The story is your typical martial arts fare and the acting ranges from pretty good to mediocre , but you should know better than to watch this for either of those elements . I remember a couple of weeks ago saying how the destruction of the Earth , as seen in the movie 2012 , won't likely be surpassed . Well , I doubt there will ever be another ninja film that throws as much violence , gore and action into just a little over 90 minutes . If there's a sequel , you can count me in .
002 4 1 . Are you a fan of the ninja mythos ? If yes , continue
2 . Do you like awesomely executed choreography and to be Entertained ? IF yes , go on
3 . Are you one of those people that sit back and watch ALL movies looking to be enlightened on the meaning of life and anything that doesn't make you think disgust you ? If yes , Stop , you don't belong here . If yes , Continue . . .
When this movie was being thought up , there was one thing on the mind of the director . How can I bring back the love of ninjas that I had as a young child ? His answer was to create this movie and update the premise of the ninja with the many cool things that have been done with the genre since the old days of Sho Kosugi's Revenge of the Ninja . This means , take all of the mythological aspects of the ninja :
Shadow walking ( or melding with shadows )
The mind of a Ninja ( Classic training Sequences that exist in all Martial Flicks
Wicked Sword play and creative use of weaponry
Agility beyond what normal humans have
Add in a little Ninja Magic and Jutsu
= ENTER NINJA ASSASSIN
As with all great movies and concepts this film excels at one thing in particular , Mixing Genres . Within the first 5 minutes of the story , you will realize that you aren't dealing with a strict action movie . There is a great blend of Horror , Suspense , Comedy , and down right Awesomeness . As with all action movies there are some things that people consider weak with the plot but lets not get ahead of ourselves . If you go into an action movie looking to see Schindlers List , you will be disappointed . This movie was made strictly to entertain . If it does not do that for you , then you have no blood in your veins or you should go see twilight and look at the debauchery of vampire myth and swoon over the skin of a killer . Seeing Sho Kosugi again after all these years is amazing , and to see that he is still just as awesome as he was in the 80s when I was a child is Inspirational . Everyone does their job in the film acting wise , and After months of training and choreography and turning his body into a killing machine , Rain pulls it all together . I have actually read the script for this movie and there are some things that I hope are included with the blu ray . The ideas that are touched on in the film would make great stories in themselves and I for one hope that this implies that the Ninja Renaissance is upon us . Its been too long .
The only thing you get from this movie is visceral action , classic ninja cinema , and a plot that fits the moment .
A lot of people went into this movie thinking that they were going to go see the next Matrix film , as they do with any film that has the Wachowskis banner on it somewhere . This has lead to a lot of films by them and their protege McTiegue being overlooked . The biggest crime being the bad press that Speed Racer Received even though it was one of the best family movies ever . Buy Ninja Assassin and you will not be disappointed .
003 4 OMG , I had no idea Rain was playing Raizo until the day before I went to watch the movie . I have to say that I was pleasantly suprised by his transformation from boy band hotty to Hot Ninja Assasin ! I know he must have worked his butt off to get that body lean enough to do some of the actions in this movie . If you love blood / gore and ninja action then you will definately enjoy this movie . The synopsis was mentioned in the previous review so I won't go into that again , but I will say that the working chemistry between Rain and Naomi in this movie was relaxed and not ackward like in some movies in this genre like kiss of the dragon or Romeo must die where I get the feeling the actor / actress is acting rather than in a natural state of being . Sounds weird but I definately noticed the difference . I hope to see Rain in more lead roles , he makes one hellofa ninja .
004 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
A skilled assassin who was trained by a mythical secret society , and patiently awaits the day he will avenge the death of his best friend . Swept off the streets as a young boy , Raizo is transformed into an unstoppable killing machine by a secret society known as the Ozunu Clan . The Ozunu Clan is so proficient at keeping their existence a secret that most people think they are only a myth , but the moment Ozuno assassins kill Raizo's friend , their days in the shadows are numbered . In the aftermath of that killing , Raizo stages a daring escape , subsequently biding his time until the day he can take the entire Ozunu Clan down . Visually this movie is incredible . It's unlike anything you've ever seen . The fighting is quick , furious and the story although not completely involving is involving enough so that you kinda like the characters . What this movie does explosively well is decapitate , disembowel and explode it's victims across it's blood soaked screen . It's an exciting piece of cinematic brilliance . It delivers on its title , wicked weapons , killer moves and bloody battles at its all-time best .
005 4 A skilled assassin who was trained by a mythical secret society , and patiently awaits the day he will avenge the death of his best friend . Swept off the streets as a young boy , Raizo is transformed into an unstoppable killing machine by a secret society known as the Ozunu Clan . The Ozunu Clan is so proficient at keeping their existence a secret that most people think they are only a myth , but the moment Ozuno assassins kill Raizo's friend , their days in the shadows are numbered . In the aftermath of that killing , Raizo stages a daring escape , subsequently biding his time until the day he can take the entire Ozunu Clan down . Visually this movie is incredible . It's unlike anything you've ever seen . The fighting is quick , furious and the story although not completely involving is involving enough so that you kinda like the characters . What this movie does explosively well is decapitate , disembowel and explode it's victims across it's blood soaked screen . It's an exciting piece of cinematic brilliance . It delivers on its title , wicked weapons , killer moves and bloody battles at its all-time best .
006 4 Ninja Assassin opens with a very bloody action sequence , in which a gang of Japanese yakuza mobsters are murdered by a deadly ninja . The assassin's attack is much faster than Uma Thurman's heroine in Kill Bill Vol .1 . The killer ( or killers ) is silent and almost invisible and the gangsters have no chance from the beginning . The scene ends with severed heads and limbs in a pool of blood . We don't know why they should be killed , but we do know we are in for an extremely gory action flick .
But we have to wait for that action to happen . The over-the-top violence is followed by the not-so-impressive storyline , in which Europol agent Mika Coretti ( Naomie Harris ) investigates a series of assassinations that she suspects are related to a mysterious clan of ninjas . In the meanwhile , we are introduced to a man named Raizo ( Rain ) , who lives alone in an apartment room almost bare of furniture .
Ninja Assassin is a modern-day version of Grade-B ninja action movies , with special effects and martial arts stunts . Ozunu , a very strict leader of the clan , is played by Shô Kosugi , star of the cult ninja films during the 1980s . Hero's name Raizo reminds us of Ichikawa Raizo , Japanese actor best known for his role of the swordsman Nemuri Kyoshiro . The film is helmed by James McTeigue , director of V for Vendetta .
The intention of the producers ( including Joel Silver , Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski ) is clear - a cool and edgy ninja action film updated for the new generation . Sadly they forgot one thing : action . The stunts themselves are decent , but set-pieces are marred by choppy editing . The narrative is uneven and awkward with too many flashbacks . Actors did a fine job , but James McTeigue is not ready for this kind of big action flick , relying too much on CGI-created blood and weapons .
Though it is one of the critically bashed films released in 2009 , Ninja Assassin is not as bad as you might be led to believe . The idea of modern ninja action film is not bad . It only needs a better director .
007 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I've seen a bunch of ninja movies from the 80 ' s on and so far , this is THE best ninja movie ever . Awesome fight scenes and sequences , great sound quality and Sho Kosugi is in it . If you haven't heard of him imdb him and you'll know why he's famous . I give the storyline 4 out of 5 but the overall movie action sequence puts this in the 5 scale . I love ancient martial arts being brought back in the modern world . If you love ninja action movies , this is a must see .
009 4 I bought this movie just from seeing the trailer and it was worth it . The action and fighting scenes were great . My wife thought it was too gross with the body chopping off and flying everywhere but I enjoyed it . I haven't seen many ninja films before , mostly kung fu fighting such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan movie but this one is as good . The star action Rain , I only heard of him once , but he sold me on the fighting . The training for the actor was excellent since I knew he worked hard to make it looked great on film . Definately recommending this .
011 4 Ninjas are the epitome of awesome . Period . Screw pirates , Chuck Norris , or even Caption Falcon's super-effective Falcon Punch . Ninjas are awesome .
Now that we have established the awesomeness that is the ninja , on with the review .
Although ninjas can be found in almost any outlet in both Eastern and Western media , it seemed that ninjas in movies hit quite a bit of a dry spell . While the animated TMNT movie was a nice turn around after the last two weak films , and Snake-Eyes was probably the only redeeming factor in Stephen Sommer's summer blockbuster adaptation of G.I . Joe , we rarely get the opportunity to be presented a good film centered primarily around ninjas . From producers Wachowski Brothers and Joel Silver , the same gents that brought you The Matrix Trilogy , Speed Racer , and V For Vendetta comes Ninja Assassin ( directed by James McTeige who also directed V For Vendetta ) , a movie about , well , ninjas fighting each other .
Taken in as an orphan under the powerful Ozunu clan , Raizo is rigorously trained with his fellow orphans to become ninja assassins - a process that is best described as hell . Despite the extremely harsh routines , Raizo finds some compassion from Kiriko , a kunoichi ( female ninja ) , who resents the way of the shinobi . The years pass , and the two become romantically involved . But when Kiriko attempts to flee the Ozunu clan but is ultimately captured , Raizo is forced to see her executed , a tradition of the clan for treacherous ninjas .
Raizo continues to train , and soon completes his first assassination . But before he can become a full-fledged ninja , he is ordered to execute another captured kunoichi who attempted to flee . He cannot bring himself to do so and instead attacks the clan ruler , Lord Ozunu . He is brought down and falls from a skyscraper into a lake , barely alive .
Later in Germany , a Europol agent Mika Correti conducts an investigation on various assassinations around the world , and draws a connection to these and many high-value transactions to the Ozunu organization , as well as the assassination of a KGB operative who ran a similar investigation earlier . Targeted as a threat , the Ozunu sends an assassin to silence Mika , only the be interrupted by Raizo . Wanting revenge for Kiriko's death , Raizo agrees to keep Mika alive and help her organization to destroy the Ozunu clan .
In comparison to McTeige's previous effort in V For Vendetta , the story in Ninja Assassin takes the backseat . And like many martial-arts films before , it follows many traditions and cliches to be expected close to heart - including minimal character development and some unseasoned dialogue . While often times the film earnestly tries to take it's plot and setting seriously at times , it ultimately doesn't do much to elevate more juicy story elements . While what is here is adequate enough for what the film tries to accomplish , fans of more complex stories should probably seek out their kicks elsewhere . This isn't Kill Bill , and in it's defense , it's not trying too hard to be .
Of course , for those with appetite for bloody carnage are in for a nice treat . If the film exceeds in anything , it provides a well-rounded serving of kick-ass action . In the first ten minutes , when a ninja cleans a hangout of gun-toting yakuza and almost literally wipes the floor with their own dismembered body parts and blood , the moment is a blast to watch . While the rest of the movie never truly tops off the level of violence , I would be lying if I said that the rest of the violence in the film didn't at least made me crack a smile and a joyful snicker at least once . Although , if anything could be done less , I think McTeige could have used less of shifting back and forth into slow motion during fights like Zack Snyder .
The Bottom Line : The story's meat is never too juicy or thick . Yet , what ' Ninja Assassin ' lacks in a more compelling narrative , it makes up for delivering what many of us want from a good ninja movie - kicking a lot of butt .
The Grade : B
012 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
If I remember well , all fight sequences in Bruce Lee films were well lighted . There was a good reason for this , as Bruce was aware that his audience wanted to see his techniques . Also , when Bruce directed a movie , he avoided what director Robert Clouse did in Enter the Dragon , namely film many of the fights in close-up . Good lighting and full view of the fights were the brand of a Bruce Lee movie .
Ninja Assassin was filmed in the dark . Therefore the best action scenes go unnoticed . I can't possible imagine what could motivate filmmakers to commit such an atrocity . This movie is probably one of the best ever made , unfortunately ruined by poor lighting . Too bad .
013 4 If I remember well , all fight sequences in Bruce Lee films were well lighted . There was a good reason for this , as Bruce was aware that his audience wanted to see his techniques . Also , when Bruce directed a movie , he avoided what director Robert Clouse did in Enter the Dragon , namely film many of the fights in close-up . Good lighting and full view of the fights were the brand of a Bruce Lee movie .
Ninja Assassin was filmed in the dark . Therefore the best action scenes go unnoticed . I can't possible imagine what could motivate filmmakers to commit such an atrocity . This movie is probably one of the best ever made , unfortunately ruined by poor lighting . Too bad .
014 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Good old school action in the vein of Lone Wolf and Cub . Story is BS . If you want violent action , its there . More a rental then a purchase .
016 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( Video On Demand )
Like another reviewer said , if you're coming to this movie with the mind set of catching some deep philosophical flick , turn around and walk away , this is not for you .
That being said , it's a great flick if you're 1 . into martial arts and / or like great fight scenes or 2 . love love love Rain and would appreciate seeing him in various degrees of disrobe or 3 . Both of the above . I'm 3 so this satisfied all my needs . The movie was bloody as hell and was alternately a bit laughable and uncomfortable for that reason , but I found myself looking forward to the awesome fight scenes regardless , I learned something new about Rain as well , as I didn't know he was a martial artist as I haven't seen any Korean films and he is an excellent martial artist .
All in all a kick ass good time . Rain is a decent actor , he was neither over the top nor pitiful . The one thing that irritated me about the film was that the lead actress Naiomi Harris is a Brit , but she plays an American , why ? I didn't get that because there was no back story to her character that would have deemed that necessary . A good flick though , I recommend .
017 4 Like another reviewer said , if you're coming to this movie with the mind set of catching some deep philosophical flick , turn around and walk away , this is not for you .
That being said , it's a great flick if you're 1 . into martial arts and / or like great fight scenes or 2 . love love love Rain and would appreciate seeing him in various degrees of disrobe or 3 . Both of the above . I'm 3 so this satisfied all my needs . The movie was bloody as hell and was alternately a bit laughable and uncomfortable for that reason , but I found myself looking forward to the awesome fight scenes regardless , I learned something new about Rain as well , as I didn't know he was a martial artist as I haven't seen any Korean films and he is an excellent martial artist .
All in all a kick ass good time . Rain is a decent actor , he was neither over the top nor pitiful . The one thing that irritated me about the film was that the lead actress Naiomi Harris is a Brit , but she plays an American , why ? I didn't get that because there was no back story to her character that would have deemed that necessary . A good flick though , I recommend .
018 4 I don't like violent movies especially with blood in them .
Well , I went to see this movie because of the main actor , Rain .
I was pleasantly surprised that I truly enjoyed it in spite of violence .
I was really getting into the action , shouting at the screen , ' kill them ! '
I loved the storyline and non-stop exciting actions and yes , his perfect body ! He must have worked so hard to get that body of his .
I definitely look forward to seeing the sequel and / or more movies of Rain in Hollywood and wish him the best ! ! !
019 4 This movie could have been so much better if it was 15 - 30 minutes more . Has Hollywood decided to kill all movies over 1.5 hours ? Well we should send ninjas on them after watching this movie cut into merely decent piece of 1.5 hours of entertainment instead of GREAT 2 hours of movie greatness .
This movie reminds of the first Terminator . Instead of a future Cyborgs chasing the protagonists , the ninjas are hunting people down and they seem just as irrepressible . The first Terminator was 108 minutes long and it uses every minute to a great effect . This movie does the same with 90 minutes , but it felt much of the critical scenes were cut .
Sure , the plot is worthy of a comic book . But it started to develop real characters the audience could care about when the movie just ends . Hollywood should care more about the quality of the movie little more than the running time .
I thought the last fighting sequences were way too video gamey . They were just too bogus and fake even by Hollywood standards .
Rain has a real future as an action star . I thought his accent would be too heavy but they were very slight and did not detract from the film . I have seen movies with great Asian actors , such as Memoirs of Geisha , that were unfortunately butchered by thick indecipherable accents . This movie isn't one of them .
Overall , the action sequences are entertaining and well shot . This movie will leave the audience at the edge of their seats throughout the movie .
You will like this movie . Just not as much as you could have .
020 4 If I learned anything from this movie , it was that a properly trained ninja can dish it out . Never mind the historical facts or any of that , either , because you really don't need them . You see the title and you know what the movie is going to be about . Someone is wronged , someone wanted revenge , and someone does it bloody . If that shounds nice , then you'll love the movie .
The people who did the movie did a great job with the action ( as expected , and have had some previous experience in this area . They worked on a little thing called the Matrix and , well , it did a lot of the wonderful things this movie does . It did not do it with so much blood , however , and I like the fact that the camera seemed the be shedding a blood drive . i also thought the lead actor , Rayne , was a fitting name for a person in this film and he did a good job . Singer , comedy actor , and now stone cold killer . good moves .
The weapons here are nice , too , and a lot of the moves just look beautiful . I was not surprised by this - I was surprised by how much of it I got . It was like watching three or four action movies tied together . People die a lot here - I cannot mention that enough - and that becomes sort of nice when you have so many failures in the movie industry these days .
Want something with limited story , a lot of death , and some nice CGI / wire tricks / all kinds of other wonderful things that make you go boom ! ? Well , this is a good movie for you . i liked it and knew what I was getting into - just don't think you are going to get more than the title says and you'll be fine ( and i mean that in a great way ) .
It made me happy .
021 4 Raizo ( played by Rain ) , an orphan , was taken to a secret ninja training camp run by the Ozunu Clan when he was just a boy . After years of harsh , even deadly , training , Raizo was brought up to be the greatest ninja of the clan , even one who would one day take it over as leader .
While a child and through his growing-up years , he befriends Kiriko ( Anna Sawai ) and she is just as strong-willed as he is except where he lacks feeling , she has a heart and doesn't agree with all the clan teaches . When Kiriko tries to escape , Raizo sees what it truly means to be a member of the Ozunu Clan and from then on follows his own path to take the clan down .
Enlisting the help of a Europol agent , Mika Coretti ( Naomie Harris ) , together they try and bring the clan to justice . However , not is all what it seems and the Ozunu Clan has plans of their own . Led by Raizo's brother , Takeshi ( Rick Yune ) , the two are hunted , and only after the swords stop slicing and the blood cools will a victor be decided .
This movie is hardcore , man . There's really no other word for it . Total and utter blood-soaked craziness that reminded me of Mortal Kombat ( the game ) . I was just waiting for a low , ominous voice to say Fatality . Awesome .
The kung fu in this flick is intense , especially the swordplay . Those bladed fights were among some of the best I've seen , right up there with the stuff in Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon . Rain looked brilliant , his body and demeanor as hard as steel . More than once was I reminded of Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon with the way he moved . The flashback sequences also worked well and really added to Raizo's back story and firmly cemented us in his psyche so we know why he fights the way he does , why he's on the path he's on , and what motivates him as a ninja . Well done .
What I especially liked in this movie was the ninjas ' mystique and their power , namely the part about them being one with the shadows and the paranoia those being hunted had with the dark . The idea of always keeping the lights on and bright was a great way to play this up . The ninja-morphing with the shadows was also cool , giving the impression that these guys , after all that training , have become something more than human .
This is just one crazy bloodbath of a movie . Non-stop action . Amazing sword battles . Cool enough story to string one fight scene to the next .
Ninja Assassin is the definition of a martial arts flick .
Yeah , go check it out . Definitely .
A.P . Fuchs
Canister X
022 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I don't write many reviews and i've never written a review about a movie , but this movie has motivated me to write my thoughts on why its the best ninja movie i've ever seen .
My Review : In my opinion this film is as good as it gets . This movie is non-stop action from the opening sequence through the end . The only thing i have to warn others about is the amount of gore present in the film . Its extremely graphic . But if you can stomache the blood you'll be rewarded with one of the best fight films to ever grace your television . The sound effects are phenominal and if you don't already own a surround system then this is the perfect time to get your home theater up to par and invest in some hardware , you won't regret it . The sounds from swords , shirukins , fighting action , etc will blow your mind . This film offers a level of immersion i have never experienced in a martial arts film . In fact i don't think i'm going too far by saying this is the single best martial arts / ninja movie of all time . I'm trying to keep this review short so i'll end by saying if you have not experienced this film yet you are just cheating yourself of one of the best films of all time .
023 4 I don't write many reviews and i've never written a review about a movie , but this movie has motivated me to write my thoughts on why its the best ninja movie i've ever seen .
My Review : In my opinion this film is as good as it gets . This movie is non-stop action from the opening sequence through the end . The only thing i have to warn others about is the amount of gore present in the film . Its extremely graphic . But if you can stomache the blood you'll be rewarded with one of the best fight films to ever grace your television . The sound effects are phenominal and if you don't already own a surround system then this is the perfect time to get your home theater up to par and invest in some hardware , you won't regret it . The sounds from swords , shirukins , fighting action , etc will blow your mind . This film offers a level of immersion i have never experienced in a martial arts film . In fact i don't think i'm going too far by saying this is the single best martial arts / ninja movie of all time . I'm trying to keep this review short so i'll end by saying if you have not experienced this film yet you are just cheating yourself of one of the best films of all time .
024 4 the picture is clearer , closed captioning is available and you get the hear the great whispers you missed the in the theatre . When the holes in the movie are filled in by the deleted scenes . If you liked the movie ; you'll love this dvd . This is a sleeper like Equilibrium .
025 4 Movie - 4.5
Being born and growing up in the ' 80s , I had something of a ninja complex . Snakes Eyes and Storm Shadow from G.I . Joe , the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , heck , even Super Ninja from Chuck Norris ' Karate Kommandos were all inspirations to me . But when we're talking about ninja influences of the ' 80s , the name that still resonates with most ninja fans today is Sh Kosugi . With almost a dozen movies made in that decade alone , Kosugi could be argued as the perennial iconic figure that helped catapult ninja mythology in the U.S . What most of us associate with ninjas today probably includes something along the lines of shadowy backdrops , a sacred katana or kusarigama ( chain and sickle ) , a boatload of shurikens , termination by stealth , and some form of ninjutsu magic , which is essentially what we got from the ninja boom of the ' 80s . I , for one , found myself watching American Ninja , Revenge of the Ninja , and Ninja III : The Domination more times than I can remember . But why ? It was never about the plot , of course , but the fascinating and extraordinary world of ninja lore . Put that concept together with an actual Hollywood budget , the director of V for Vendetta , production by the creators of The Matrix , and even star the legendary Kosugi himself as the villain , and , aesthetically , you may have the best-looking ninja flick to date . Simple story aside , what the film excels at is brutal violence , some dazzling acrobatics , a mesmerizing mysticism , and a propensity for blood-spatter . Performing in his first major role , Rain does an excellent job portraying and conveying the relentlessness and grit of his character , while Kosugi plays the Boss character with wicked aptitude and a type of vigor that many will reminisce of from his glory days . If anything , my only complaint would be that movie ended before I knew it .
Video - 4.5
Presented by Warner Bros . in 1080p using the VC - 1 codec at an original aspect ratio of 2.39 : 1 , Ninja Assassin looks quite good . Black levels , the most important factor and dominant color within the photography , are dead-on . I saw the movie twice in theaters and admit having trouble actually watching a good majority of the ninja action within the darkness . But here on Blu-ray , I have absolutely no problem . Shadow delineation is flawless , resulting in zero loss of quality and allowing me to not miss a single beat of the choreography outside of a few fast camera cuts . Colors range from lush to vibrant , though remain predominantly red when copious amounts of blood fly all over the screen . Flesh tones are very accurate for the most part as well and never feel over-saturated be it a day or night time scene . Details and textures are sharp , revealing a great amount of depth and dimensionality . The only problem I have is with one instance of distracting contrast in the scene where Raizo cuts Ozunu's face . It's as if they're on two completely different planes , but it may just be a result of the special effects sequence . I think I also spotted a few specs of debris here and there . Other than those minor quibbles , though , this is easily reference material if you're wanting to showcase the color black .
Audio - 5.0
While the video presentation may be slightly debatable , the audio presentation is not . The DTS-HD 5.1 track for Ninja Assassin is a ninja fan's dream come true . High / low ends have no discrepancies , easily differentiating between heavy and light sounds . Directionality becomes extremely engaging when the shurikens start flying , blades start clanging , and chains start rattling from all directions , which are doubly complimented by the dynamic range of the LFE levels . Thumps , thuds , and bumps have all kinds of subtleties between the sound of music , bodies hitting the floor , and shurikens managing to clunk themselves into either a wall , a chunk of wood , or human flesh . Gunfire from automatic rifles and machine guns also emanate a good deal of bass . Dialogue is clear-cut and never suffers from any dropout or volume anomalies , and the track shows some particularly good examples of immersion when all the ninja voices start talking in unison . Definitely use this title to showcase your surround systems .
Extras 4.0
Although the extras clock in at just under 40 minutes , I actually found all of it to be quite informative and entertaining . The first feature , The Myth and Legend of Ninjas , is a discussion about their origins and evolved perception over the years . It's relatively short , but actually very interesting to hear about how the legacy has progressed from something so sacred into more of a sideshow these days . They basically give you a brief history lesson of the ninja , talk about their original purposes , display some of the weapons , and talk about ninjutsu as an overall martial philosophy . The second feature , The Extreme Sport of a Ninja , is another quick , although deceptively detailed , look at how they incorporated Parkour and a lot of other athletic disciplines into the stunt coordination and fight choreography , which really raised my appreciation for the filming process . And the final feature , Training Rain , is a surprising transformation of the Korean pop star's status from boy band-member to buffed-out stuntman . Yes , this proves that with a lot of grueling work , buff Asian guys can exist . The package also comes with a convenient DVD / Digital Copy disc that may prove useful for lending and traveling situations . The only other thing I wish they had that might've bumped the extras to a 4.5 or 5.0 is the inclusion of a Maximum Movie Mode . But oh well , it's still a good set .
Overall - 4.5
Ninja Assassin is an escapist fantasy world that's really bloody , but a lot of fun at the same time . Action , and especially ninja , fans should rejoice for this newest entry into , what seems , a long and forgotten genre that somehow got lost in the black sands of time . The plot for these films certainly aren't anything to write home about , but that was never the point anyway . It's about the atmosphere . In modern times , ninjas have always been about style , fluidity , grace , and yet this cold , fearsome paranoia that if I ever were to be targeted by one , I'd most likely die a terrible and blood-soaked death , which this movie exudes to a great degree . With near-reference video , a guaranteed pleaser for the ears , and a surprisingly entertaining set of extras , Ninja Assassin comes highly recommended .
027 4 I have been a big ninja fan since I was 4 ( thanks to watching ninja and kung-fu movies with my father ) . I can honestly say that this is the best ninja movie I had ever seen in my life . The action and the plot is pure genius and add all that to hi def , magical . Get this movie and tell a friend about it . You won't regret it . Rain should be the star big action kung-fu star . five out of five .
029 4 Not since the Kill Bill movies have I seen quite this much blood with the span of two hours . Limbs flying , blood squirting , heads being lopped off faster than I could keep up with what might be happening next . I guess if I can't even focus quickly enough to watch the action scenes there is not a chance in hell that I would ever be capable of Ninja like movements in real life . Good thing that my only ambition is sitting and watching the gory mutilation versus learning to be an assassin in real life .
Ninja Assassin takes on the old legend of warriors who are bread for no other reason than killing . Every country wants the perfect death machine so why not breed them from childhood . That is what the 9 clans attempt to do . The 9 clans are an old Asian myth where children are taken from their parents as toddlers and spend their early years learning the skills of killing . They are tortured when they lose , beaten when they fail and killed if they betray any of the basic guidelines . Leaving is not an option and running ends in extinction . You have no choices once you enter the clan . You cannot ever quit .
Raizo ( Rain ) is one of those children . He has a talent for the arts and a gift for weapons . The only problem is somewhere along the way he finds his heart and can't bring himself to kill a young girl even after being ordered to . He turns on his clan and that just doesn't add up to anything good . He is joined by a young Interpol agent ( insert smoking hot partner here ) and she aids him the best a librarian can . Between the two of them they take on the group of killing machines who sniff them out like a pack of wolves .
Ninja Assassin is all about action . There is not a lot of cast chemistry , no romantic ties and little real acting . It is all about as many gruesome deaths that you can pack into a two hour span . If you like action movies and hate anything else other than action this is a movie for you . I tend to like a little balance at times so left the theater short on satisfaction . That being said I did enjoy the movie just felt it would have been nice to even attempt something slightly more .
It is a great movie to see with the guys but I would not bring my girlfriend or wife with you unless she is as close to a dude as she can be without jumping over the fence to the other side . My girlfriend was thrilled that I saw it alone while she was shopping and admittedly I was thrilled she let me see it versus making me shop . It was a win win for everyone involved .
033 4 Ninja Assassin is a great movie , If your into Ninjas , Ninja Movies and Martial Arts Would Recommend . I was surprised at how good it was . Seeing as many people didn't like it , rotten tomatoes , etc . But I rented it and Really like it .
Since there is No Ninja Movie that can compare in my memory , It's one of if not the Best Modern one .
034 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
There is plenty to like about this movie , the action sequences are very well acted and presented . This is achieved with the camera moving in and out during the fighting scenes ( real and slow time ) , to capture and highlight some of the impressive moves or weapon motions .
The story focuses on one individual that has broken away from , and being hunted by a secret modern day Ninja house , that hires out it's assassin's to the highest bidder .
Due to the Kill Bill blood spillage , this is not a movie for youngsters .
035 4 There is plenty to like about this movie , the action sequences are very well acted and presented . This is achieved with the camera moving in and out during the fighting scenes ( real and slow time ) , to capture and highlight some of the impressive moves or weapon motions .
The story focuses on one individual that has broken away from , and being hunted by a secret modern day Ninja house , that hires out it's assassin's to the highest bidder .
Due to the Kill Bill blood spillage , this is not a movie for youngsters .
036 4 Having rented Ninja Assassin completely on a whim ( there was nothing else to see at the time ) I didn't really know what to expect-but from the blood soaked first couple of minutes to the huge explosive finale , I found myself constantly having to scrape my jaw off the ground .
Ninja Assassin is a rare movie in that even a seasoned movie veteran like me who thinks he's seen it all could be shown a new thing or two . I'm not usually a fan of ultra violent , blood soaked gore fests-but I'll make an exception here . The blood and nastiness is warranted to really give the audience a sense of just how deadly the Ninja Clans in this film are . Movies like these are also rare in that every single frame and every line of dialog seem to be brimming with confidence and TLC . Obviously this was given a LOT of TLC from the director and everyone involved . This films just absolutely reeks ( in a good way ) of style and class .
Surprisingly , the movie that Ninja Assassin reminds me of most is the original Terminator . Like that film , the characters find themselves being pursued by a lethal enemy who will stop at nothing to kill them . One is the protector the other the protected and the odds are not in their favor . That's where the similarities end however , because honestly-the Ninja Clans in this film make The Terminator look like a complete wuss in comparison .
It bears repeating that this film is all about style . Style , style and more style . It's slickly done , the music is loud and fitting , it's fast paced , dangerous and thrilling . The fight scenes are all high stakes and deadly and even the protagonist is not immune to receiving a beat down . It's refreshing in a time of remakes , reboots , movies based on tv shows , etc to see something so fresh and original come along . This is a great movie !
037 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
Movie was really great with a lot of action and hold on to your seat thrills . I would really recommend this - - - a keeper
038 4 Movie was really great with a lot of action and hold on to your seat thrills . I would really recommend this - - - a keeper
039 4 This movie is a stylish martial arts movie with a whole lot of action . The plot , well , isn't all that great and interesting , but the action is sort of funny at times . The opening scene of the movie is kinda funny . This movie is VERY bloody . Really over-the-top . In fact more so than the Kill Bill movies . Which I thought were pretty bloody . This one makes that one look tamed .
Overall , it was an action flick to see but is forgettable . I wish the would've spent more time in the monastary showing their training and why they were training . I really don't understand why they were there in the first place the main teacher played by Ninja veteran Sho Kosugi . But , the film was shot well . Except for a couple action shots where the Ninja would sort of dart in from the shadows , then that looked a little fake . In fact there were a couple of parts where the action looked fake . It was a little to obvious to take seriously . After a while you just had to say Okay , it's an action flick . None of it would be possible .
This movie could've been a little more involving and not so funny , if some of the stunts and blood were not so unbelieveable . Like the scene in the restroom where the main character has to take out a man for his watch . You'll see .
Overall , it isn't a bad movie if you like action . If you are more into drama , then I would recommend you pass on this one .
040 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
This movie is surprisingly good - it somehow manages to combine both massive amounts of blood , rather too much actually , with the beauty of martial arts which as always , done right , is like a dance . Rain , who plays the hero of this show , is excellent !
041 4 This movie is surprisingly good - it somehow manages to combine both massive amounts of blood , rather too much actually , with the beauty of martial arts which as always , done right , is like a dance . Rain , who plays the hero of this show , is excellent !
044 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( Video On Demand )
I thought it was a great flick . Definitely a modern spin on classic ninja movies and the Ninja tradition . Kind of bloody if you don't like that , but more realistic than other bloody movies .
045 4 I thought it was a great flick . Definitely a modern spin on classic ninja movies and the Ninja tradition . Kind of bloody if you don't like that , but more realistic than other bloody movies .
046 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
There's hardly anything bad I can say about the movie . . . I loved it ! It was awsome ! With all the cheesy Ninja movies done over the years finally one that puts an entirely new spin on the concept . 5 Stars ! There so many ways they could have gone wrong with this film . . . but everything they did was so right ! Watching this you almost think that ninja's are supernatural they way they are portrayed in this film . . . which is close enough to what people thought about them durring the era when they actually existed and were active . Absolutely awsome flick ! Nothing to say but watch it for yourself !
047 4 There's hardly anything bad I can say about the movie . . . I loved it ! It was awsome ! With all the cheesy Ninja movies done over the years finally one that puts an entirely new spin on the concept . 5 Stars ! There so many ways they could have gone wrong with this film . . . but everything they did was so right ! Watching this you almost think that ninja's are supernatural they way they are portrayed in this film . . . which is close enough to what people thought about them durring the era when they actually existed and were active . Absolutely awsome flick ! Nothing to say but watch it for yourself !
048 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Terrific picture and even better sound . The DTS-HD audio keeps the rear channels very active during action sequence . The sound really peaks near the end as it handles both continuous , rapid gun fire and flying ninja stars . Both are clearly and uniquely heard happening at the same time . There is a subtle film grain present in most scenes , but it does not peak during dark sequences , they are handled very well .
This film is about 50% action and 50% story , a lot of which is told through flashbacks . The action is very fast yet clear on a TV processing at 120hz . One scene bothered me a bit in the finale . Our hero is battling several ninja in a dojo and blood is flying everywhere , yet there is no blood on the floor . It seems to just dissipate into thin air . Also , the action wraps up at around 1hr 29mins . The movie is 99mins so I think were going to get a nice epilogue . Instead the movie ends about a minute later and we get 9mins of credits .
For me , the holy grail of blood and guts horror films has always been Peter Jackson's Dead Alive . Although some have claimed to have topped his grizzly visual assault , none have really come close . The holy grail of blood and guts action films has been Kill Bill , with no close contender . That is until now . I would say Ninja Assassin is now a very close second in that context . Enjoy !
049 4 Terrific picture and even better sound . The DTS-HD audio keeps the rear channels very active during action sequence . The sound really peaks near the end as it handles both continuous , rapid gun fire and flying ninja stars . Both are clearly and uniquely heard happening at the same time . There is a subtle film grain present in most scenes , but it does not peak during dark sequences , they are handled very well .
This film is about 50% action and 50% story , a lot of which is told through flashbacks . The action is very fast yet clear on a TV processing at 120hz . One scene bothered me a bit in the finale . Our hero is battling several ninja in a dojo and blood is flying everywhere , yet there is no blood on the floor . It seems to just dissipate into thin air . Also , the action wraps up at around 1hr 29mins . The movie is 99mins so I think were going to get a nice epilogue . Instead the movie ends about a minute later and we get 9mins of credits .
For me , the holy grail of blood and guts horror films has always been Peter Jackson's Dead Alive . Although some have claimed to have topped his grizzly visual assault , none have really come close . The holy grail of blood and guts action films has been Kill Bill , with no close contender . That is until now . I would say Ninja Assassin is now a very close second in that context . Enjoy !
050 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
i have seen many ninja movis but this one is semply the best .
it is bloooooooooody as hell
051 4 i have seen many ninja movis but this one is semply the best .
it is bloooooooooody as hell
052 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie was beyond excellent . Best ninja movie I ` ve ever seen . And Sho Kosugi best actor & movie ever , better than all the other ` s . And Rain excellent job .
053 4 This movie was beyond excellent . Best ninja movie I ` ve ever seen . And Sho Kosugi best actor & movie ever , better than all the other ` s . And Rain excellent job .
054 4 If you're planning on going over the top there can be but one destination . . . NINJA ASSASSIN .
Despite having one of the most redundant movie titles ever , this joint is an express train to Badassvill . NINJA ASSASSIN is exactly what a ninja flick is supposed to be , precisely what every 80 ' s ninja flick wanted to be and totally what I'd have done if I made ninja flicks . Geysers of ninja blood not medically feasible , cascades of ninja shuriken * blocking out the light and an acid trip of ninja martial arts unseen since The Matrix await you .
Is there a ninja story ? Ninja please !
If you're put off by brutal ninja training flashbacks , supernatural ninja powers , forbidden ninja love , ninja betrayal , ninja vengeance and plenty of tough-guy ninja glaring , go watch the notebook sissy-pants cuz NINJA ASSASSIN is going to sneak up and kick you in the girly parts in a completely unsneaky way .
DO NOT watch this movie with people who presume to know anything about ninjas , historically minded ass-tards that can't just enjoy stuff or female companions who have ever said I don't get it . during a movie .
Ninja .
* I must note that the shuriken in this movie aren't the credit card thin coaster sized hunks of crap you'd buy at the local dirt mall form the creepy guy . NO SIR ! These things are armor piercing hub caps that make a noise in flight like a P - 51 ' s prop coming loose sound like a damn tire iron when they hit something .
055 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( Video On Demand )
The fight scenes have a wow factor similar to the 300 movie . The story like flowed very well . Some very impossible magical healings took away from the believability factor several times even for a Ninja movie . Still , a very well done movie with some really nice action fight scenes you haven't seen before . I expect we will see more movies from the star actors ( young and old ) as they had very good on screen presence .
056 4 The fight scenes have a wow factor similar to the 300 movie . The story like flowed very well . Some very impossible magical healings took away from the believability factor several times even for a Ninja movie . Still , a very well done movie with some really nice action fight scenes you haven't seen before . I expect we will see more movies from the star actors ( young and old ) as they had very good on screen presence .
057 4 This movie is bloody , violent and action packed . Not for the faint of heart . I'm so glad I saw it in the theater but can't wait to watch it again at home . One of the best ninja movies out today . . . .
058 4 Ok , do you like ninja's ? I sure do . Do you like anime styled live action flicks ? I do . Do you like movie that push the envelope of what we love seeing in a movie ? At this point why wouldn't you . Andy and Lana Wachowski know there stuff , and have a assembled an awesome crew . This movie is balls to the wall great , if your like me , and you've always thought martial art flicks should be even more EXTEME and go even further with ninja's melding into the shadows ( ala Ninja Scroll , and Naruto ) , and moving faster and kicking more ass than ever before . Then this is your movie .
I've loved the Wachowski's since The Matrix Trilogy , loved ' em through V for Vendetta , Speed Racer , and now this , these guys are hardcore fans of sci-fi , anime , martial arts , and all things awesome , and they bring that to the screen . You have to see this movie , blood-splattering good time : )
059 4 I originally saw Ninja Assasin in the theatre and it blew me away . Now THIS is a martial arts movie worthy of even the Run Run Shaw label . It has all the right elements and it does not skimp on the blood . If you want to see a really good popcorn movie - N . A . is it .
Suprise #1 : A pop singer stars in this movie as the rogue ninja fighting his former comrades . Suprise #2 : He is superb in the role . His stunt work is impressive as well as his acting . The atuff with the Kyoketsu shoge ( whip chain ) was amazing .
Surprise #3 : The director of this film knows his craft - the fight scenes were well choreographed and edited and the movie moved along at a good pace .
The biggest surprise : Sho Kosugi , Mr . Ninja Theatre himself , is in this movie portraying the Ninja clan leader . If you like films like Shogun Assasin , then buy this film .
I can't wait for the sequel !
061 4 I had been surprised in a very positive way by this movie which led me to watch past The End and found the names of Joel Silver and the Wachowski Brothers ( those who made The Matrix ) , that I had regained part of my confidence lost in them for Speed Racer . The story is standard but fast , period . The choreography and action are great yet bloody . One may not like the face of the main actor Rain . However , his body is very convincing although the ending is a little bit overdone . Definitely a very good choice of rental after a hard day's work . Recommended .
062 4 The movie was great and quite intriguing for the beginning to the end of it . Had a little too much blood in it but I guess thats what happens when you utilize such weapons and it is a situation of your life or theirs in a deadly mortal kombat .
064 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
Not the best acting or story line , but if you are in the mood for a great in your face action movie . This is it . I would also steer clear of this movie if you don't like gory movies , because there is a lot of blood . But that is really what makes the movie . I've recommended it to all of my friends , and I'd recommend it to you too .
065 4 Not the best acting or story line , but if you are in the mood for a great in your face action movie . This is it . I would also steer clear of this movie if you don't like gory movies , because there is a lot of blood . But that is really what makes the movie . I've recommended it to all of my friends , and I'd recommend it to you too .
066 4 Even though I'm a fan of samurai films , I thought this would be a complete hokey b-movie . Boy was I proven right and wrong , haha : I already knew what it was coming into it ; i.e . you should never take an action movie's plot too seriously .
This movie made me remember the days as a kid imagining what if ninjas really could step in and out of shadows like it was a door hole in the wall . Definitely one of the bloodiest action movies I have seen where the attacks look straight out of Ninja Scroll or as if Ryuei Kitamura directed it ; e.g . improbably slicing legs off clean with a kusarigama , and jumping ninjas in half with a katana . It fits the description both words : ridiculously cool , but the average viewer will lean towards either ridiculous or cool . Rain as a the protagonist was amazing showing off his handstand push-ups and acrobatic free-running / parkour as the true art of a ninja . It's weird to think Rain is an actual singer from Korea but making his lead role as a martial artist ( probably the only way Asians can get lead roles since it's stereo-type-cast ) .
One thing it did show promise in was breaking a stereotype , but fell short . I was hoping that they would've played more on is the racy ( pun intended ) inter-racial potential romance between characters Raizo ( Rain ) and Mika ( Naomie Harris ) . I've seen a black woman with an asian man once before and it got heads turning . This would have been original as it hasn't been done since Romeo Must Die with Aliyah and Jet Li ( which was also implied rather than showed ) and since ABCs broadcast show Flashforward between Gabrielle Union and John Cho being the only physical romance shown . I guess the movie industry is still warming up to this idea ( after all we have a democrat black president ) .
I did get angry at the scene where the movie pitched a German Europol Swat team being over run by ninjas . Hey if Japan really did have ninjas LIKE THAT than I'm pretty sure the US wouldn't have won in WWII . Don't get me wrong , the choreography made it believable in some areas that a sword beats a rifle , but the opening scene where a kusarigama aka chain and sickle / knife cut a Japanese gangster's sword and body in half . ( Research the 21 foot rule aka Tueller drill on defensive shooting )
Do I like this movie , hell yeah . Does it deserve an acting awards . . . . no . It is what I paid for though , a juiced up ride of your life and eyecandy .
067 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Well with a title like Ninja Assassin hopefully you are buying or renting this knowing what kind of movie it is going to be . It has been a while since I have seen a decent ninja movie . The story is fairly straight forward action tale . There are clans of elite ninjas that carry out political assassinations around the world . One ninja goes against the clan while an Europol researcher gets too close to the story . He ends up trying to protect her as an army of ninjas tries to kill them both . If you like action , it never really slows down . I enjoyed the story and the fighting scenes . I will point out a few things that everyone might not like . 1 . The action is quite obvious cgi for the most part . It is more Matrix than old fashioned choreography . The blood is a bit excessive . No one could live with all the blood lost in this movie . Other than that it was a fun movie .
068 4 Well with a title like Ninja Assassin hopefully you are buying or renting this knowing what kind of movie it is going to be . It has been a while since I have seen a decent ninja movie . The story is fairly straight forward action tale . There are clans of elite ninjas that carry out political assassinations around the world . One ninja goes against the clan while an Europol researcher gets too close to the story . He ends up trying to protect her as an army of ninjas tries to kill them both . If you like action , it never really slows down . I enjoyed the story and the fighting scenes . I will point out a few things that everyone might not like . 1 . The action is quite obvious cgi for the most part . It is more Matrix than old fashioned choreography . The blood is a bit excessive . No one could live with all the blood lost in this movie . Other than that it was a fun movie .
069 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I highly enjoyed this movie in theaters and couldn't wait to get it on BluRay to watch over and over again at home . I liked the stylized blood and the flow of action . Even the story was above par for me given that I've watched sooo many kung fu and ninja movies that are severely lacking in that area . I think this movie caught too much flack for the plot by reviewers who this movie was obviously not catered to .
I found that the character development for Raizo was great . . . showing him as a child , teenager and adult . . . Mr . Rain is someone I'd like to see more of in the future ! I wont lie that I enjoyed this movie probably more that i should have due to him ! Sho Kosugi was simply great in this movie as well and I definitely have to go back and re-watch his old ninja movies now ! ! !
I enjoyed the deleted scenes and the featurette on turning Rain into an actor star . You can see just how hard he trained for this movie . Great purchase I must say !
When I go to see / buy a movie , I go with the expectation of being entertained and coming out feeling good , telling all my friends and family about the great movie I just saw . . and that was definitely the case with Ninja Assassin !
070 4 I highly enjoyed this movie in theaters and couldn't wait to get it on BluRay to watch over and over again at home . I liked the stylized blood and the flow of action . Even the story was above par for me given that I've watched sooo many kung fu and ninja movies that are severely lacking in that area . I think this movie caught too much flack for the plot by reviewers who this movie was obviously not catered to .
I found that the character development for Raizo was great . . . showing him as a child , teenager and adult . . . Mr . Rain is someone I'd like to see more of in the future ! I wont lie that I enjoyed this movie probably more that i should have due to him ! Sho Kosugi was simply great in this movie as well and I definitely have to go back and re-watch his old ninja movies now ! ! !
I enjoyed the deleted scenes and the featurette on turning Rain into an actor star . You can see just how hard he trained for this movie . Great purchase I must say !
When I go to see / buy a movie , I go with the expectation of being entertained and coming out feeling good , telling all my friends and family about the great movie I just saw . . and that was definitely the case with Ninja Assassin !
071 4 Ninja Assassin is certainly one of the most stylish Ninja movies ever made . The cinematography and soundtrack are awesome , capturing the shadowy , quick moving stereotype of these black clad martial arts experts with their swords , chains , flying stars , etc . And the blood and gore is almost off the scale as you see people sliced and diced . But behind all these extravagant action scenes is also a pretty good story , interesting script , and unexpectedly good acting , The story explains through flashbacks how these adult Ninja Assassins came to be - throw away street kids subsequently enslaved in an orphanage that serves as the martial arts training ground for Ninja clans . We meet the patriarch of this so called family , Ozunu ( Sho Kosugi ) , who demands absolute loyalty , or death . Raizo ( Rain ) , rebels , survives an escape , and becomes the outcast Ninja Ninja Assassin - interesting twist on the movie title . Throw in Naomie Harris as a targeted Europol agent who knows too much about the Ninja Assassin Clan , and then teams up with Raizo to bring the Clan down , the movie then shifts into a high action bloodbath . I was fascinated with the actor Rain - what a perfectly honed body and what great martial arts choreography . The other actor that really impressed me was Sho Kosugi , the chief villain , who was really scarily sinister . The brutality scenes of the kids training at the orphanage was eye-opening , and leaves more of an impression that the stylistic , almost cartoonish , adult action . If you're into Ninja type movies , then Ninja Assassin is definitely one I'd recommend viewing .
072 4 As of late we have been lacking higher budget Ninja / Samurai / Martial Arts films . There was a sudden boom a couple years ago when
House of Flying Daggers
,
Curse of the Golden Flower
,
Hero
and many other great titles kept coming out . I love good Martial Arts movies whether it be due to great acting , superb visuals or simply intense action a good martial arts movie is always my first choice . Ninja Assassin is more of the later , non stop action , chaotic fighting and quite a lot of gore .
The acting is decent in the current time parts but is excellent in the flashback's . The kid's do a great job making the viewer feel the extreme punishment that comes with the rigorous training of a Ninja . The plot moves quickly as to not stunt the excitement of each battle . It is the battles where this movie shines however . Extremely stylized and very unrealistic the fighting in NA comes off as brutal with a to-the-death feel as if you expect the main protagonist to die at any moment . The Ninja's come off as creatures more so then men and the quiet whispering in the shadow's was an eerie touch just before they attacked .
All in all the plot was rather predictable but the insane action and chaotic fighting kept my interest . Watch it and decide for yourself but if your one whom requires intellectual dialog and a very tight and expertly crafted plot this movie is definitely not for you . This is one of those flicks you throw on after you've seen all the rest of your movies to many times for cheap thrills . Still some of the best fighting scenes I have seen in a long time and though it may fail in comparison to the previously mention Martial Arts movies , it is decent filler til the next excellent release comes out .
075 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
ive been a fan of karate movies since the 60 ' s and this one is the best so far . . . . better than crouching tiger hidden dragon . . . for both movies you must suspend your credulity but in ninja assasin you think . . . . . hmmmm well that could be possible
077 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
After skipping theatres in Australia and probably a few other countries , I ordered Ninja Assassin as soon as it became available . After watching it , I can say that I am even more disappointed that it was decided to have this as a direct-to-DVD title as it is easily the best martial arts movie I have seen to come from Hollywood . Director James McTeigue and producers Joel Silver and the Wachowskis have crafted the most entertaining movie of all their careers yet .
The biggest surprise here is Korean pop star Rain , who underwent a complete transformation to portray killing maching Raizo , which he does ever so well . Not only does he handle his fight sequences and stunts , he is a very able and convincing actor and in my opinion has a very bright future in action / martial arts films should he choose this direction .
If you're a fan of this type of genre , it doesnt get much better than this . The action choreography is sharp and crisp , thanks to an A squad stunt team consisting of Chad Stahelski , Jon Valera and Peng Zhang to name a few . Crank it up as well because the sound design and editing is of the highest standard and quality .
I have been a martial arts fan and student for close to 2 decades and I am very picky when it comes to the quality of action and the performer , there are not many credible martial arts actors out there anymore now that many of them are starting to slow it down ( Jet Li and Jackie Chan for example ) , but now my hopes have risen because there's a new kid on the block , he's gonna kick some serious arse , and his name is Rain .
BRING ON THE SEQUEL ! ! ! ! ! ! !
078 4 After skipping theatres in Australia and probably a few other countries , I ordered Ninja Assassin as soon as it became available . After watching it , I can say that I am even more disappointed that it was decided to have this as a direct-to-DVD title as it is easily the best martial arts movie I have seen to come from Hollywood . Director James McTeigue and producers Joel Silver and the Wachowskis have crafted the most entertaining movie of all their careers yet .
The biggest surprise here is Korean pop star Rain , who underwent a complete transformation to portray killing maching Raizo , which he does ever so well . Not only does he handle his fight sequences and stunts , he is a very able and convincing actor and in my opinion has a very bright future in action / martial arts films should he choose this direction .
If you're a fan of this type of genre , it doesnt get much better than this . The action choreography is sharp and crisp , thanks to an A squad stunt team consisting of Chad Stahelski , Jon Valera and Peng Zhang to name a few . Crank it up as well because the sound design and editing is of the highest standard and quality .
I have been a martial arts fan and student for close to 2 decades and I am very picky when it comes to the quality of action and the performer , there are not many credible martial arts actors out there anymore now that many of them are starting to slow it down ( Jet Li and Jackie Chan for example ) , but now my hopes have risen because there's a new kid on the block , he's gonna kick some serious arse , and his name is Rain .
BRING ON THE SEQUEL ! ! ! ! ! ! !
079 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This is a superb film with great action sequences and a pretty good story for a martial arts film .
I got this on import the other day and I'm sure the american version was actually more brutal and gory than the english one - just going by memory ? !
The HD transfer is superb and highly detailed and the fact that it comes with dvd and digital transfer for the PSP ( or any other mp4 player ? ) is a bargain .
This also works on european players with no problems ! Huge bonus - as it seems to be a kind of russian roulette nowadays with whether-or-not an import blu ray will work or be ' region locked ' ! ! ? ?
Recommend to all martial arts film enthusiasts all around the world !
080 4 This is a superb film with great action sequences and a pretty good story for a martial arts film .
I got this on import the other day and I'm sure the american version was actually more brutal and gory than the english one - just going by memory ? !
The HD transfer is superb and highly detailed and the fact that it comes with dvd and digital transfer for the PSP ( or any other mp4 player ? ) is a bargain .
This also works on european players with no problems ! Huge bonus - as it seems to be a kind of russian roulette nowadays with whether-or-not an import blu ray will work or be ' region locked ' ! ! ? ?
Recommend to all martial arts film enthusiasts all around the world !
081 4 From V For Vendetta director James McTeigue and the Wachowski's comes Ninja Assassin , a spectacularly over the top bloody blast . Japanese pop artist Rain stars as Raizo , an orphan who was raised and trained to be a ninja , and eventually went against the group . Now , he seeks to take revenge on his former clan in an effort to protect an Europol researcher ( Naomie Harris ) , which results in buckets of blood , plenty of dismembered limbs , and overall graphic ultra-violence . If you're attracted to Ninja Assassin in the least , then you already know what you're getting here , all done in a pretty flashy and stylized method , which is definitely not a bad thing here . Its story isn't anything that hasn't been done before , but the fact that McTeigue used as many big-time resources as he could here play a vital role in how the finished product ends up turning out . In that regard alone , Ninja Assassin is a success , and if you're an action film junkie , this is nigh-essential viewing .
082 4 I came into Ninja Assassin with very low expectations . That probably helped me have an overall positive impression of the movie . Let me tell you what you can probably already guess : the plot isn't anything deep or particularly compelling , the characters are stock , and the acting is just passable . That said , it's a pretty fun action movie .
The fight scenes are well choreographed and employ an excellent blood effect . Every swipe , severing slice , or star seems to unleash a half-gallon of blood from the target and it looks great . The main character looks the part and the director does a great job composing the action sequences .
If you go in expecting Crouching Tiger then you will be disappointed . If you go in expecting Blade then you will have a good time . Just remember that whenever the characters start talking , that's a great time to get up for a drink or bathroom break . They'll give you just enough time to get back before something interesting starts happening again .
083 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
First off it is a pretty good action packed movie . There were some parts of the story that were a bet more personal than a lot of movies of this genre . However ; I can overlook the fantastic things these hand held weapons could do such as making a clean cut through a skull with one hit . . . . Even a power saw would have a difficult time cutting through a skull bone with flesh around it and brains still inside . . . . Ok . . . I can just overlook that as fantasy . What gets me about so many martial art films is how they figure these trained individuals can use some learned mental conscentrations to somehow defy physics . When I see a Nija disappear with a smoke gernade that's logical . When they disappear into thin air and then come back with super human speed like Clark Kent then that's just plain magic , and plain silly . It works on Superman stories because that's part of the Superman character , but you don't start with totally human warriors and make them into super beings who can disappear , move at light speed , and even fly . At that point the story becomes a living cartoon to me . If you're an action junkie you'll get plenty of it here , but if you're looking for a movie with real warriors using their martial art skills then this is a bit of a disappointment . . .
084 4 First off it is a pretty good action packed movie . There were some parts of the story that were a bet more personal than a lot of movies of this genre . However ; I can overlook the fantastic things these hand held weapons could do such as making a clean cut through a skull with one hit . . . . Even a power saw would have a difficult time cutting through a skull bone with flesh around it and brains still inside . . . . Ok . . . I can just overlook that as fantasy . What gets me about so many martial art films is how they figure these trained individuals can use some learned mental conscentrations to somehow defy physics . When I see a Nija disappear with a smoke gernade that's logical . When they disappear into thin air and then come back with super human speed like Clark Kent then that's just plain magic , and plain silly . It works on Superman stories because that's part of the Superman character , but you don't start with totally human warriors and make them into super beings who can disappear , move at light speed , and even fly . At that point the story becomes a living cartoon to me . If you're an action junkie you'll get plenty of it here , but if you're looking for a movie with real warriors using their martial art skills then this is a bit of a disappointment . . .
085 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assassin ( DVD )
I'm not too into karate movies , yet this one is full of action . If you're into action pack and don't mind the blood and core , this is one to see .
086 4 I'm not too into karate movies , yet this one is full of action . If you're into action pack and don't mind the blood and core , this is one to see .
087 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This is a great movie with superb special effects and CGI . I definetly recommend this to anyone who loves actions movies .
088 4 This is a great movie with superb special effects and CGI . I definetly recommend this to anyone who loves actions movies .
089 4 This review is from :
Ninja Assasin [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Awesome guy flick with tons of action . Great value to also get the digital download with it .
095 4 Movie is awesome . I will leave it at that .
The blu ray . . . I mean why the hell do I even own this ? Why did they make cds , dvds , blurays . . . . We are still in the vhs world . Tons of freaking previews and NO , you can not skip them ! Not the second time you watch , not ever !
On top of the crap previews that you can't skip , one of the previews shrinks down to a smaller size as it is not 720 or 1080 . . . WTF ? This blurry piece of crap preview that I am forced to freaking watch !
