TALE OF THE TAPE
Title: American Ninja Title: Enter The Ninja
Tomato Meter: 0% Tomato Meter: No Score %
IMDB Rating: 4.8 IMDB Rating: 4.5
Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James Starring: Sho Kosugi, Frank Nero
Director: Sam Firstenberg Director: Menahem Golan
Box Office: $10.5 million Box Office: Unknown
Academy: n/a Academy: n/a
Year: 1985 Year: 1981
Two 80's ninja films clash as these two forgotten favorites of the ninja craze battle for cinematic mediocrity.
While making a few appearances in previous films such as James Bond's You Only Live Twice, it wasn't until Enter The Ninja hit theaters that ninja's became part of the pop culture consciousness of the 80's. Starring Frank Nero, he plays Cole, a Vietnam Vet who has spent time in Japan learning the ancient art of Ninjitsu, the martial arts of espionage and assassination. After graduating, much to the chagrin of Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi), a junior ninja master, and descendant from a long line of Koga ninjas. He doesn't believe in teaching the art to westerners. With the Master's blessing, Cole sets off to the Philippines to meet an old war buddy. What he finds is a friend consumed by alcohol, and a ruthless land grabber trying to seize his farm. Using his art to defend the farm, its workers, his friend and his wife, Cole earns the wrath of the wealthy land grabber, one Charles Venarius (Christopher George). He decides to fight fire with fire, and hires a ninja of his own. That ninja, you guessed it, is Hasegawa. Bad acting, a low budget, and sloppy directing keeps this film off the Oscar radar, but Sho Kosugi, who is the real deal turned actor, is an instant sensation. His skill and knowledge of Ninjitsu fanned the flames that made ninjas so "cool." This movie spawned two commercially successful sequels, both starring Sho Kosugi, this time as the hero.
American Ninja was perhaps the most all image, no substance approach to ninjas. Michael Dudikoff plays Joe Armstrong, an Army private transferred to a base in the Philippines, and working in the motor pool. Joe has amnesia, and knows little of his past. Yet in a Bourne Identity concept (before Bourne Identity came out) he retains amazing martial arts skills and can improvise weapons naturally. On the island is a corrupt smuggler, who uses rebels to hijack various military convoys. The rebels are reinforced with an army of ninjas. During one raid, they abduct the General's Daughter and Joe uses all his instincts to save her from the ninjas and return her to her father. However, Joe is branded a criminal. With the rest of the convoy dead, he is labeled a coward, deserter, a collaborator, or just incompetent. He must earn the trust and respect of the platoon, as well as deal with the ninjas sent to assassinate him, plus learn of his heritage. Full of ninja gadgets and colorful outfits, this film suffers from bad acting and a limited, but slightly better budget than Enter The Ninja.
Both films offer plenty of ninja on ninja action. Enter The Ninja is a bit slower in pace while American Ninja has a decent supporting cast and better editing. Still, there's no denying Enter The Ninja has what the other doesn't, the real deal in actor/martial artist, Sho Kosugi. American Ninja goes down in round 2.
Winner: Enter The Ninja
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