Thursday, August 25, 2011

American Ninja VS Enter The Ninja



                                                               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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