Revenge of the Ninja (1983)

Purely Joyful Movie!

not as good as all the hype

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Best movie ever!

This sequel to 1981's hugely successful ENTER THE NINJA sees that film's baddie – the Japanese Sho Kosugi – returning as this film's hero, with no sign of podgy pseudo-ninja Franco Nero returning to the fold. At least for that we can all be grateful, as for me – and others, I'm sure – Nero is at his best when playing a ruthless cowboy (DJANGO anyone?) or a Euro-villain (DIE HARD 2 springs to mind). Kosugi, who carved a career for himself as THE ninja star of the 1980s, is excellent as the hero in this film, and the even better news is that he does all the fight choreography himself.When the words 'A Golan/Globus Production' pop up at the beginning of the film, you just know you're in for a cheesy, action-packed ride in the best '80s tradition, and in this respect REVENGE OF THE NINJA doesn't disappoint. Right from the very start we're thrown into a blistering action sequence in which most of Kosugi's family are massacred and he has to take on a ninja gang single-handedly. From then on the action shifts to America, involving the Italian Mafia and a drug smuggling operation whereby heroin is hidden inside Japanese statues in an art gallery. A 'bad' ninja, complete with cool silver mask, takes down the Mafia gang one by one, and in the end it's up to Kosugi to step in and end his reign of violence – forever.Anyway, forget the plot and sit back to enjoy fight after fight as this film is chock full of 'em. Kosugi whups backside all over the place as the reluctant hero, whether he's fighting off ninjas in the forest or the Village People in a park! This is one film that never lets up. The set-piece finale is wicked as the two ninjas infiltrate a high-rise building; Kosugi climbs the wall while Roberts uses a pulley system to get across by rope from a nearby building. There then ensues DIE HARD-style antics as the two ninjas kill various hired goons before their protracted showdown on top of the skyscraper, with every ninja trick in the book being brought into play. While this finale is decent stuff, the exceptional action scene for me occurs around the hour mark, and bears the hallmarks of a Jackie Chan film. Kosugi attempts to catch some villains who drive off in a minibus; cue all-out thrills as he hangs on to the back, jumps on the roof from the top of a parked car, and kicks through the windscreen. Our hero certainly takes a beating in this scene which is one of the best action interludes of all time. The stuntman gets to earn some decent cash as well.REVENGE OF THE NINJA is infamous as one of the most heavily-cut films here in the UK. The reason being that a scissor-happy BBFC had just set up and this was one of the first films they came to. Cue the deletion of most of the weapon-heavy action and gory deaths with an astonishing SIX MINUTES removed from the video edition! The uncut version is a bloody film indeed with plenty of bloodshed, including garroted throats, shurikens in bodies, hand loppings, and an astonishing, Japanese-film style death for the chief villain, as his arterial blood sprays out in a wide arc for a good ten seconds or so! The acting is dependable and there are a ton of familiar faces in the cast. Aside from the sternly immobile Kosugi, we also get his son Kane, an endearing kid who starred in many of his dad's films, and who also knows a few ninja skills himself! Arthur Roberts hams it up as the friend-turned-villain and, for an American ninja, he does well, although of course I'm sure somebody stands in for him as soon as the silver mask comes on. Ashley Ferrare as the token blonde bimbo is particularly engaging and attractive and her torture-by-water is one of the film's most bizarre moments. Other action stars flesh out the cast including WHEELS ON MEALS's Keith Vitali as Kosugi's police buddy and Professor Toru Tanaka as a horny henchman! REVENGE OF THE NINJA is a whup-ass ninja flick that stands as the best US-made ninja film I've seen so far. In fact, in terms of outlandish action and gore, it almost equals the likes of Chinese SUPER NINJAS, although bear in mind I said "almost"! Cannon Films pull through again for this ass-kicking ride through the world of the ninja, and the emphasis on ninja tactics and weaponry make it a totally rewatchable, cool movie.

The Cannon Group made all kinds of cult and art-house films during the 1980's, they were ether great or terrible but were remembered mostly watched in theaters or on video. Their action-genre films were always the best to watch because sometimes it would feature some top notch action stars such as Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme, but the first of those stars who had it big during The Cannon Group entering that decade was Sho Kosugi when he co-starred in the 1981 ninja flick Enter the Ninja (also starring Franco Nero). Then came two more so-called sequel afterwards for which he starred in again. And comes to the beginning of my review for seeing one of those three: Revenge of the Ninja (1983). This film was supposed to take place after Enter the Ninja, and deals with a Ninja who has been offered to open up a new art museum in the United States as he gives up his career as ninja after witnessing a clan slaughtering his family but things start get brutal when another ninja starts killing others and a heroin- dealing mob is stirring up trouble for the original ninja & his family. It has lots of good non-stop (& bloody at times) action from start to finish, done the the 1980's way by The Cannon Group. Kosugi even does his own ninjitsu himself along with his son, Kane. What is odd about this film is that this "another ninja" is revealed too early after getting into like the first 25 to 30 minutes into the film, but I won't spoil the whole picture anyway. But still all I have to say about this underrated action hit is a butt-kicking good time and never gets dull once it starts. I recall my father used to own this on VHS by the time I was just an infant, and now here I am as a grownup watching it for the first time & I truly love it. I do still need to see the other two, which are both Enter the Ninja & Ninja III: The Domination (1984). Watch this cult gem from The Cannon Group today if you enjoy watching good martial arts flicks since they hardly make films like this any more.My Rating: 5/5

Whrn one must preserve honor, knowing your past is better than living in it. For Cho (Sho Kosugi) , he is a ninja. Back in Japan, he and his friend Braden(Arthur Roberts) encounter massacre of Cho's family by ninjas. Cho and Braden take out the ninjas, then Cho and his surviving family head out the USA for a new life. In California, Cho opens up a doll shop with Braden. Little does Cho knows that the doll shop is actually a front for smuggling heroin for a Mafia boss (Mario Gallo). Little what Braden knows, that the boss want to change the deals. So in payback, he attacks and kills his informers and family members. For Braden, he too is a ninja. For Cho, he swore off being a ninja when he moved to California. He later breaks the oath when his son went missing, and his mother killed by Braden. He had some assistance from Dave Hatcher (Keith Vitali), who was later mortally wounded by Braden. Cho was on a vengeance streak like never seen. Seeing Hatcher as a true friend, he was avenged well. The fight choreographs are amazing, Sho Kosugi really put it very well. You also got to know who are your real friends from the fake one. This movie is fine, s must see gem. 3 out of 5 stars.

I can't say I remember too much about the film except it has all the normal ninja stereotypes in it with lots of blood. If that is what you want that is what you'll get. Don't get me wrong, when I watch a ninja movie I'm not looking for Shakespeare. I'm looking for sword slashing, shrunken throwing and bear claws to the face fun. And maybe a few heads getting lopped off. It is what it is. The cool thing is how movies can bring back memories and I remember going to the movies with my mom and older brother and somehow convincing her that this particular movie was the one we were going to see. I'm not sure why she agreed to it and I'm sure she regretted it afterward as she is a conservative Christian woman. I was only 10 at the time and whining like crazy for us to see it. LOL I guess she thought, "It's about ninjas, how bad could it be!?" WRONG! This was the first rated R movie I saw in fact. All I have to say this movie is part of my life narrative now. Thanks Mom. I still remember the ending, but I won't spoil it for you.I'm probably one of the few people who actually saw this in a theater.