Badass is not enough to describe how awesome NINA ASSASSIN is. Bruce Lee would be proud. Step aside Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) there’s a new martial art hero in town and his name is Rain. Swift, stealth, bloody and brutal, you’ll never know what hit you. NINJA ASSASSIN is… one of the coolest, pulse-pounding action flicks of the last decade, it’s the most stylized since 300. Well choreographed, stunning FX, this movie will satisfy the desires of every action fanboys out there. Don’t think too much, don’t stay in the dark, cause that’s when they’ll come for you.
Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them…and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive…and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.
NINJA ASSASSIN may not be completely about Ninjas but it does play on most myth we’ve heard about Ninjas, at least the stereotypical pre-conceived notion that Westerners have always had about Ninjas but what makes this movie fun to watch is that it amplifies itself to excite today’s audiences, it aims to please and nothing more. Those of us who grew up watching all kinds of martial art action films from the classics to Van Damme will watch NINJA ASSASSIN and will feel like we’re watching an ‘orgy’.
One kick-ass shot after another. The way they use every Ninja weapon possible will blow your mind. We’re talkin’ 5-10 Ninjas attacking Raizo (Rain) but unlike Jason Statham who somehow could always manage to kick 20 people in one scene, Raizo can get hurt and often times he’ll find a way to escape and fight another day, not because he’s a coward but because he’s aware of his limits and well, those Ninjas are crazier than anybody that Statham ever encountered on screen.
That said, NINJA ASSASSIN is not pure stuntwork like Jaa’s films. Part of collaborating with producers Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix) is the importance of incorporating FX in the right dosage and it’s effective. In a way, NINJA ASSASSIN even seems like it’s paying homage to 300 and Sin City because there are sequences and cinematic set pieces, reminiscent of a graphic novel adaptation.
Matthew Sand came up with the story for NINJA ASSASSIN, the story which I think is just as engaging as the fights. But it is not without flaws, it’s a bit silly to imply that only female would want to escape the harsh life of ninjas. And it’s great to emphasize the heart but the effect will wear out if you keep mentioning the subject too often.
However, the ‘betrayal begets blood’ resonates loud and clear. The clan demands revenge and so does Raizo vice versa but Raizo understands that he can’t fight all of them by himself, not until the time and the assistance are right.
The graphic violence level of NINJA ASSASSIN is without mercy. Some may come off as over the top but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Some I think would be interesting to watch if it were in 3D. Director James McTeigue’s previous work, V For Vendetta was more philosophical, NINJA ASSASSIN on the other hand is more about kill or be killed, plain and simple.
These are fictional characters raised to be more than just humans ever since they were children, to neglect pain, to defy the laws of biology and physics, to unleash their skills with nothing less than perfect. To have such deadly characters but a violence level that’s not up to par or pushes the edge would be unsatisfying.
Actingwise, I think Rain does a fantastic job as the Raizo, I now have newfound respect for the training that he had to go through to prep himself for the role. You would wish you could apply the same great amount of dedication when facing physical challenges. Maybe it’s just me but for some reason, Rain’s voice or the way he says his lines, being that he plays a man with a few words, somewhat reminds me of Clint Eastwood back in his cowboy days. But actor Ben Miles who plays lead investigator and Naomi Harris who plays Mika, are 2 terrible actors. It’s as if NINJA ASSASSIN hired 2 mediocres from SAW franchise. Where is Zoe Saldana or even Thandie Newton when you need them?
But then again, the movie is not about them, it’s about Raizo and a clan of ninjas who are out for his blood. So just sit back, brace yourself and be amazed.
* Place the cursor on the image below to check my grade for this film
Just saw this flick… I think. Or… maybe we saw two different movies. haha cause this was a horrible film. I haven’t seen so many inept ninjas since THE OCTOGON or… AMERICAN NINJA. lol
Seriously Rama… I really can’t see the justification of giving this flop FIVE stars. Rain did well in the acting department but that was the ONLY good thing about this film. The CGI looked fake, the story was lame, and the directing was… oh enough… I can’t even talk about this film anymore.
Raizo takes on 50 ninjas and wins. Please. Raizo gets sliced up like swiss cheese and lives. Please. They should’ve given him yellow spandex cause it seemed to me he had the same healing powers Wolverine has haha.
Didn’t those ninjas train in the same facility as Raizo? By the same teacher? Guess they’re slow learners haha. Maybe they belong in special ed cause they can take on S.W.A.T. teams shooting bullets at them, but they can’t beat ONE guy armed with a sword. WHAT…. A…. JOKE!
And I loved the one ninja who is Raizo’s equal… and how he can hide in shadows and hear heart beats, but he couldn’t hear the reving of a car engine or the squeals of the tires approaching him before he gets slammed by it. Riiiiiiiigght.
I love my action flicks Rama, but I like them to make sense and have them be slightly believable. Hence why I hate the Transporter series, the Crank series, and Wanted. If I’m rolling my eyes, thats not a good sign.
Respect your opinion, but I SOOOOOOO disagree with it this time.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Dear Moviebuff
yo chill it’s a freakin action movie
IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE
I hear ya, moviebuff and I respect your opinion as well, you’re entitled to it.
and yes, all those aspects that you’ve analyzed, I noticed them too but I just thought it was such a fun movie to watch…. kinda like Punisher: War Zone…
I tend to overanalyze and expect things to be believable as well, but with this one I was actually able to let go and just enjoy it. I went to watch it twice already! To me it’s like anime that came to life; take Ninja Scroll and make it a movie… This flick was great and omg, that boy is hot!!! Much success to him in the future, but I think he’s already got it.
Good point, Marsha
Anime came to life,.. that’s one cool way to describe it
I saw this movie this past weekend, and I loved it, ya I know a lot of things didnt make sense at times, but it’s an action over the top flick, it isnt supposed to, I just wish it was a bit longer, it felt to short, maybe watching 2012 earlier that week did it…haha, but I thought it was a really fun movie, afterward my friends and i played dark tag in their house, and tried our stealth ninja hiding tricks…haha
That’s awesome!
After watching NINJA ASSASSIN, I thought about wearing all black and start running on the roofs of people’s houses in my neighborhood but now I’m kind of glad I didn’t LOL
no way it’s 5/5! i just can’t believe people insult the Twilight Saga for turning vampires into “gay” for not eating human flesh, sparkling when exposed to the sun, etc. while Ninja Assassin betrays its true ninja image and still gets praises.
here’s why i think this movie is ridiculous:
1. How come Raizo was so powerful? The movie never mentioned he had special ability during his training, yet he was able to defeat all of his brothers (and sisters) easily. He’s like alone vs thousands!! he’s been fighting them for years!
2. He managed to beat his master rather easy.
3. Despite being wounded heavily, Raizo still able to fight. Unlike his fellow ninjas, one stab and that’s it.
4. How come the ninjas defeated heavily-armored police easily but then lost to them easily when they raided their place?
5. What’s with the police had an easy access to the top of the hill? at the beginning of the story they showed us how high the orphanage was, yet all the big trucks went there fast and easy.
I think this movie is just another blood-fest and adrenaline-fed flick. Storywise, i’d go for New Moon anyday. Cos action doesn’t always matter for me how great it is
Whoa Whoa Whoa Frisky.
I’m glad you agree with me on NINJA ASSASSIN and for the same reasons…. but in no way is NEW MOON as good as you make it out either. That flick is just average and is mainly for teenagers. The dialogue was weak and the story dragged waaaaay too much. There was no real antogonist like there was in Twilight and pretty much nothing happened.
The two films are two very different flicks and should not be compared to each other as both are really different genres. Now compare NINJA ASSASSIN with other action flicks like Die Hard or Commando or even Star Trek, but not NEW MOON.
Yeah I have to agree with MovieBuff. Ninja Assasin was just eye candy for anime fans. The whole time I watched this my stepbrother and I keep telling each other ” A real ninja wouldn’t put himself that situation.”
I was wondering is this suppose to be a spin off from “Revenge of the Ninja” the one with sonny chiba? Its kind of similar
I mean I had no probaly watching the guy from speed racer be a ninja. I just wished Sung Kang had more screen time. He is so underrated as an actor.
Oh yeah how do you compare Ninja Assasin to New Moon. New Moon was just Transformers for girls. The only scene in new moon that can be compared to Ninja Assasin was the Victoria chase scene.
But I movie-hopped on Ninja Assasin so I don’t feel robbed. The fight scenes were entertaining even though I feel that Raizo should have used a different weapon rather that a whip knife thingy. But oh well the music was pretty decent.
no i wasn’t comparing Ninja Assassin with New Moon, i was trying to say why most people hate the Twilight Saga for being it is but praise Ninja Assassin for the same reason. New Moon is projected towards teens and prolly mostly girls, it’s romance, not action at all. so expect cheesy conversations and all, cos it’s teenagers! but some people throw the hate cos they think vampires should eat flesh and afraid of sun. and they think it’s too boring no action at all. Well, as i stated earlier it’s meant that way, it’s from the book. While people ignore the facts the Ninja Assassin has more demerits and yet still has more praises. that’s just unfair. hehe