Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Commando Ninja Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 25, 2021

We’ve watched as Canadian and American filmmakers have created valentines to the old-school world of action cinema from the 1980s, but 2018’s “Commando Ninja” comes from France, with writer/director Benjamin Combes trying his hardest to funnel his adoration for everything from that decade and beyond into 68 minutes of silly fun. Blood flows and references fly in the feature, which barely has a plot or a point, simply summoning some mild conflict to help launch a series of inside jokes and cinematic tributes, primarily to the Arnold Schwarzenegger years of baddie-bustin’, muscle-pumping mayhem. “Commando Ninja” is no gem, but there’s appeal in its goofiness, watching Combes labor to fit something recognizable into every frame of this picture.

In 1968, John Hunter (Eric Carlesi) barely survived his experience in Vietnam, facing a persistent enemy and the strange ways of the Red Ninja, a shadowy figure hunting his platoon. In 1986, John lives a solitary life in the wilds of Canada, but that peace is shattered when he learns his daughter, Lucy, has been kidnapped, collected by the evil Colonel Kinsky (Olivier Dobremel). Determined to retrieve his child, John suits up for war, using his special martial arts training to take on Kinksy’s army, The Pentangle, which includes Kowalsky (Stephane Asensio), a cyborg enforcer who one fought alongside John in the jungles of Vietnam.

“Commando Ninja” splits screen time between the war year of 1968 and the battle zone of 1986, with John emerging from the woods to kill everybody, repeatedly returning to memories of special teachings he received from a dedicated enemy. And that’s it for plot with this endeavor, which is basically set up to deliver as many references to other movies as possible, finding John commencing a mission similar to the one found in “Commando,” the Red Ninja arrives with alien powers from “Predator,” and Kowalsky is straight out of “The Terminator.” Also in the mix are nods to “Home Alone,” “Back to the Future,” “Jurassic Park,” and a Nintendo Power Glove is used to give time travel adventures some nostalgic punch.

Commando Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a picture captured with commercial grade cameras and is heavily processed at times to look like a feature from the 1980s. Only it doesn't, not in full, with the viewing experience on "Commando Ninja" resembling an HD-shot offering, with some degree of softness present throughout. This appears to be an intentional choice, along with various elements of wear and tear, including scratches and rough reel changes. The "Grindhouse" treatment helps the vibe of the overall effort, which delivers acceptable detail on facial surfaces and costuming. Locations are open for inspection as well. Colors are bright, with bold looks for the Red Ninja and assorted period costuming. Exteriors register warmer environments. Delineation is satisfactory. Some artifacting is detected, mostly from footage pulled from other movies.

Commando Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital mix keeps things louder with dubbed dialogue exchanges, which present crisp performances. Soundtrack selections are also defined, with a sharp synth presence and rock force. Scoring cues support with confidence. Sound effects are emphasized throughout the listening event, encouraging the broad atmosphere of the feature.

Commando Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Making of 'Commando Ninja'" (69:48, HD) is an extensive look at the creation of the picture, featuring interviews with writer/director Benjamin Combes, assistant director Baptiste Lucas, stunt coordinator Antony Cinturino, set photographer Ludwig Oblin, composer Thomas Cappeau, and actors Eric Carlesi, Olivier Dobremel, Philippe Allier, and Anaelle Rincent (who's also Combes's niece). Combes recalls his childhood, which was spent with his father's VHS tapes, seeing too many violent features, creating a desire later in life to make his own R-rated offering. Combining "American Ninja" with "Commando," Combes had a vision, requiring a special cast to make it come alive on-screen. The real get was Allier, who already had an extensive collection of movie memorabilia from the 1980s, ready to join the cause. References are detailed, with a surprising amount of love shared for "3 Ninjas," and Combes analyzes his attempt to address racism in the genre with his own blowhard characters. Creating "Commando Ninja" without a crew, Combes lists various locations he used for free, including a local river, quarry, and forest, which served as the location for a dinosaur attack featuring large puppets. Shooting delays are remembered, with years passing by between a few shots, and action choreography is highlighted, with the documentary providing a map of actor placement during the villa attack sequence. Practical effects are celebrated, segueing into a tutorial on the creation of budget blood hits. Shot without sound, time is spent exploring the construction of voices, and scoring concepts are shared by Cappeau. This is quite a document of production labor, with plenty of BTS footage and film comparisons, ending up more engaging than "Commando Ninja."

• "Hopkins: A 'Commando Ninja' Story" (18:17, HD) is a 2020 short film featuring the eponymous character, who finds his PTSD flaring up in 1978 as he revisits the horrors of the Vietnam War in his mind while moving around New York City. The urban illness of "Taxi Driver" appears to be writer/director Benjamin Combes's primary influence here.

• Character Biographies (:59) supply photos and information concerning the major players in the "Commando Ninja" universe.

• Theme Song (3:44) offers "Commando Ninja" by Volt Age.

• An American Trailer (3:16, HD) and a Japanese Trailer (1:47, HD) are also included.

Commando Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Combes doesn't have much of a budget or awesome technical might, but he remains focused on the vibe of the feature, which is played for laughs that don't always come, but the effort is laudable. It's a short celebration of big screen escapism, frequently going weird, while violent encounters remain bloody, brutal, and extended as the showdown begins. "Commando Ninja" is no cult classic in the making, but viewers who traditionally seek out this style of low-key farce should get a kick out of it.