Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 24, 2015

1981’s “Enter the Ninja” represented Cannon Films trying to bring their spin to the martial arts genre, using ninjutsu to jumpstart a new round of action pictures. The plan worked, but the franchise required a few changes. Losing star Franco Nero, supporting actor Sho Kosugi was handed the lead role, and the adventure was moved to America, losing the cockfighting chaos of Manila. 1983’s “Revenge of the Ninja” really isn’t a sequel, sharing no story points or characters from the earlier effort, merely continuing down the path of exploitation cinema, milking the ninja craze for another round of bloodshed and tests of honor. Director Sam Firstenberg doesn’t bother with tasteful mayhem, filling “Revenge of the Ninja” with harsh deaths, sexual violence, and shredded faces, trying to grab attention with excess. The amplification works to a certain degree, with the movie generally indulging silliness as it stages big action and deadly showdowns.

In Japan, Cho (Sho Kosugi) misses an opportunity to defend his family when they come under attack by rogue ninja. With his wife and child slaughtered, Cho is left with baby Kane (Kane Kosugi) to protect, taking pal Braden’s (Arthur Robert) offer to live a life of peace in America as the co-owner of an art gallery. Years later, Cho trains Kane in ninjutsu and swordplay, eagerly welcoming a display of Japanese dolls into his gallery. However, the imports are filled with heroin, used in Braden’s drug dealing ring, co-financed by Italian mobster Chifano (Mario Gallo), who’s growing tired of his partner’s demands. Suiting up as an evil ninja, Braden targets Chifano’s loved ones, killing them off to apply pressure. However, when Kane witnesses part of the crime, it starts a war of escalation between Braden and Cho, who refuses to stand down when his son is threatened, trusting in co-worker Cathy (Ashley Ferrare) and police martial arts teacher Dave (Keith Vitali) to help.

Much like “Enter the Ninja,” “Revenge of the Ninja” hits the ground running, watching black-robed bad guys descend on Cho’s property in Japan, eventually killing the majority of his family in a most brutal fashion (Firstenberg, in the first of many questionable directorial choices, shows an 8-year-old boy get sliced in the face with the throwing star). The opening titles are hardly over before “Revenge of the Ninja” has spent its share of ultraviolence, with this catastrophe motivating Cho to take Kane to America, where he can live the easy life in the art world. Screenwriter James R. Silke (who would go on to write “Ninja III: The Domination”) isn’t exactly creating “The Godfather” here when it comes to mob influence and assassination attempts, but he trusts in simplicity, getting the feature up and running with encouraging speed. It doesn’t take long Braden to commence his wicked ways, putting Cho’s back against the wall when tragedy returns to his life.

“Revenge of the Ninja” is absurd, but Firstenberg appears to understand his limitations. “Enter the Ninja” was an interesting update of western formula, but the sequel is pure ‘80’s overkill with a fondness for stereotyping, watching Cho face off against a Whitman’s Sampler of multiethnic playground ruffians, and Chifano puts his faith into a Native American enforcer known as The Chief. At one point, Cathy is threatened with death-by-Jacuzzi -- the film couldn’t be more 1983 than that. Action becomes a family business for Cho, with Kane his gifted son, banging around school bullies and even Braden with his moves, with defense skills shared by his grandmother for one memorable showdown -- viewers are allowed a moment to take in the majesty of an elderly woman doing back flips and fondling weaponry. The goofiness periodically gives way to some inspired set pieces, observing Cho using the ninja power of flight(!) to catch up with a pack of hooligans in their getaway van, with their ensuing battle at top speed the most energizing conflict of the picture. The rest of “Revenge of the Ninja” explores blowguns, throwing stars, and assorted defense tactics, striving to preserve the “thousand ways of death” common to the secretive culture, keeping fans happy as bodies pile up.

Being his second directorial outing, Firstenberg doesn’t have the seasoning to bring “Revenge of the Ninja” to a consistent boil. Instead, individual scenes tend to work on their own, failing to snowball into B-movie excellence. A few supporting characters are superfluous to the story, including Cathy, who’s basically here to walk around in skimpy outfits, even sparring bottomless with Cho in the opening act. She’s not much of a damsel in distress, and “Revenge of the Ninja” doesn’t need the distraction, doing just fine with Kane’s tiny tough guy act and Braden’s turf war with the mob.

Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation shares cinematographic limitations and age issues with "Enter the Ninja," finding softness dominant throughout. Detail isn't grand, but some textures are available throughout the viewing experience, mostly captured in close-ups that break through the haze. Grain is on the chunky side, with a few noisy patches, but filmic qualities remain. Delineation is adequate, encountering some solid blacks along the way. Colors are muted, only showing promise with period costuming and neon signage. Source material is littered with speckling and scratches.

Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is lost somewhat to quietness, demanding the listener work with the volume knob to find a suitable level of comfort to handle the action of "Revenge of the Ninja." However, clarity isn't going to be found here, with the track carrying a muddy quality that's also touched by hiss and pops. Dialogue exchanges are periodically muffled by atmospherics, but the majority of lines come through with passable force. Scoring is simple, barely energetic, and sound effects are adequate, never bombarding the ears with sweetened definition.

Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The packaging lists a "Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery," but it's not included on this Blu-ray.

• Intro (3:16, HD) greets director Sam Firstenberg, who talks about his introduction to the project, where he lied to Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan about a knowledge of action cinema to secure a job. Strangely, Firstenberg refers to "Revenge of the Ninja" as a sequel to "Enter the Ninja" purely based on a same behind-the-scenes creative team.

• Commentary features Firstenberg and stunt coordinator Steven Lambert.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:42, HD) is included.

Revenge of the Ninja Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In an interesting precursor to "Die Hard," the climax of "Revenge of the Ninja" takes place at an office building, with Cho and Braden sneaking around hallways, rooms, and even battling on rooftops, working their way to the final showdown. This last act of bedlam is very entertaining, but more in a bad movie manner, with limited performances and clunky attack sequences. Fans of this style of filmmaking should find "Revenge of the Ninja" irresistible at times, but as a second chapter in Cannon Films' exploration of exploitation, the continuation is a step backwards in terms of consistency and competency. However, as a big joke, the effort is a screaming success.