Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie Review

Just get to the ninjas already.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 20, 2013

1980’s “The Octagon” was the fifth starring role for martial arts master Chuck Norris, and the first to try a few things differently as he built a career on mindless actioners. Instead of the traditional intimidate and pummel routine, the picture strived to include a worldwide sense of doom, tackling a story about the swelling state of terrorism with a sizable roster of players, leaving the heavy lifting to a group effort, allowing Norris to concentrate on his contemplative looks. It’s ambitious work but not always successful, with director Eric Karson biting off a little more than he can chew when it comes time to build momentum with such a top-heavy film.

A retired martial arts champion, Scott (Chuck Norris) is caught up in a dangerous situation when he accompanies ballet dancer Nancy (Kim Lankford) back to her home, only to be attacked by a pack of ninjas. Shocked to find evidence of the legendary warriors, Scott investigates the details of the ambush, aided by friend A.J. (Art Hindle) and warned by anti-terrorist mercenary McCarn (Lee Van Cleef), who’s well aware of the dangers that lie ahead. Encountering suspicious socialite Justine (Karen Carlson), who possesses secrets that could help to expose the insidious plan behind the ninja uprising, Scott is confronted with the possibility that estranged brother Seikura (Tadashi Yamashita) is masterminding an effort to train civilians in the ways of the ninja, building an army of gifted terrorists out to take over the world. Trying to throttle A.J.’s thirst for revenge after suffering a personal loss, Scott places himself in the line of life, attempting entry into the order, finding a sympathetic figure in camp escapee Aura (Carol Bagdasarian).

Immediately introduced in “The Octagon” is its defining characteristic: the opportunity to hear Scott’s inner thoughts. The echoed audio pops up repeatedly during the movie, providing the viewer with a portal into the man’s mind as he considers the clues, debates moral choices, and studies his foes, creating an intimacy typically alien to such a fist-first production. Granted, the quality of the sound effect is often muddy, but the concept is interesting, helping the picture separate itself from a legion of martial arts efforts, while providing Norris with opportunities to reflect instead of act, helping to cut down on his thespian responsibilities. He looks visibly relieved.

“The Octagon” initially teases the mystery of the ninja, the league of shrouded assassins who were outlawed 300 years earlier, making their reappearance especially confounding to Scott, who’s aware of the threat they pose. The silent killers also suggest the reappearance of Seikura, who we learn in flashbacks (with Chuck’s son Mike Norris playing a young Scott) was banished from the family’s martial arts education for his deceitful, confrontational ways, leaving the sibling with a sense of loss he’s never been able to shake. This subplot alone, with Scott working his way into the thick of the terrorist camp, is more than enough to supply “The Octagon” with the dramatic motivation it requires to fill 100 minutes. However, Karson and screenwriter Leigh Chapman don’t value the art of simplicity, instead overstuffing the feature with enough characters and motives to fill up a television miniseries.

Starting with a germ of an idea about terrorism (which is turned in a brand in the movie, not necessarily a threat), “The Octagon” weaves a web of characters, each with their own designs on the ninja camp and the promise of chaos it provides. Scott’s quest is often marginalized to provide room for multiple names and faces, most of which are introduced without explanation, only to be breathlessly explained in subsequent and laborious exposition, requiring intense concentration on details that often do not factor into the resolution of the film. “The Octagon” is needlessly bulky with purpose, taking time away from the sinister activities of the ninja camp, failing to build the pressure cooker environment early scenes hint at. Displays of ninja weaponry are provided, and some menace arrives in the form of enforcer Kyo, a masked man who keeps order, but an overall arc of troublemaking is missing, with too many asides struggling to convince the viewer that the effort is more intelligent than it actually is. I admire the attempt to infuse the work with a deeper sense of reason, but Karson isn’t a skilled juggler, leaving “The Octagon” winded as it pauses to do a head count every 15 minutes, making sure the players are positioned as originally designed.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation will undoubtedly please fans of the movie, brought to BD with comfort and attention to the textures of the cinematography. Detail is strong here, capturing location depth and facial reactions, while the extent of Norris's body hair has never been this…noticeable. Colors remain true, with a pleasing naturalistic presence for outdoor sequences, while costuming carries more direct HD life, offering a stable read of primaries. Skintones are capable, never running too hot. A minor amount of banding is detected and print damage is visible. Blacks are generally unchallenged but supportive, with evening encounters preserving necessary information. Grain is managed well, presenting a filmic look to the effort.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix carries immediate presence as it sorts out score cues, launching with a big sound that's appealing and secure, hitting the listener with frontal force. Surrounds are mild but expansive at times, good for atmospherics and battle sequences, while low-end rises on occasion, giving weight to heavier moods and explosions. Dialogue exchanges carry some fuzziness, but it's not bothersome, with moods and threats preserved adequately. Martial arts exaggerations, including punches and weaponry, are dutifully pronounced on the track.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction (:36, HD) offers a greeting from director Eric Karson, welcoming fans to the Blu-ray.

• Commentary with director Karson should satisfy fans of the feature, with the helmer doing a fairly competent job exploring his intent with "The Octagon" and his dedication to plot density, hoping to deviate from the norm. Karson is clearly proud of the picture, and the effort is there to provide BTS illumination and stunt technique. However, there's an enormous amount of play-by-play to sit through, making the chat a little difficult for those with impatience for such useless filler.

• "Making of 'The Octagon'" (39:27, SD) is 2003 featurette exploring the creation of the film, gathering cast and crew (sans Norris) to describe the BTS effort that went into the work. There are strong memories and amusing anecdotes shared here that snowball into a satisfying overview of the creative process, tracking "The Octagon" from idea to release. Director Karson is most prominently featured, and while he comes off a little angry when defending the logic and artistry of the piece, he's a most enthusiastic tour guide. It's a shame Norris didn't participate, but the conversation is thorough and enlightening.

• Interview (23:13, SD) with co-star Tadashi Yamashita suffers a little due to the actor's broken English, but what's here is an overview of his time on "The Octagon" and his personal history, tracing his rise through the industry, including some thoughts on the hilarious 1985 actioner, "Gymkata."

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:29, SD) is offered.

The Octagon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The big draw here is Norris, and his fight scenes pack the requisite punch, watching Scott boot down shadowy men, while McCarn pops up intermittently to pick off a few baddies on his own time. There's a lot of talk concerning terrorism and ninjas, yet law enforcement doesn't factor into the story at all, leaving the mission to Scott, who eventually makes his way to Central America with Aura (who promptly seduces her escort in a hilariously random love scene) to infiltrate the titular training arena, paving the way for a grand finale filled with explosions and violent confrontations. This is where "The Octagon" excels, breaking free of laborious screenwriting to make a mess out of disposable ninjas, with Norris displaying his flexibility and assorted physical gifts. To cloud that cinematic purity seems like a foolish pursuit, bruising the escapist qualities of this entertaining but fatigued feature.