Ninja Assassin DVD Review – Win Yours Here

Ninja Assassin, even beyond the slightly confusing title, is as over-the-top as a martial arts vehicle can manage. Better and worse flights of slashing, Asian fancy will surely come along, but it may be a while before there is a film that is simply "more."

There is a workable story in here somewhere, but this is the version in which the ninjas evade not only a dozen soldiers firing machine guns at them, but rocket launchers get thrown into the bargain as well. You might question that, and other tidbits like the people who continue to fight when their injuries dictate that they would have bled out several minutes ago, but these ninja can disappear altogether, and after that all bets are off.

The story is that of Raizo, and the investigation by agent Mika Coretti that leads to him. She's stumbled on a connection between some assassinations, and her digging seems to be leading her to a sect of ninja that have been around for 1,000 years. According to whispers of legend, the group of ninja kidnap children and raise them into the clan. In the converging story, we watch as Raizo is raised in said clan. A bizarre mix of unending training follows, and we learn that the ninja are hard and sadistic taskmasters.

As the title implies, Raizo has turned on his masters, and when Mika gets too close to solid evidence, Raizo has to protect her while trying to get his revenge on the evil organization that stole his life.

There are lots of great action sequences in the film, and there is a bit of story that is at least somewhat intriguing with Raizo's backstory and the female student at ninja camp, but it's hard to avoid getting lost in a movie that turns everything up to 11, and before long doesn't seem sure what sort of movie it's trying to be. One part genesis story, one part curious love possibility with Naomie Harris, and 50 parts cutting people in half, the main name of the game seems to be that if you run fast enough no one has time to notice that you aren't quite going anywhere.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a wild, slick, ultra-violent movie with either Ninja or Assassin in the title (it's got both!), look no further.

Rating:  

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and for Download Today!

Leave a comment below and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the SD DVD. U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected April 20th.

Be sure to check out some clips below.

The filmmakers behind The Matrix and V for Vendetta bring new blood to martial arts movies in this smashing adventure. Korean pop star Rain plays heroic, deadly Raizo. Trained from childhood in the way of the Ozunu Clan ninja, he is stalked by fellow warriors and their dojo patriarch (martial arts legend Sho Kosugi)…and is on the run with a Europol agent (Naomie Harris) who has proof the clan sells assassination services to governments.

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About Marc Eastman

Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.

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