Ninja Movies and Martial Arts Movies thread

I think this is a needed thread. Considering some of us love some good old-fashioned ninja movie or kung fun flick, that we enjoy seeing people like Bruce Lee, Richard Harrison or Michael Dudikoff, and that we like to hear the Narmiest dialogue, this is a thread to talk about and/or share your favourite Ninja movies or Martial Arts movies.

I just saw (again) Ninja Terminator, a Godfrey Ho classic (in the Synchtube Troper Coven - you can drop by if you want and riff with us!). Richard Harrison is simply top notch. And that toy robot (not to mention the Garfield phone)!

So, any movies of this kind that you've seen lately? If you can share trailers or full movies, that'd be great.

edited 15th Aug '14 6:54:19 PM by Quag15

I think the Cinema Snob mentioned this, but in a lot of Godfrey Ho's ninja recuts, his footage often told a more coherent or more interesting story than the actual movie. Like the one, I can't remember the name of it, but Pierre Kirby's in it as a pink ninja, and he unwillingly starts an arms race by using a gun, and his part of the movie is him having to deal with the consequences of that when a rival ninja plots to steal it. The rest of the movie is a cliche'd ronin story with poor motivations for some of the supporting cast.

What I love about those ninja films is that Godfrey no only dresses his Western ninjas in costumes no ninja would be caught dead in, but he has different headbands for the good and bad ninjas, so you can tell them apart.

I also love how his movies always have chopped up samples from synth-pop hits from the age for his movies, because nothing backs ninjutsu slugfests quite like a-Ha, Alphaville, or the theme from Miami Vice. I wonder if Yuzo Koshiro ever saw any of these movies when he composed the scores for the Shinobi and Streets of Rage games.

edited 15th Aug '14 9:05:40 PM by maxwellelvis

That's Full Metal Ninja, one of my favourite Kirby movies.

Indeed. His supposed mockery of the Western perception of ninjas helps to drive the movies themselves. And he probably had to distinguish them, since not all the footage he shot has great quality.

It's a possibility, though the use of synth-pop and electro music was a bit common in martial arts and ninja flicks in the mid-80's.

edited 15th Aug '14 9:27:09 PM by Quag15

Well, I should clarify more the Shinobi games, Streets of Rage was pretty much the greatest dance hits of the early 90's mashed into the soundtrack, three songs to a track at least.

I do get the feeling Godfrey was having fun with us ninja-crazed Americans with some of his choices. I mean, you don't create someone called "Ninja Master Gordon" unless you're ribbing someone or running a cheap karate school.

Or "Ninja Master Harry", like in Ninja Terminator.

On another note, I plan on watching ''Return of Bastard Swordsman'', produced by the notorious Shaw Brothers. The first two minutes are simply nuts.

edited 17th Aug '14 6:40:29 AM by Quag15