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Phoenix
2 reviews - Ninja Assassin
REVIEW #129 Sep 2009 - The M/C Review: 'Ninja Assassin' is bloody good fun
James McTeigue, director of "V For Vendetta," is back in the saddle for the new Warner Bros. action movie "Ninja Assassin," and the good news is that it's an energetic, gore-soaked bit of fun.
It's Teflon, slick and without substance, and you may have a hard time describing the film's plot two hours after you see it, but I'm not sure I would hold that against the film. It's so aggressive about delivering a series of crazy set pieces that I admire it for its single-mindedness, and there's at least one major choice made by McTeigue that I really like.
Hats off to Warner Bros. for taking a chance on Rain as a lead actor. Although I'm one of the most ardent supporters of "Speed Racer," I wasn't convinced that Rain really worked as a lead. Here, he's absolutely charismatic enough to pull it off, and although it's a very simple character arc overall, Rain plays enough shade and nuance to make me think he can handle even more the next time out.
Naomie Harris ("Miami Vice," "Pirates Of The Caribbean") stars as an analyst for an intelligence agency who is convinced that she's uncovered proof of a shadowy organization of ninjas who work as paid assassins around the world. Her investigation eventually brings her face to face with Raizo (Rain), who is the one member of that organization to ever successfully walk away. Together, they go on the run and have to face down the killers who are chasing them.
The end. It really is just that simple. There's some stuff about Raizo's childhood, and some stuff about the people Harris works for, but most of the film is a chase, one set piece to the next, and on that level, it really works. McTeigue's best decision in the entire film is to shoot the ninjas as monsters and to shoot the film as a horror movie. That way, it gives him permission to keep them offscreen except for glimpses, and it keeps them from feeling ridiculous. Cranking up the gore to a ridiculous degree also works in the film's favor. The action choreography is good but it's also studio-safe, meaning you don't get the same kind of kinetic "did they just kill that guy?" thrills you get from Thai action movies, so they ladle on the CGI gore as a distraction.
[more after the jump]
The strangest thing about Naomie Harris so far is how she vanishes into each movie. I watched this whole film wondering who the female lead was, and when I saw her name in the closing credits it surprised me. She's a chameleon. Overall, the movie comes down to the chemistry she has with Rain, and that works. The two of them make an engaging couple on the run, and it's smart that they never try to turn her into an ass-kicking fighter. Considering how polished everyone in the movie is, they'd have to fake it with her, and it would just come across as silly. Bonus points also for the casting of Sho Kosugi as the mentor leader of the ninja cult. He almost single-handedly defined ninjas onscreen in the '80s, so it is appropriate to cast him here as the guy passing the torch.
I do think the film is narratively thin, but J. Michael Straczynski said he rewrote Matthew Sand's script in less than a week so that they could make a start date. I'd believe it. You've seen most of this before. It's just that McTeigue shoots it with a vigor and a joy that is almost palpable. I get the feeling he really enjoyed shooting the film, and it's nice that he and the Wachowskis seem to be developing a working method that makes all of them happy and that results in solid B-movie-with-A-list-values films like this one. It feels like an origin story, and I'd love to see Rain return in a series of films as Raizo works on an international scale.
If you're into crazy violent blood-soaked revenge stories, this is going to make you very happy on Thanksgiving weekend. Now if we could only find a way to cross this movie with "Old Dogs." I'd love to see John Travolta making lame baby jokes only to have Rain cut him in half with a giant sword. That would be a very happy Thanksgiving, indeed.
"Ninja Assassin" opens nationwide November 25th.
By Drew McWeeny
source: http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12....sassin-is-bloody-good-fun
credit: Phoenix - RAIN Germany
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REVIEW #230 Sep 2009 - REVIEW: NINJA ASSASSIN
Ninja Assassin features gigabytes of blood being shed on screen.
Is this the way it's going to be from now on? We're done with on-set blood, replacing it with rendered geysers of pixels? There are a lot of problems with Ninja Assassin - hell, the movie is a problem - but the thing that kept getting to me was the spurts of bright red digital blood that made all of the ninjas appear to be from Toon Town.
I really enjoyed James McTeigue's V For Vendetta, so I'm baffled as to how he possibly fucked up a movie as obvious as Ninja Assassin. Well, I'm baffled as to the process, not as to the mistakes. The mistakes are right there on screen. They start with the decision to shoot every action scene in maddening close-up in the dark; at first I was giving him the benefit of the doubt - the concept must be that the ninja are so fast, so invisible, that he wanted to give just the impression of action at first. But then the movie keeps up the impenetrable darkness. At one point I wondered whether there even was a lighting department on the damn crew.
The next big mistake was making the story about an international paramilitary police force hunting down ninjas. Every time the story switched to the offices of Europol, where a spunky young researcher (played by the excruciating Naomi Harris) becomes convinced that ninja clans still perform assassinations in the modern day, I began to feel woozy. 'Why do I care about this?' I wondered, and the answer is that I simply don't. And what's worse is that this storyline leads to a confrontation between ninjas and a heavily armored brigade with bazookas and air support - when I'm watching a ninja movie I want to see ninjas fucking shit up, not getting hit with bazooka shells. I mean, there's a place in the cinematic universe for a movie where a soldier atop a humvee uses a mounted machine gun to mow down ninjas; I'm just not sure it's in a movie where my allegiance is to the ninjas.
Surprisingly, the least annoying thing in Ninja Assassin is pop star Rain, playing a ninja who has betrayed his clan for reasons too insipid to list here. He's actually effective and good in the role, even if the movie feels the need to drop a joke that he looks like he belongs in a boy band.
There's good stuff in Ninja Assassin, but all of it comes before the credits sequence. The opening prologue is a kick ass slaughter of yakuza - lots of body parts digitally removed from the trunks of Japanese gangsters - and it's moderately well lit and shot. After that everything goes to hell; there's a good action scene here and there that manages to break free from the murk, but even those scenes tend to be undercut by the sheer amounts of digital chicanry going on. Here's the problem with a martial arts movie like this: 70% of the enjoyment of these films is seeing wildly talented people performing acrobatic, exciting and seemingly dangerous and painful stunts and fights. When everything in the movie is half cartoon, you lose that completely. Watching Rain jump over obviously CGI weapons is just not exciting. When you can follow an action scene it has no weight, no heft, no meaning. All of a sudden a CGI chain reaches out and draws a fountain of CGI blood from the head of a guy who just turned from a CGI shadow into a real live extra in pajamas.
I really wanted to like Ninja Assassin. It's been too long since we've had a good ninja movie, and the idea of this film sparking a resurgence of the subgenre filled me with excitement. There are a lot of talented martial artists plying their trade on movie screens across the globe, and Ninja Assassin's multi-ethnic view of ninjas seemed to open the door for all sorts of people to don the black pajamas. But the film, which is inert and mostly boring and without any sort of compelling throughline at all (seriously, you can walk in and out of this movie and miss just about nothing. It makes the Europol scenes all the more frustrating that the spine of the story is absolute nonsense), has probably killed the ninja film for yet another decade.
4 out of 10
By Devin Faraci
source: http://chud.com/articles/articles/2....NINJA-ASSASSIN/Page1.html
credit: Phoenix - RAIN Germany
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Phoenix
Fantastic Fest Review: Ninja Assassin
30 Sep 2009 - Fantastic Fest Review: Ninja Assassin
I’m not sure what bothers me more – bad movies or bad movies that show a touch of potential. At least with a blatantly bad movie the skill level is consistent throughout, but with a potentially good movie it sends me out of the theater wondering who exactly messed things up and why no one saw the mistakes as they were being made. That frustration is alive and well with Ninja Assassin.
An orphan named Raizo (Rain), raised and trained by an ancient ninja clan, cuts a bunch of heads off while an investigator from Europol, Mika (Naomie Harris) tracks down the group in connection with several high-ranking assassinations.
Ninja Assassin is a great movie that gets dragged down by some serious problems. It’s fun, an interesting take on a dormant genre, and there is all sorts of blood being spilled and bodies being sliced apart. Still, it suffers from some of the same pitfalls that other blockbusters seem to be facing lately. Hence the frustration. How can a movie with such promise and so many good elements end up falling short?
The beginning of the mystery of what went wrong with this movie starts with the writing, cuts right through some of the action sequences and stops dead with the acting.
For starters, some parts of the script are decent, especially for a martial arts film. The story is simple enough, but gets overly complicated by the Europol section. For the most part, the training and back story for Raizo is solid stuff, telling a great story of a young boy that is trained to become a killer through harsh punishment for mistakes and clever zen koans spouted by ninja film legend Sho Kusugi playing Lord Ozunu. The concept of having ninjas in the present-day is a fantastic one, but the execution is lacking because the story just isn’t there. The idea of ninja clans being hired by all world governments to carry out assassinations is laughable considering that there aren’t a huge swath of political assassinations period let alone a ton of important people left chopped into three pieces in a bloody pile. If there was, you’d think the public would catch on fairly quickly.
Beyond the blending of a great story with a terrible one, the writing also gave me a lot of opportunities to cringe and shift awkwardly in my seat. The dialog is soap opera-worthy at places, and it doesn’t help that the actors struggle to say even the simplest of lines. It’s noble to want to take the genre to the big budget realm and make it darker, but by doing so the film opens itself up to unintentional laughs and schlocky dialog told by stiff actors. A better writer could have really elevated the genre while keeping in a ton of great action, but apparently that just wasn’t in the cards.
Speaking of the action, it ranges from the amazing to the poorly-lit and frantic. The opening scene is one that people will be talking about a lot because of the shock and awe violence that starts the flick off on the right foot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stay on track as two of the main sequences are too dark, and McTeigue and his cinematographer refuse to keep the camera still long enough to really admire the fighting that’s going on. The bulk of the action is great – although the composite CGI blood is downright awful most of the time – but even a few missteps coupled with the bad dialog and acting cuts the only leg the movie has to stand on right in half.
As for the acting, it’s pretty clear at this point how I felt about it. Rain just isn’t an actor. He’s also not a martial artist. Both of those facts are painfully clear in this movie. He’s owed a certain amount of respect for some of the fighting that he does, but it’s nowhere near the level of martial artistry that I’ve come to expect from modern fighting movies. He’s acrobatic, but not a good fighter. I understand he’s at a disadvantage because he’s not a native English speaker, but that’s just the pitfalls of bad casting, especially in a time when moviegoers seem more than happy to read a few subtitles on screen as long as wanton violence follows shortly.
Naomie Harris (who no one will recognize as the witch woman from Pirates of the Caribbean) clearly cannot act without a fake Haitian accent. She vomits out most of her lines and seems especially enthusiastic about the cheesy bits. But in her defense (and trust me, she needs it), her character is little more than Ms. Exposition who has passages that explain what’s going on and end with a bland question that deserves a glib, slightly dramatic one-liner in response.
On the logical side of things, I just can’t understand how physics staying constant is so difficult in some films. A lot of the ninja fighting varies in a nonsensical way. They are built up to be invincible in the beginning which makes things tricky as the film goes on. Plus, for people with what amount to super powers (apparently they can track by scent and teleport between shadows), they become complete idiots when it’s convenient for the story. However, the most irritating thing involving the ninjas is that they are incredible killing machines unless there’s a main character amongst the group. Bodies get slashed in half with delightful disregard, but the chaos seems to reign all around main characters instead of on top of their heads. So remember that. Ninjas are the most effective killing machines known to man unless you turn the lights on in the room or if you’re a main character. Everyone else will be hacked to bits within seconds, but you will be left to stand around or make your slow escape.
That’s not to say the film is terrible. It’s decent, but not unwatchable. Some of the fighting sequences are fantastic, and as I previously mentioned, Raizo’s training and back story is strong – hearkening back to some of the ninja films of the late 1970s and 1980s as well as a few nods to the classic training montages from kung fu films. Beyond the usual friendship/love/betrayal/revenge aspect of that story, the scenes work really well because there’s very little talking in them, and when someone does talk it’s usually Sho Kusugi who knows how to deliver those genius lines of faux-wisdom that read like a fortune cookie written by a Guilo.
The look of the film is also stunning from time to time. In particular, a scene in a bamboo forest in the rain looks absolutely beautiful both in depicting the natural setting and in shooting the close up shots of the actors. Some shots of the city are also nice, but for the bulk of the beauty comes in the shots of the compound where Raizo trains and grows up. A lot of the modern day stuff is pretty standard, and some of the fight sequences (like one where ninjas are playing in traffic) are barely visible.
So there’s a balance here. Two segments of one movie, one being strong, the other being weak. It works in a Yin Yang sort of way, but not in a filmmaking sort of way. I rolled my eyes about as many times as I clapped my hands, squinted into the darkness as many times as I opened them wide, and scratched my head almost as much as I smiled at some great ninja action. But that’s the problem. Ninja Assassin is ultimately frustrating because it hints at moments of greatness and squanders any good will it earns. When it’s stripped down and simple, it works, and we get some blood in our eyes, but too much of it is over-produced, under-written, and depends far too much on bad CGI and quick edit camera work.
By Dr. Cole Abaius
source: http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/re....-ninja-assassin-colea.php
credit: Phoenix - RAIN Germany
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RainingAllDay
Ninja Assassin : Reviewed By College Movie Review
Ninja Assassin (2009)
| Reviewed By Stephen Davis |
| Director: James McTeigue |
| Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Sho Kosugi, Rick Yune |
| Running Time: 99 minutes |
| Rated: R |
| Release: September 30, 2009 |
| McTeigue Collaborates with Rain to Put 'Ninja' Back on Map I would never considered myself a martial arts fan. In fact, I rarely venture into a theater to witness the genre, and when I do, it is purely for the sake of the fight sequences. So when I was heard about Ninja Assassin, I had my doubts. But seeing as James McTeigue, the guy who made V for Vendetta, was stepping back behind the camera, I couldn't resist at least a peak into his newest project - and I am lucky that I took the time because his film is anything but a martial arts protégé. The intense violence, the lacking story, and the intense fight sequences are present. But thankfully, the film offers so much more, such as amazing cinematography, suitable acting, and an itch for realism, which is seen throughout. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Ninja Assassin could or could not happen in real life – about that, I most definitely have no opinion. However, the sets, the camera work, and the believability of the actors helped to sell the story as actual fact, brining an unusual sense of reality to the picture. Rain, a famous Korean actor, portrays Raizo, a man who was abducted as a child and taught how to kill. The film's central story is told through a series of flashbacks, each shining some light onto the devastating days that helped make the young child an expert fighter and a brutal killer. But as the past catches up with the present, and his true stance is revealed, you can't help but feel for our lead protagonist; for he had no say in his reality. It was at that moment that I realized that I had been sucked into the film, and I was surprisingly okay with that. Rain's supporting cast was not quite as strong; however, for the sake of argument, they were each acceptable in their respective roles. Naomi Harris earns the title of most present background player as she creates the character of Mika Coretti, a detective who is attempting to uncover the inhumane practice that is occurring throughout the nine clan camps. By her side is Ben Miles, her co-worker, who suffers an ill fate for his involvement with the unapproved investigation. Together, those three mix it up a bit, bringing about some salty action sequences that rival the best in the biz. The most notorious of all the action scenes, for me at least, is a prolonged shoot out within the 'top-secret' safe house. The high stakes action takes on a new meaning as characters are swinging from the ceilings, running across beams, and dodging a wide array of sharp objects. As the assault escalates out into the streets, passing cars become an added obstacle, making the scene all the more intense and impressive. As the film sprints to its finish, rarely slowing down to sneak a side breath, you can't help but appreciate the work done by both the cast and director James McTeigue as Ninja Assassin returns the genre to what it was before Hollywood money became an unnecessary commodity. I am not a ninja fan, and I found the film to be a riot from beginning to end. The opening sequence is sure to stick with you long into the actual feature, while the no-holds-bar violence and gore give the story the extra kick that it so desperately needs. In just a few words, I would describe Ninja Assassin as guilty fun. Sure it is a bit over-the-top, and it won't be up for any Oscars this coming March, but sitting in that seat, I became part of the film and got entirely caught up in the heat of it all. Call it a guilty pleasure if you will - but if you are a guy between the ages of 17 and 30, this is one movie that you need to experience in a theater! |
[B+]
Source: http://www.collegemoviereview.com/movie.php?id=553
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RainingAllDay
Ninja Assassin - Review from IMDB
My Note:
After the last preview at Fantastic Fest on Sep29 , there are many reviews around. Some are positive as the former reviews and some are so negative.
You guys might search for those reviews by Google - if you want to read.
And I just wanna post some positives or not-so negative here to balance the information.
I'm excited for the NA movies, but right now I really need someone to shout at Warner Brothers.....NO MORE PREVIEW!!!!!
RainingAllDay
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Just came back from Fantastic Fest early screening with Director
by UKingdom (Tue Sep 29 2009 22:05:43)
and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie is action packed and will satisfy fans of action, martial arts movies, and gorehounds alike. If you liked the action and stylized violence of Kill Bill then you will like this movie. There is LOTS of blood.
I got to meet Director James McTeigue after the screening who answered some questions from the audience. I even got my poster signed. Very cool guy. Surprisingly despite all the blood left in the movie (yes it is CGI but it doesn't look bad, it's surprisingly good), he didn't have to cut any out of it, he said. It's definitely a hard R movie. Limbs fly off with anime style spray at times. (Although not as ridiculous as the film I screened AFTERWARDS, "Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl," which you all should watch as well)
I won't go into spoilers but the plot was fairly straightforward, jumping two storylines via present time and flashbacks going into how the main character Raizo (played by Rain) became the "Ninja Assassin" he is today. I was pleasantly surprised by Rain, who until know I thought of only as a Korean popstar, who had a lot of screen presence and was very convincing in his role. He was super buff in this movie, and my understanding is he worked out like a fiend for months for this role much how Tobey Maguire did for Spider Man.
The other roles are let's be honest, largely thankless and mostly supporting. Naomi Harris and Ben Miles (who I only know from his funny work on BBC"s Coupling) did their job but were mostly forgettable. No there is no interracial romance between Rain and Naomi but maybe a hint or something that could develop down the road between these two characters. The guy who played Rain's Clan leader is apparently someone famous in the history of Ninja movies but I didn't know who he was.
There are many action sequences, and I left satisifed. Now mind you I've seen a ton of martial arts films and am not easily impressed (movies like Fist of Legend etc set the bar for me) and so while the sequences didn't blow me away or add anything new to the genre, stylistically they were very impressive, and I felt satisfied by the end of the film by what was put on film. My only qualm is much of the action was shot in darkly lit scenes (I guess ninjas work in the dark after all) but that obscured some of the action making it hard to follow and also I wish like all non-asian directors they would pull back the camera and allow the audience to see some of the sequences from a distance rather than rapid cut closeup shots. The choreography was very well done.
The movie is very polished and has a nice look which isn't a surprise coming from McTeigue as I liked V For Vendetta. I don't' remember the run time but it felt about right. There is definitely room for a sequel but the ending wasn't done in a retarded sequel setup kind of way.
Overall I'd give it around 7-8 out of 10. Thoroughly entertaining, worth watching in the theater, and competently made. Now I feel like working out so I can look like Rain. He is all types of badass in this movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186367/board/thread/148508303?d=148508303&p=1#148508303
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