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lorentine the opportunity to pay tribute to both isaac florentine’s The mean streets of his traditional martial arts background and the

Manhattan will more stylized cinematic style of martial artistry that is his trademark. lorentine has raised his

become the final game with this film, blending the action and battleground drama in a fast paced live action comic book “ adventure. Yes lorentine delivers on the action between the two “ in spades, but he also gives the cast the chance great masters of to breathe life into their characters, and craft a martial arts. solid story that is complemented by the action One of Impact’s favourite directors makes a welcome return to action sequences. At times it seems like this is NINJA lorentine’s comic book movie, as he plays with with the stylish martial arts adventure NINJA, which not only marks the However, in the end, welcome return of cinematic shadow warriors but also the starring only one of them the Ninja arsenal, from Masazuka’s almost debut of British martial arts actor Scott Adkins. Crammed with stylized Batman styled Ninja outfit with body armour and martial arts and Ninja action sequences, action fans have been can be the best..! hi-tech additions including night vision goggles counting the days for the film’s release since the first images and clips and sub machine guns, as well as Batwings and from the film popped up online a few months ago. Already given a the traditional Ninja arsenal of weapons. theatrical release in certain territories, the film leaps kicking and screaming onto UK DVD in early 2010 and Impact’s resident tabi The film can be divided into two sections, the wearing Ninja warrior Mike Leeder brings us an exclusive first review. Japanese set sequences at the Dojo, which feature the majority of the cast conversing and valuable treasure, the legendary ‘Yori Bitsu’, a delivering their dialogue in Japanese, ranks as sacred chest that contains the weapons of the some of lorentine’s most accomplished work last Koga Ninja, and sends Casey and Namiko and it’s hard to believe that these scenes were to New York to keep it and them safe. shot in Bulgaria rather than Japan. Once the story makes the move to New York, or to be Masazuka makes his play, and kills many of the more precise Nu image’s impressive NY backlot school’s students and eventually his Sensei, in Bulgaria, the feel of the film changes, as the before heading to New York in pursuit of Casey, Namiko and the ‘Yori Bitsu’. And the mean streets of Manhattan will become the final battle ground between the two great masters of martial arts. However, in the end, only one of them can be the best!

After several years lurking in the shadows, the cinematic shadow warriors are making quite the return to action this year with the release of both pace picks up and the more comic book style Isaac lorentine’s NINJA and Ninja Assassin. which perfectly suits the story takes over. But Masazuka has been drawn to the darker Impact has long championed both Director Once again we find ourselves asking why is it side of the martial arts, and his rivalry with Casey lorentine and leading man Scott Adkins, and that Isaac lorentine isn’t being given more has grown from friendly competition to NINJA serves as a very solid showcase for both opportunity as a director, he continually delivers something far more dangerous, which raises its men and the skills they bring to play in the world in terms of action and entertainment making the head during a sparring session that results in of martial arts action cinema. movies that deliver everything an action film fan not only revealing Masazuka’s darker side, but wants. But while it would seem that anyone who also his banishment from the school. Something directs an MTV or commercial can get a big which does nothing but seal his hatred for studio contract, and then deliver empty MTV Casey, and the events of this day will have a styled flash, directors like lorentine aren’t being tragic effect on all of them. given the opportunity of studio support and a

While Casey continues to train at the school, asey (Scott Adkins) and Masazuka Masazuka puts his martial skills into use with (Tsuyoshi Ihara) have both dedicated deadly effect, becoming an assassin for hire, a their lives to the study of Japanese modern day ‘Ninja’, who uses both the ancient C martial arts, with both men literally techniques of the Shadow warrior as well as Director Isaac lorentine comes from a very growing up in the dojo under the hi-tech equipment to carry out his assignments. strong traditional Japanese martial arts watchful eye of their Sensei (Togo Igawa), and his The Sensei is aware of Masazuka’s activities, background, having begun his martial arts beautiful daughter Namiko (Mika Hijii). and worries for the safety of the school’s most training at thirteen years of age. NINJA gives

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broader canvas on which to paint their vision. Jima and Takeshi Dempsey from Ultimate Impact gives the thumbs up to both lorentine Miike’s upcoming orce aka Miles Anderson and NINJA as the best Western martial arts Thirteen Assassins. gets to play the villainous movie of the last few years, and is looking Masazuka is the Joker Temple, a business mogul forward with great anticipation to the next project to Adkins Batman, corrupted by his own lust by the director, Undisputed 3. both men have grown for power and has up in the Dojo but assembled his own Ninja As mentioned earlier, NINJA marks the long whereas Adkin’s styled team of hooded overdue debut of Scott Adkins as a leading character has henchmen to do his man. We’ve been fans of Adkins since we first embraced the true spirit of martial arts, bidding, and has been using Masazuka’s saw his show reel and have followed his career Masazuka has only embraced the martial side deadly skills to further his ambitions. Togo Igawa from his debut in Extreme Challenge, through and crosses the line into the dark side from whose credits include everything from The IT Black Mask 2, Special orces, The Medallion which there’s no coming back. It would have Crowd, Torchwood to The Last Samurai brings a and of course Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing. been easy to paint the character as a one stately presence to the role of the Sensei, while In addition to his incredible physical skills, dimensional villain, but it’s interesting to see the sharp eyed viewers might spot karate legend Adkins has also shown he can carry purely way lorentine and Ihara show there are some umio Demura, who also doubled Pat Morita in dramatic roles with his work on such projects as moments of humanity left within the character, The Karate Kid series, popping up in the Dojo Doctors, Eastenders, Mile High and the recent when he is first banished from the Dojo, his scenes. thriller Stag Night. And NINJA gives Adkins the character openly admits that he has nowhere to chance to not only kick butt with considerable go, and perhaps that’s why he has to apply his The film’s action sequences are choreographed style and grace, but also show that he can carry skills to the world of crime. Ihara pulls off some by Alpha Stunts mainstay Akihiro ‘Yuji’ Noguchi, the weight of a movie on his shoulders. Adkins nice action beats and is artfully doubled for the who previously worked with Adkins on Special delivers a good performance, along with a more gymnastic and technical stuff, but provides orces. Yuji’s credits include everything from believable American accent and comes across not only a solid physical menace but also as a Kuro Obi/Black Belt through Power Rangers, The not as some unbeatable martial arts hero, but a dramatic foil to Adkins. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Drive and man who is forced to step up to the next level as many more. Yuji gets to display a more circumstances give him no option. Adkin’s Mika Hijii makes her English language debut as character Casey seems to know where he’s Namiko, bringing a fragile beauty to the role headed, but it’s not with great enthusiasm that while also displaying a more gutsy side as she

classic moment as Adkins kicks one thug through a window only for him to be hit by another train! A ‘Terminator’ styled assault on the Police station which ends with Masazuka literally taking flight! An epic fight scene that rivals the ist of ury and Kiss of the Dragon dojo scenes as Adkins strides into Temple’s lair and takes on a veritable army of hooded assassins with a combination of gymnastic kicks, take downs and combinations and the he picks up the Ninja weapons, it’s something throws herself into the action at various points. classic finale which pits Masazuka’s modern he’s forced to do, but when he commits it’s with Yes, she’s artfully doubled for certain moves and day Ninja and his arsenal of tricks against all his spirit. Adkins also works well with Mika reactions, but is believable when she strikes a traditional style of action in the opening Adkins who makes use of the traditional Ninja Hijii, and their relationship slowly developing pose or busts a move herself. Mika comes from sequences, before upping the ante with the weapon from nunchuku, manriki-gusari (axe from classmates to something more is handled a background in J-pop and Japanese TV, and night attack on the dojo by Masazuka, which is on a chain) and of course the katana! (And well. Adkins continues to develop as both a does well in the film especially in regards to the a highlight of the film, and the subsequent while the fight does begin with both men screen fighter and performer and with the right low key romance that builds between her and action sequences featuring Adkins. Masazuka’s masked, it’s great to see the masks come off projects, he’s got the potential to really become Adkin’s character, which touches upon the night assault mixes both traditional ninja and the chance to see Adkins letting loose a major star, and we could easily see him ‘traditional’ way to behave in Japanese culture. weaponry and Masazuka’s more hi-tech and proving his credentials to take the throne assuming the mantle of a character like James additions to the Ninja arsenal, the apartment of western cinematic martial artistry! Bond in a few years. He’s definitely a talent to Rounding out the supporting cast are several assault by Temple’s thugs, which leads into the watch and we’ll be talking to him about this film familiar faces, Garrick Hagon best known as the epic subway chase and fight which sees Adkins The film also benefits from the work of and his future projects in Impact very soon. ill-fated best friend of Luke Skywalker in Star flipping and kicking to full effect in the confined cinematographer Ross Clarkson, whose Scott’s main nemesis in the movie is Masazuka, Wars, pops up as Professor Garrison who offers space of a speeding subway train. credits include everything from Ringo Lam’s played by Japanese actor Tsuyoshi Ihara, whose sanctuary to Casey and Namiko in New York, The Replicant and ull Alert, through to The credits include Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo and pays the ultimate price. While Colonel SPOILER ALERT: The fight also contains a orbidden Legend, Undisputed 2 & 3, and

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