Ninja Terminator — Ninja Terminator(Blu Ray)
Ninja Terminator is a cheapo Ninja action movie from 1986 directed by Godfrey Ho (The Ninja Squad, Ninja Destroyer and Thunder Ninja Kids: The Hunt for the Devil Boxer) and starring Richard Harrison (Ninja Dragon, Secret Agent Fireball and Terror Force Commando), Jeong-Lee Hwang (Drunken Master, Game of Death II and Snake in the Eagles Shadow), Jack Lam (The Leopard Fist Ninja, The Spring and Chains of Gold), and Maria Francesca (Operation Las Vegas, Diamond Ninja Force and Day of Violence).
The film begins with a group of Ninja warriors reuniting the three pieces of an all-powerful golden statue, which is said to make the owner resistant to swords. Its new owner, the Supreme Ninja, is considered far too dangerous to wield such power, so the three Ninja masters each steal one part of the statue. The Supreme Ninja sends his henchman to track down the pieces and return them to his ownership.
There is a lot more to this film; however, I really don’t want to spoil anything, and when you get into the other stuff that is going on, there is a risk of doing just that. Overall, this cheapo action film from Hong Kong is a lot of fun. I mean, it’s never going to win any awards, unless it’s for worst dub perhaps, but it’s got some good fight sequences, and it never takes itself too seriously. The acting is below average, but to be honest, it just adds to the film’s charm; however, Jack Lam, it has to be said, is excellent as Jaguar Wong, the film’s very own action hero.
What truly amazes me about Ninja Terminator, or in fact any of Godfrey Ho’s movies, is the fact that he combines stock footage with what is largely just a bunch of action sequences and while the film doesn’t always make sense, it never fails to keep the viewer interested in trying to work out exactly what is going on. On a different note, it’s also got a cracking score. I’m not sure how much of it was made for the movie and how much was stock music, but it’s excellent, particularly the electronica, which I assume is by Raymond Chang. As well as all of this, there are several WTF moments dotted throughout, a couple of my favourites include Richard Harrison’s Garfield phone, the fact he receives a message via a small toy robot that just appears in his home, the guy in a bad woman’s wig and of course the crab scene, which has to be seen to be believed.
This new Blu-ray release from Neon Eagle Video/Cauldron Films features a really nice new print of the movie, restored from a 4k scan and probably more than most people would think it deserves; however, if, like me, you love these sorts of martial arts cheese fests, then this is right up your alley. The disc also features two audio commentaries, one from podcasters Kenneth Brarsson and Phil Gillan, the other by Asian cinema experts Arne Venema and Mike Leeder. There are also interviews with Godfrey Ho and dubber Simon Broad, and Chris Pogialli, as well as the ubiquitous trailer.
You've just got to sit back, turn off your brain and enjoy this fun, stupid slice of martial arts madness, you know you want to.