American Ninja [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The first of what would be a series, 1985's American Ninja is a martial-arts thriller. Michael Dudikoff plays Joe, a sullen young GI who turns up at American airbase Fort Sonora and immediately makes himself unpopular. Even when he single-handedly saves the Commanding Officer's daughter (Judie Aronson, whose function is to scream a lot and get her clothes very wet), from a ninja ambush, he's still ostracised. It turns out that Joe is actually a highly skilled ninja warrior, but he's an amnesiac with no idea how he acquired his abilities. Eventually, having bonded with fellow GI Steve James, he helps foil criminal arms-dealer Ortega, whose morals are as dubious as his accent, which veers from French to Hispanic.

American Ninja is essentially an excuse for a series of martial arts set pieces, though these seem a little lumbering by the standards later set by Jackie Chan and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The soundtrack and overall feel is clearly influenced by the classic A-Team. The plot is well signposted at every turn and the dialogue makes you think of an American film that has been badly dubbed. However, the film will work as kitsch, for idle comfort-viewing or for small boys.

On the DVD: The cheapness of the original has been immaculately preserved--however, the only extra is the original trailer.--David Stubbs

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-12-24 rating:
Looking good in black pyjamas with The Dude
Being a fan of those poverty row exploitation films that The Cannon Group used to churn out in the 80s (Death Wish 3 & 4, Delta Force 1 & 2, etc), this guilty pleasure of a movie is probably worth 90 minutes of your life. That is, if you like your action dumb and your acting basic.

Cannon Group regular Michael Dudikoff essays the role of Joe, a GI who leads his life as a loner and makes enemies fast. He also knows how to break peoples arms, bust them up and generally do harm to anyone who looks at him the wrong way. Flanking the hero is the late great Steve James as his fast talking and equally fast fighting partner. Together, they fight corruption (and an army of ninja!) in their own ranks of the army. The film is filled with great 80s action, the kind only The Cannon Group knew how to serve up. Dudikoff equips himself well with the fighting and propels the slow-moving screenplay along. However, the real star of the show is the excellent Steve James who wisecracks his way through the movie, stealing every scene he is in. (If you have time, take a look at him in American Ninja 2: The Confrontation. He shines yet again, with his final fight at the finale being a genuine classic of the genre). Director Sam Firstenberg does a good job at arranging the carnage to its fullest extent, and one wonders what this guy could do with a real script in his hands.

All in all, the movie is one of those shallow male bonding flicks where two men will fight their way through 90 minutes of non-stop action just to find out that they don't actually mind the company of each other. Now that's what I call value for money!

This film was apparently so successful, it has spawned no less than 4 (count 'em) sequels, with Dudikoff returning for 2 and 4, James turning up in 2 & 3, and new guy David Bradley taking up the lead role of Aerican Ninja in parts' 3, 4 and 5. They too aren't very good either, but equally worth your time if you're in the mood for violence of the 1980s kind. The disc sports the movie and trailer.

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review by: date: 2007-08-24 rating:
CITIZEN KANE (IT AINT)
Brilliant acting, great cinematography, a compelling story. If these are what you are after then please don't bother with this.

But please don't think I don't like it. I loved it- this is the cinemantic equivalent of a donner kebab- dirty, bad for you and scarily, just what you want after a couple (or perhaps more) pints with the lads. There's no point talking about ther plot- there isn't one. It's like Delta Force with ninjas and more dodgy 80's outfits. For 99% of the population this film will never even register on the radar but for the "chosen" 1%, it should already be in your basket. Go on, you know you want to...

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review by: date: 2007-02-14 rating:
So bad it's good!
In line with so many other martial arts flicks of the period (think of anything with Jean Claude Van Damme), this film is really badly made. And we love it! It's the ideal film to watch with your mates- you'll be in stitches throughout! Highly recommended...

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review by: thomson_david date: 2006-01-27 rating:
20 years on and still looks as good as ever...
A grand ol movie from the dim dark era that was the 1980s. Many of the younger generation would fail to truly understand this movie that could only labelled as a "period classic" it is right there on the shelf next other "cool must haves" such as Rocky and Terminator.

American Ninja is a fine example of one the better Martial Arts flicks of 80s. Choreagraphed by the great Mike Stone, the fights are better and a little more realistic than most films (even by today's standards).

Sure the story is a little transparent and the acting is barely on the plus side of ordinary, but what more could we want from a Martial Arts movie of the mid-80s.

Froma Martial Arts perspective, the moves are there and there are enough fight scenes to highlight that there was a competant cast and crew involved. Unlike the earlier flicks by Richard Norton (can you find him in this film?) and even Chuck Norris, the lack of repetion gives a sense of the 'Martial Arts Mastery' of the characters.


review by: date: 2005-03-20 rating:
BEST KICK ASS NINJA MOVIE EVER
Back in the good old eighties when ninja movies were flying off the shelves at your local rental store, i discovered this.
I must have been around six when i first saw this movie after my grandfather renting it one Sunday afternoon.I loved it.This film has some of the best fight scenes i have ever seen in a martial arts movie.The sequel: the confrontation was even better.Parts 3,4,and 5 are not worth the light of day.
I strongly advise you purchase the Region 1 U.S. version of this film and its sequel(Parts 2 and 3 are in a double pack)as the uk versions are cut.Once again the bbfc strike (They do it just to p**s people off im sure).The bad thing here is that there are no extras on the dvd.But what do you expect from such an old film.
Michael Dudikoff plays the lead role as Joe Armstrong,a quiet loner who has lost his memory of the past and joins the us Rangers.Army trucks are being hijacked by ninjas and when Joe intervines a battle ensues with the help of a fellow soldier Curtis Jackson.Cue loads of fighting,Swordplay and Guns galore.
This film is pure action.Dudikoff never got the credit he deserved for this film and went on to play small roles.If you like this film then i recommend Avenging force(if you can get hold of a copy)The delta Force,Bloodsport and No retreat no surrender.All are available on D.V.D.

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Similar products

Avenging Force [1986]
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation/American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (REGION 1) (NTSC)
American Ninja 4 - The Annihilation [1991] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
American Ninja 5 [1993] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
No Retreat, No Surrender [1985]

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . Martial Arts
Video . DVD & VHS . Special Features . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1980 - 1989
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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