HOME REVIEWS SPECIAL FEATURES
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Page 01 | Page 02 | Page 03 | Page 04 | Page 05 | Page 06
Ninja, Demon's Massacre (1988) Directed by: Tommy Cheng

Neither a demon's massacre or barely a ninja flick, Tomas Tang still finds time after his made-up credits to inject his favourite movie content at random, illogical points. With Stuart Smith playing the CIA operative Robinson Collins, something is surely being done right in Tang's production looking at the character name alone! Then intercutting their modern day cop vs. thugs plot with a rather stale Thai action/adventure where a rural setting becomes the center for power struggles of some kind, Ninja, Demon's Massacre is really an assault on the senses because you'll literally get a headache trying to figure out what on earth is going on and why. Best not though as Western-genre esthetics, CIA agents posing as tutors and a character firmly expressing that "5 days is enough time to know each other before marriage" are just further random elements created by Tang for the benefit of his own wallet. But by god, it is thoroughly fascinating to see this commercial machine at work. A highly off-key, rusty machine that figures logic is not in the tiny details. The excuse for getting ninjas (with even cheaper suits than in an IFD flick. I.e. no headbands) into the mayhem then? Add a soothing narration about the Robinson Collins character being good friends with the golden ninjas. As far fetched as it is, at least we get a first encounter of what happens when a golden ninja is defeated. Yep, last tactic is to explode! Nothing is good though and sometimes barely so bad that it's good but as always, if you've gone this far, might as well like something like Ninja, Demon's Massacre a bit too. Even if it's your mind post-viewing that actually entertains you.

Ninja Destroyer (1986) Directed by: Godfrey Ho

TROY'S REVIEW: Regular IFD ninja fans will delight to know that this stars everyone's favourite crap actor Stuart Smith who as always succeeds in delivering unto his loyal, legions (?) of fans, a sterling, over the top and frankly, mesmerizingly inept performance as all round bad guy Michael who we're expected to believe is the head of a gang of Filipino terrorists (courtesy of a completely different film of course) and who amongst other antisocial endeavors, are attempting to seize control of an emerald mine. Fair enough. Catching wind of Michael's crooked ambitions however, Interpol are none too impressed and resolve to sort matters out by sending in, Byron (played by fellow regular IFD actor, Bruce Baron), Michael's former Green Beret buddy and ninja to boot! Yep, as you can probably well imagine, a climatic battle between these two warriors is very much on the cards here and sure enough when Michael predictably refuses to come back to the United States to face the music for his crimes, there are no options left than for our boys to duke it out to the death in true ninja style. Filipino superstar and regular face in the numerous cut & paste flicks produced by IFD productions and Filmark International, Sorapong Chatri headlines in the non-ninja original film here (although I'll wager that he didn't receive any royalty payments for it) in which he seems to curiously spend the entire time being alternatively captured and beaten by various cronies. Nonetheless, it's the ninja action that really matters here so behold with amazement such scenes as Smith and Baron shown 'interacting' with members of the cast from the original film (solid editing there Godfrey...) and even better, check out the expletive filled diatribe from Smith's character at the end of this - priceless stuff indeed!

Ninja Dragon (1986) Directed by: Godfrey Ho

TROY'S REVIEW: Well, if the main body of the film is sadly not exactly spellbinding, luckily the voice over work more than makes up for it! Without doubt, herein lies some of the most ridiculously and hilariously over the top dubbing my ears have ever had the joy to behold. Just check out the very first scene in the film for a classic example, in which a group of men are sitting around a table playing a high stakes card game. I frankly defy anyone not to burst out laughing when the main bad guy at the head of the table remarks of Harrison's character after he has just left the room; 'Gordon's a real bastard!' - In full Cockney accent no less. Hell, the film is worth watching for this scene alone! Also of note are a few fun, albeit typically all too brief ninja duels with the finale ending on particularly abrupt note for one of the combatants. Ah, they just don't make them like this anymore.

Ninja Empire (1988) Directed by: Godfrey Ho

TROY'S REVIEW: Are you all sitting comfortably? Good, then I shall begin... Bonnie and Brad are both ninjas who run a detective agency (what the hell?!) Bonnie is also searching for the present whereabouts of her sister who has gone missing from Judy Chen's modeling school along with a number of other women. In order to unravel this mystery, Bonnie subsequently infiltrates the school under the guise of an aspiring model herself. Meanwhile, Brad gets a phone call from Pam who apparently has evidence linking the said school to a prostitution ring run by Ringo, Judy's boyfriend. Unfortunately Pam is subsequently killed by Decker, a hit-man who works for an unnamed crime boss played by Cornish born, bad actor supreme Mike Abbott (here once more providing his own voice over in his broad West Country accent, but more on that later). As it happens, Abbott is also working with Tiger. Erm...Who the hell is Tiger?!, you might be asking. Well, he is in fact Ringo's boss. Brad subsequently starts to poke his nose into affairs, thus prompting Abbott to order his goons to kill him. Oh, did I happen to mention that Abbott and his men are also ninjas too?

Yes indeed, as you can quite clearly discern, the plot in this is as typically nonsensical as one has come to expect from an IFD production (and let us not forget that this is after all a Godfrey Ho film as well) But you know what? It is precisely such carelessness of plot, logic and continuity that makes for the charm in these flicks in the first place. The very best aspect of this film is undoubtedly Mike Abbott himself however and his hilarious over acting and inept line delivery. Not only this, but we are once again treated to the great man's own voice over, thus providing us with a slew of priceless dialogue including such classic lines as, 'You're all a bunch of filthy scums!' and 'Prepare to die, barrrrr-stud!' Absolutely, top class, bad movie fun! Also known as Ninja Knight: Thunder Fox.

Ninja: Extreme Weapons (1986) Directed by: Victor Sears

TROY'S REVIEW: What does a suitcase full of drugs, a female prostitution racket, a magic ring, an evil wheel chair bound villain and lots and lots of ninjas have in common? Erm... well absolutely bugger all to be honest but humour me for a moment for they do happen to serve as the staple ingredients in this decidedly head scratching affair from Tomas Tang's infamous Filmark International. Yes indeed, as is very usually the case with our Tomas's output, what his films lack in even the remotest coherence, they more than compensate for in utter hilarity and true to form, this entry is no exception. Of special mention, I frankly defy anyone viewing this not to half-die of laughter during such scenes as the aforementioned wheel chair bound, bad guy's sudden miraculous rejuvenation. If you have a penchant for trash cinema, then you'll simply lap this up. Also known as Ninja's Extreme Weapons.

Ninja Fantasy (1986) Directed by: Tommy Cheng

TROY'S REVIEW: Tomas Tang strikes once again with this Z-grade, cut and splice ninja poop-fest featuring drug dealing ninja, CIA operations and a completely irrelevant story from Thailand! If you've ever had the joy of watching these movies before then you'll know exactly what to expect here; Yes indeed, it's atrocious acting galore (just check out the 'actress' playing Peggy in this as she's actually clearly laughing in one scene in which she is being tortured!), abysmal dubbing/voice over work (I mean where in the hell do the makers find the voice over artists? And does ANYONE really speak like that?!) and enough daft plot contrivances to fill an average Australian soap opera for a whole year! Yey verily - this is indeed crap of the highest quality but oh so much fun! Just check out some of the hilarious highlights on offer in this which include: The aforementioned torture scene of Peggy during which a particularly sadistic ninja proceeds to repeatedly brand her before gleefully applying a cruel looking finger crushing contraption to her hands (and all the while he's cackling like a loony!) Also check out the truly horrific fashions the western actors are attired in... ye gods, it's enough to makes ones eyes bleed! The hero in this is especially guilty and spends his spare time (out of his ninja togs) dressed in a red and black stripy top with skin tight white jeans. Sort of like a hip and trendy Freddy Krueger in fact. The very best bit though is a completely bonkers scene in which in order to hide from our pursuing hero, the evil ninja transform themselves into... fish! Yes indeed you read that correctly! But it gets even better (or worse depending upon your viewpoint) for suddenly the ninja fish launch an all out attack on our man by flying out of the water at him and exploding! Good God! Who the hell thought this up?! As it happens, there's no time to ponder such matters for our hero quite rightly immediately sets about spearing the aquatic fiends on his sword! Alas, the head evil ninja uses this opportunity to launch a sneaky flying fish strike from behind, knocking our hero over before transforming back to human form. Well, what can one say about such a demented spectacle? - Why are you still reading this review? Rush out and track down a copy of this masterpiece at once! Also known as Twinkle Ninja Fantasy.

Ninja Force Of Assassins (1987) Directed by: Victor Sears

TROY'S REVIEW: Simply amazing would be the best way to describe this astounding and ground breaking tale of betrayal, the bonds of friendship, revenge and erm... ninjas. Ok, so I'm obviously talking a complete load of old cobblers but this is nonetheless essential viewing if you happen to have a propensity for grand cinematic trash. Yes, Tomas Tang strikes back with yet another hilariously inept cut & paste master work featuring a plot riddled with more inconsistencies than Wesley Snipes' tax return forms. Do you happen to like complex storylines? Great - then you'll simply adore this entry. Damn, this is the filmic equivalent of a sodding Rubics Cube! In fact, it would seem that even Tang himself completely lost track of the plot judging by the amount of loose ends still left dangling at the end of this!

Ninja Holocaust (1985) Directed by: Liu Li Shen

TROY'S REVIEW: Ok, let me try and shed some light on matters here. As best as I could discern, the 'plot' in this involves a number of somewhat shady characters' search for a missing necklace that apparently had etched into it the number to a Swiss bank account. Sounds simple enough? Well maybe on paper it might but not on screen I can assure you! Containing enough sub plots to fill an average soap opera for a whole year, a veritable plethora of fight scenes (very well choreographed I might add) that break out at any given opportunity for no apparent reason whatsoever, a healthy dose of gratuitous nudity and sex (including one scene in which a couple are having intercourse in a boxing ring followed by on a rowing machine!), a whole slew of characters who come and go without seeming explanation and you have one hell of a head scratching affair on your hands! All this is of course being bloody hilarious fun! The film literally races along, not giving you time to take a breath from one energetic fight scene to another or allowing you sufficient time to contemplate what the hell is in fact going on and when it eventually reaches its abrupt ending you'll be left completely dumbfounded as to what in hell you've just sat through. Suffice to say, you won't really care as you'll be too busy nursing your stomach from laughing so hard throughout! Yes, it is indeed my true honour to hereby award Ninja Holocaust the lofty status of a true bad movie classic! Tremendous fun from start to finish and I'm still none the wiser for what I've just sat through! Also known as City Ninja.

Ninja Hunt (1987) Directed by: Joseph Lai

TROY'S REVIEW: Great Scott! - A group of dastardly ninjas led by bad acting God, Stuart Smith (armed here with a decidedly awful, overdubbed accent) has stolen the top secret Dak 10 formula which is said to bring out fearlessness in human test subjects and which thus, lends itself perfectly to military applications. Furthermore, our miscreant martial arts experts are planning to sell the formula to the highest bidder, a feat aided by Triad gang leader Campell. Understandably none too pleased with such dirty dealings, the CIA are quick to send in their man Gordon Anderson (Richard Harrison) who also just happens to be a ninja and an expert ninja hunter. In turn and to aid him in his mission in tracking down the bad guys, Gordon enlists the help of an undercover agent, Aaron, who takes on the guise of a taxi driver in order to infiltrate Campell's gang (er?!) Sounds simple enough so far? Well, this is where it becomes more complicated. Aaron is befriended by Billy, a young streetwise kid who also happens to be part of Campell's gang. It transpires that Billy's mother Rachel, is Campell's mistress. However Billy is unaware that she is in fact his biological parent. Just to confuse matters even further, Billy's father is later revealed to be none other than Gordon. What a tangled web eh?

Yes, it's a typically convoluted cut & paste epic here, brought to us by Joseph Lai's IFD chop shop, featuring the usual quota of hilariously atrocious dubbing and voice over work, hopelessly tenuous connections between the newer, inserted footage and the original film and of course (and best of all), the requisite, colourfully clad ninja battles that we've all come to know and love. Unfortunately, it has to be said that there just aren't enough such duels featured in this entry to make it particularly memorable, which is a real pity. Nonetheless, for fans of the said sub (standard) genre, this is certainly worth at least a watch. Hell, even the worst of these films is still by far more fun than the majority of crap to come out of Hollywood these days.

Ninja In Action (1987) Directed by: Tommy Cheng

TROY'S REVIEW: Here it is; Stuart Smith's finest hour! Yes indeed, our bad acting king puts in his most exaggerated performance ever in this absolute demented cut & paste gem. Just check out our hero's love scene in this for a classic example - Good God! - Words simply can't describe it, but to call it awkward looking would be to put it as mildly as possible. Also be sure to check out the hilarious, protracted torture scene wherein Smith uses a succession of cruel information extraction methods on a stubbornly taciturn ninja and of course the glorious finale, whereby Smith employs his magic talisman to remove his adversaries ninjitsu.

Page 01 | Page 02 | Page 03 | Page 04 | Page 05 | Page 06
BACK TO TOP


© 2002 - 2008 So Good... - Hong Kong DVD Movie Reviews