CompleteMartialArts.com - Enter the Ninja
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List Price: $14.95
Our Price: $29.99
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Starring: Franco Nero, Susan George, Shô Kosugi, Christopher George, Alex Courtney
Directed By: Menahem Golan
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786301966399
Format: Color
ISBN: 6301966392
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 1994-07-08
Running Time: 101
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: 1981-10-02
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: "It's a Ninja. Professional soldier. Specializing in espionage & assassination." - Sho Kosugi.
Comment: The film begins with a very impressive display of weaponry skills by none other than Sho Kosugi in full Ninja uniform, including sai, shinobi-gatana, tonfa, nunchaku, manriki {bola}, blowgun, shiroken, bow & arrow, and spear-staff. Blend into white ninja {color indicative of novice/apprentice} amidst the wilderness undergoing his final "law of the jungle" test until recognized as full Ninja calibre; he is attacked by several red ninjas on his way back to the dojo, expertly defending himself until facing the Shidoshi himself, shockingly beheading him before entering in for judgement {this was a mere test to decipher whether or not he would be able to assassinate someone familiar to him to fulfill a mission, as many times an enemy would employ such illusionary tactics to distract from the task at hand}; in quite a moving scene, he is admonished by the shidoshi {teacher/"master"} to proclaim the Kuji-Kiri, The Nine Levels of Power while gesticulating the symbolic finger-knitting, which are:
1. Rin - Strength of mind and body.
2. Kyo - Direction of energy.
3. Toh - Harmony with the universe.
4. Sha - Healing of self and others.
5. Kai - Premonition of danger.
6. Jin - Knowing the thoughts of others.
7. Retsu - Mastery of time and space.
8. Zai - Control of the elements of nature.
9. Zen - Enlightenment.
The Ninja is a highly-disciplined "mystic warrior", as it were, a veritable "Assassin Warlock", utilizing the forces of nature to one's benefit, both manipulating and cooperating the Chi-Energy within and without, permeating matter and ether as one. Practicing the multi-levels of mind and body to develop absolute harmony and grace with one's inner and outer nature. Ninjitsu-Ryu, or Ninpo, is a true Martial Art.
Unfortunately, due to ignorance and probably fear, cinematically at least, ninja figures seem to be sometimes erroniously depicted as mere hoodlums or fumbling dime-a-dozen henchmen. Obviously, with some research on the subject, one will realize that this is not the case.
Historically, the Ninja was hired as a private assassin for rival families and rulerships - because of the feudal environment, the Ninja had to be the foremost martial artisan, and was in fact, the most advanced of the kind.
Turns out the white-clad Ninja is an American {an obvious Frank Dux inspiration} named "Cole", who gains the animosity of another student named Hasegawa {Sho Kosugi}, who holds an grudge against westerners learning the ancient secret art. He is a descendant of the original nine Ryu {families}, and feels divulging the art is sort of a sacrelege. Although Cole certainly proved worthy and earned it by merit, which is the sign of superiority. "Merit, not inherit", as a certain Magus so precisely and concisely stated.
Now that he is Ninja of the highest order, Cole departs to the Phillipines where he meets up with old war buddy Frank Landers, and soon learns of the local corruption besetting a village comitted by the resident Mafia, whose rather bratty boss desires the oil-enriched land for profit. A vile little toad of a man named "Siegfried Schultz" with a hook for a hand harasses a local shopkeep who did not "pay on time", and thus begins the contention between that underground organization and the one-man army Cole has become, who dispatches all antagonistic forces geared his way, which angers unscupulous CEO Charles Venarius, and through a deceitful subordinate, hires his own Ninja from the very same dojo, none other than Hasegawa!
As a side note, Cole eventually attracts the amorous attention of his friend Frank's wife Mary Ann, a sinewy blonde despirate for affection, upon which they indulge in a tryst after she radiates the mating signal through a sheer neglige.
Hasegawa abducts Mary Ann, and Landers meets his end by Hasegawa's shogi blade. Memory sequence includes a couple of memorable quotes (both in Vietnam):
Landers: "Now that the war is over, I'm gonna' find myself a good woman and live 'til I'm a hundred. You?"
Cole: "Find another war."
So, after gaining justice by lethal punishment upon Venarius, Cole and Hasegawa battle to the death with honor, tenacity, and skill.
Liberal uses of smoke bombs, extraordinary acrobatics, stealth and bloody kills. One particularly notable kill was Hasegawa's extermination of a guard using shuko, or the metal claws also used for climbing. Two genital attacks, including Schultz's hook on a thug and Cole's tonfa on a guard.
"Enter The Ninja" was released during the latter part of the martial arts pop-fascination of the 70's and early 80's, and distinguished itself by presenting Ninpo principles such as the afore-mentioned Kuji-Kiri, indigenous weaponry and some techniques, all under the expert supervision of Sho Kosugi {also "The Master" technical advisor}, an actual Ninpo practitioner, who along with Frank Dux, earned some ire from traditionalists in the old country, but did manage to add an enhanced perspective on this enigmatic historical character known as Ninja.
This is the first of the trilogy. The other two are "Revenge of The Ninja", and "Ninja III: The Domination". Also by Golan-Globus, the "American Ninja" trilogy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: DVD shoul be better quality
Comment: The movie is classic in its own way, but the DVD version is heavily cut and the quality of the picture is not the best.
Because of this only 2 stars
Customer Rating:
Summary: Classic ninja movie Sho Kosugi started it all
Comment: One of the great 80s ninja movies .Should be on DVD. If you are a fan of this movie go to MGM's website. In faq you can write a letter to request dvd releases
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Summary: "Shane"in pajamas
Comment: The plot of this movie has distinct overtones of the classic Western "Shane " and the best way to view it may well be in those terms ,with the Phillipines standing in for the frontier and martial arts weaponry and skills relpacing six shooters .
Franco Nero plays an ex mercenary who goes to visit an old friend who is having problems .The local Mr Big -played badly ,as usual by Christopher George, --is trying to force him to selling him his plantation and uses hired goons to rub the point home .Nero is a trained ninja and effortlessly defeats the thugs sent to coerce his friend .Eventaully the baddie strikes back by hiring his own "black ninja"(Sho Kosugi) who just happens to be Nero's dealiest enemy from the ninja academy and the scene is set for the final epic confrontation between the two men
This is decently enough done if more than slighly old hat but the fight scenes are brisk and lively and it works well as sraightforward "good vs bad " action movie
Iam not sure it was a good idea to call it by this title however as it evokes memories of Enter the Dragon ,still the best martial arts picture , and this is not in the same class .Minor cavil aside this is a good enough time passer
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ninjas are Cool
Comment: The pirates sure took a beating in this one. Hehe, Excellent. With thier crazy ninja smoke and their bouncing around, I don't understand how anyone could beat a ninja with another ninja. Like I always say, you have to fight fire with ninjas. I give this movie six thumbs in inordinate directions.
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