Ninja (2009)

Director:

Isaac Florentine

Writers:

Boaz Davidson (story)
Boaz Davidson (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

22 October 2009 (Malaysia)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan, is asked by the Sensei to return to New York to protect the legendary Yoroi Bitsu, an armored chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga Ninja.

Plot Keywords:

Ninja | Rooftop | Security Guard | Warrior | Police Station

Cast

Scott Adkins	...	Casey Bowman
Tsuyoshi Ihara	...	Masazuka
Mika Hijii	...	Namiko Takeda
Todd Jensen	...	Det. Traxler
Togo Igawa	...	Sensei Takeda
Garrick Hagon	...	Professor Garrison
Miles Anderson	...	Temple
Valentin Ganev	...	Klimitov
Atanas Srebrev	...	Detective Vukovich
Fumio Demura	...	Shihan Dai
Masaki Onishi	...	Ryuu
Nikolai Sotirov	...	Adamovich
Kenji Motomiya	...	Akira
Asen Asenov	...	Big armed man
Ivailo Dimitrov	...	Bodyguard
Krassimir Gospodinov	...	Clerk
Michael Oren Johnson	...	Desk sergeant
Ivo Kehayov	...	Police officer / Cop
Judith Michelle Hill	...	Neighbor woman
Meglena Karalambova	...	Rachel
Franklin A. Vallette	...	2nd. Uniformed Cop
Velislav Pavlov	...	Security guard
Plamen Manassiev	...	Spokesman (as Plamen Manasiev)
Velizar Binev	...	Waiter
Morgan Phan	...	Kiko (as Katherine Khuat)
Hashimoto Takara	...	Tokyo ticket agent
Ani Jarret	...	Reporter 1
Assen Blatechki	...	Failed Guard
Raicho Vasilev	...	Gunman
Vladimir Mihailov	...	Custom Man
Goran Ganchev	...	Ring Man
Andrey Slabakov	...	Business Man
Deyan Donkov	...	Business Man
Harry Anichkin	...	Business Man (as Haralampi Anichkin)
Boris Pankin	...	Business Man
Hideto Asaishi	...	Business Man
Ruslan Kupenov	...	Homeless Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dimiter Doichinov	...	Ring Guard (uncredited)
Siso Kamburov	...	Abramov (uncredited)
Akira Koieyama	...	Student (uncredited)
Ryan Moriarty	...	Additional Voices (uncredited)
Velizar Peev	...	Ring Guard (uncredited)
Les Weldon	...	Anchorman (uncredited)

Directed by
Isaac Florentine

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Boaz Davidson		story
Boaz Davidson		written by
Michael Hurst		written by

Produced by
Boaz Davidson	....	producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
Danny Lerner	....	producer
Joan Mao	....	associate producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
David Varod	....	executive producer
Les Weldon	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Edwards

Cinematography by
Ross W. Clarkson

Film Editing by
Irit Raz

Casting by
Yumi Takada

Production Design by
Kes Bonnet

Art Direction by
Valentina Mladenova

Costume Design by
Christian Cordella

Makeup Department
Robert Kato DeStefan	....	lab technician
Kelly Golden	....	sculptor

Production Management
Gabriel Georgiev	....	production manager
Todd Gilbert	....	executive in charge of post-production
Joseph Lobato	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Boaz Davidson	....	second unit director
Petya Evtimova	....	first assistant director
Alexander Kossev	....	third assistant director
Galina Kyuchukova	....	second assistant director
Mark Roper	....	first assistant director
Antony Tanev	....	first assistant director: second unit
Franklin A. Vallette	....	first assistant director
Svetoslav Velichkov	....	assistant director

Art Department
Angel Angelov	....	storyboard artist
Maria Doicheva	....	props
Yasen Mihaylov	....	3D graphic designer
Yasen Mihaylov	....	draftsman
Vladimir Petkov	....	carpenter
Eleonora Slavkova	....	painter
Kristian Stoyanov	....	set dresser
Arta Tozzi	....	assistant art director
Konstantin Vitkov	....	concept artist

Sound Department
Robert Dehn	....	sound studio manager
Brent Findley	....	sound effects editor
Nick Foley	....	adr mixer
Jason Gaya	....	adr mixer
Jason Gaya	....	sound recordist
Corey J. Grasso	....	adr mixer
Angela Hemingway	....	adr dialogue editor
Chad J. Hughes	....	sound designer
Steven Iba	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Kitting	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Zach Michaelis	....	foley mixer
Eric Milano	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Orlin Budinov	....	special effects technician
Jovko Dogandjiski	....	special effects technician
Nikolay Furtunkov	....	special effects technician
Ivo Jivkov	....	special effects supervisor
Georgi Karadjov	....	special effects
Marten Ruskov	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ivaylo Andonov	....	digital compositor
Javor Asenov	....	lead artist
Simeon Asenov	....	visual effects art director
Dilyan Aynadzhiev	....	visual effects systems administrator
Svilen Aynadzhiev	....	digital compositor
Emilia Borisova	....	visual effects
Angelina Borisowa	....	visual effects editor
Maria Boyuklieva	....	digital compositor
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Elin Davidov	....	digital effects artist
Nina Dimitrova	....	matchmove artist
Paounka Dimitrova	....	digital artist
Alexander Dimov	....	visual effects
Dinko Dimov	....	matte painter
Ivelina Dobreva	....	digital compositor
Anton Donchev	....	digital compositor
Daniel Donchov	....	visual effects systems administrator
Stanislav Draganov	....	visual effects
Stanislav Dragiev	....	visual effects supervisor
Nikolay Gachev	....	vfx supervisor: massive
Kremena Ganeva	....	digital compositor
Dobri Georgiev	....	lead cgi artist
Kristina Georgieva	....	visual effects artist
Kiril Gizdov	....	digital compositor
Dobromir Hristov	....	digital compositor
Angel Ivanov	....	lighting and rendering lead
Ivan Gochev Ivanov	....	visual effects artist
Rosen Ivanov	....	digital compositor
Peter Keranov	....	lead compositor
Lyubomir Kirkov	....	visual effects
Momchil Kirov	....	digital compositor
Rumen Kirov	....	visual effects
Dragomir Kostadinov	....	matte painter
Kalin Krumov	....	digital compositor
Maria Maltcheva	....	visual effects set supervisor
Silviya Mariyanova	....	visual effects coordinator
Jordan Markov	....	visual effects
Maria Mavrova	....	visual effects lead artist
Nikolay Mihailov	....	digital compositor
Velislava Mihailova	....	digital compositor
Svetoslav Mitev	....	visual effects coordinator
Diana Moneva	....	digital compositor
Nikolay Pachov	....	video effects editor
Nikolay Peev	....	visual effects
James John Perkins	....	visual effects artist
Nick Peshunoff	....	vfx coordinators and qc supervisor
Julia Petrova	....	digital compositor
Ekaterina Pushkarova	....	digital artist
Karthic Ramesh	....	digital paint artist
Nikola Simeonov	....	digital lead artist
Georgi Slavov	....	visual effects
Georgi Staikov	....	animator
Boyan Stoyanov	....	vfx td
Stefan Tchakarov	....	visual effects production supervisor
Valentin Todorov	....	visual effects systems administrator
Dimitrina Torneva	....	digital compositor
Stoilova Tsvetelina	....	visual effects artist
Desislava Valcheva	....	digital effects artist
Chris Ward	....	digital intermediate producer
Alex Zvezdev	....	visual effects systems administrator

Stunts
Asen Asenov	....	stunts (as Assen Assenov)
Fumio Demura	....	stunt coordinator
Georgi Dimitrov	....	stunts
Ivailo Dimitrov	....	stunt performer
Dimiter Doichinov	....	stunts (as Dimitar Doichinov)
Alexander Hitrov	....	stunts
Dian Hristov	....	stunts (as Deyan Hristov)
Radoslav Ignatov	....	stunt double: Scott Adkins
Borislav Iliev	....	stunt rigger
Danko Jordanov	....	stunt double
Kalin Kerin	....	stunts
Georgi Manchev	....	stunt performer
Yana Marinova	....	stunts (as Yanja Marinova)
Stilyan Mavrov	....	stunts (as Stilian Mavrov)
Tadahiro Nakamura	....	stunt performer
Akihiro Noguchi	....	fight choreographer (as Akahiro Yuji Noguchi)
Masaki Onishi	....	stunt double: Masazuka
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Rumen Petrov	....	stunts
Elitsa Rajeva	....	stunt double
Kenji Sato	....	stunts
Pavel Shalamanov	....	stunts
Stefan Shopov	....	stunts
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunts
Georgi Stanislavov	....	stunts (as Georgy Ventsislavov)
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunts (as Ventsislav Stoianov)
Hiromi Sunaoshi	....	stunt double: Namiko
Teodor Tsolov	....	stunts
Ivan Vodenicharov	....	stunts
Kaloian Vodenicharov	....	stunt coordinator (as Kaloyan 'Kalata' Vodenicharov)
Yordan Zahariev	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ivan Aleksandrov	....	second unit grip
Mitko Bonev	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mitko Bonev	....	focus puller: Second Unit
Pepi Bonev	....	video assistant: second unit
Miroslav Borisov	....	second unit grip
Ross W. Clarkson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Sasa Djordjevic	....	key grip
Grigor Kumitski	....	loader: second unit
Nenad Maksimovic	....	best boy grip
Anton Nakov	....	focus puller
Radoslav Petkov	....	video assist
Yuda Tatarko	....	gaffer
Emil Topuzov	....	cinematographer: second unit
Ivan Vatzov	....	assistant camera
Mihail Yanakiev	....	second assistant camera
Yavor Zahariev	....	gaffer: second unit

Casting Department
Katerina Goranova	....	casting assistant
Alexander Kossev	....	extras casting director
Thomas Lynch	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Atanas Ivanov	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Jivko Chakarov	....	assistant editor (assistant editor)
Damyan Damyanov	....	assistant editor
Julius Friede	....	digital intermediate colorist
David Graubard	....	digital intermediate senior systems engineer
Alain Jakubowicz	....	additional editor
Jon Pehlke	....	on-line editor
Tom Scully	....	visual effects editor
Paul Amadeus Kim	....	assistant on-line editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Selena Arizanovic	....	music supervisor
Mikael Carlsson	....	soundtrack producer
James Fitzpatrick	....	music contractor
Jan Holzner	....	orchestra recording engineer
Eric Jasper	....	orchestrator
Eric Jasper	....	score mixer
Adam Klemens	....	conductor
Michael J. Lloyd	....	additional orchestrations
Michael Pelavin	....	lead orchestrator
Michael Pelavin	....	musician: guitar
Michael Pelavin	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Ivan Geshtakov	....	driver: cast
Bojidar Kostov	....	transportation

Other crew
Alina Apostu	....	script supervisor
Devon Boyd	....	senior v.p. finance
Annie Domingo	....	accounting: Millennium Films, No Image Inc.
Anna Gand	....	financial analyst
Jeffrey Giles	....	international distribution
Eric Green	....	marketing and publicity
Sachiyo K	....	voice artist: post synching (as Sachiko Hayashi)
Todd Korody	....	systems engineer
Kalina Krasteva	....	assistant production coordinator
Alan J. Lam	....	production controller
Teppei Nakamura	....	interpreter
Rouslan Ovtcharoff	....	production associate
Lonnie Ramati	....	production business affairs
Maggie Stoyanova	....	production coordinator
Yutaka Tachibana	....	production coordinator
Ray Tamayo	....	staff accountant
Arturo Lopez Uscanga	....	scanning manager
Nimrod Zalmanowitz	....	epk producer

Production Companies

• Nu Image Films (presents)
• Millennium Films

Distributors

• Viva International Pictures (2010) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• All Interactive Distribution (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• CP Digital (2009) (Russia) (DVD)
• Cinemax (2009) (Russia) (all media) (CIS)
• Eagle Films (2009) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• First Look International (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• First Look International (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (all media)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• SBP (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Austria) (all media)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Switzerland) (all media) (German-speaking Switzerland)
• Splendid Film (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• VVS Films (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• VVS Films (2010) (Canada) (all media)

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Sony Pictures Stock Footage  stock footage
• Talent Partners Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence throughout

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese | Russian | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45044) | UK:18 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA (2010) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Norway:15 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria

Company:

Nu Image Films

Goofs:

Continuity: As Casey and Namiko flee from the Professor's house following the attack, Casey jumps over the oncoming car, landing approximately 2 meters behind it. When the driver gets out of the car Casey is standing at kicking distance from him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Not Another Not Another Movie (2011)

Good Action Flick, better than Ninja Assassin

General: Good B movie. Acting: Very Mediocre. Storyline: Typical.

Direction: Actually pretty decent! I believe Florentine deserves to move higher in Hollywood. He makes some great action flicks with a very limited budget. Watch Undisputed II as well, even better than Ninja.

Action: The BEST. This movie has great fight scenes, better than most of the big budget movies out there. The choreography is also well directed, which means you can actually appreciate every Japanese Ju Jitsu movement in this movie.

Conclusion: A cool flick to watch with guys. It's not bad at all. Give it a chance, if you want to see an above the average martial arts action film, with good direction and great (Ong Bak style, no wires and CGI) fight scenes, just please do not watch it for the acting.