Revenge of the Ninja (1983)

After his family is killed in Japan by ninjas, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When he finds... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Firstenberg

Writer:

James R. Silke (screenplay)

Stars:

Shô Kosugi, Keith Vitali, Virgil Frye

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shô Kosugi	...	Cho Osaki (as Sho Kosugi Black Ninja)
Keith Vitali	...	Dave Hatcher
Virgil Frye	...	Lt. Dime
Arthur Roberts	...	Braden
Mario Gallo	...	Caifano
Grace Oshita	...	Grandmother Osaki
Ashley Ferrare	...	Cathy
Kane Kosugi	...	Kane Osaki
John LaMotta	...	Joe (as John La Motta)
Mel Hampton	...	Detective Rios
Oscar Rowland	...	One-Eyed Informant
Professor Toru Tanaka	...	Sumo Servant (as Prof. Toru Tanaka)
Don Shanks	...	Chief
Joe Pagliuso	...	Alberto
Ladd Anderson	...	Thief #1

Storyline

After his family is killed in Japan by ninjas, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When he finds out that his friend has betrayed him, Cho must prepare for the ultimate battle he has ever been involved in.

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Plot Keywords:

ninjitsu | blowpipe | arrow in the chest | asian american | heroin | 

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Taglines:

Payback is deadly.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ninja II

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$509,106, 11 September 1983

Gross USA:

$13,168,027

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the documentary, Electric Boogaloo: The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films, director Sam Firstenberg stated that this film was "very heavy on philosophical ideas and drama" which may have been one of the reasons the first cut of the film was a total failure prompting a re-conception of both the plot and the movie itself by Menahem Golan, who had previously directed, Enter The Ninja.

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Goofs

When Cho is using the claws to climb up the side of the building, in one scene as he sticks the claws in the concrete you see the wall move slightly. It's more than likely plaster or sheet rock used to simulate the rock of the side of the building.

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Quotes

[grabbing Kane by the shoulder]
Cho Osaki: I told you not to fight.
Grandmother: Do not yell at him. He did no wrong.
Cho Osaki: I did not bring him here to America to fight in the streets with fools.

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Alternate Versions

In the version seen on cable premium channels but edited on video, when Sho stabs Brayden in the stomach, blood spurts out for about a good 5-10 seconds before Sho slices his mask in half. In the video version, this is cut out.

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Connections

Followed by Ninja III: The Domination (1984)

User Reviews

Japanese Chop-Socky expert Kosugi is forced into action when his son is kidnapped

This classic Ninja about practitioners of an ancient Oriental art of killing named Ninjitsu , wearing in black , using martial arts and diverse weapons , as Katana , deadly star (Ninkaisen), explosive balls...The exciting movie deals about Cho (Shô Kosugi , he personally crafted many of the weapons in the film) , when his family is murdered , he goes to America along with his son (Kane Kosugi) . There he puts a dolls-store , but his friend (Arthur Roberts) deceits him by means of drugs smuggling into the dolls . Then , a Ninja dedicates to human chase disguised in silvered mask . The Japanese Ninja , helped by a cop (Frye) , confronts enemies , mob , hoodlums (Professor Tanaka) and metes out his own justice when his son is abducted . The Ninjitsu fighter is possessed by the spirit of vengeance-seeking Ninja and only Sho Kosugi wipes out a passel of heinous villains and brings his bloody rampage to a moving final .

This a violent and gripping story with plenty of noisy action and struggles in a comic-book style . It's a mindless but enjoyable for martial arts aficionados of the old style because the new technical are made by means of wires , cables and computer generator . The violence was dramatically cut for its original theatrical release which still garnered '18' certificates around the world . The unrated version of the film features an infamous blood splatter , one of the major reasons this version of the film is more popular . Shô Kosugi was adamant that Keith Vitali's character be killed to heighten the drama , director Sam Firstenberg agreed but nixed the idea that the character's hand be cut off during his dying scene . The film highlights are the fighting between the little boy named Kane against a group of children and a gorgeous woman ; the combat between the grandmother and a killer and Sho Kosugi fighting and wielding a fan , among them . The fights , thrills and lots of action and even some moments of unintentional humor make this movie worth seeing .

The previous movie was ¨Enter the Ninja¨ (81) by Menahem Golan with Franco Nero , Menahem Golan was director of the first film , and was to direct this one also , but shortly before production was to start he decided to turn over directing chores to Sam Firstenberg . Golan did remain as producer , however and he came up with the films' opening prologue that adds more depth to the story . It was followed by ¨Ninja III , the domination¨ with Lucinda Dickey and again Sho Kosugi . The picture was well produced by Cannon -Golan and Globus- and rightly directed by Sam Firstenberg , being first "Ninja" film directed by Sam Firstenberg for Golan-Globus' . Sam's a low-grade expert on karate genre and Ninja sub-genre , such as he proved in ¨American Ninja¨ and sequels , and ¨Forced vengeance (82)¨ and ¨Avening force (1986)¨ with his usual actor Michael Dudikoff . Martial-art and Ninja films aficionados should enjoy it , because this Ninja entry is good of its type .