9 1/2 Ninjas! (1991)

Joe Vogue, a ninja, butts heads with a real estate tycoon who has hired assassins to eliminate him. In addition to that he has to also protect and train a woman in the arts of ninjutsu.

Director:

Aaron Barsky (as Aaron Worth)

Writers:

Bill Crounse (screenplay), Bill Crounse (story)

Stars:

Michael Phenicie, Andee Gray, Robert Fieldsteel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Phenicie	...	Joe Vogue
Andee Gray	...	Lisa Thorne
Robert Fieldsteel	...	Arnold Gruber
Magda Harout	...	Gladys Vogue
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Cutter (as Tiny Lister)
Don Stark	...	Sledge
Barbara Leary	...	Dimitri
Paul Jabara	...	Mr. Ninja (voice)
Sharon Lee Jones	...	Zelda
Monty Hoffman	...	Isaac
Rance Howard	...	Ninja Negotiator
Gerald Okamura	...	Master
Keaton Simons	...	Young Joe
Kitsan	...	Otto
Ralph Manza	...	Old Man

Storyline

Joe Vogue, a ninja, butts heads with a real estate tycoon who has hired assassins to eliminate him. In addition to that he has to also protect and train a woman in the arts of ninjutsu.

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Plot Keywords:

shower | land grab | nude female silhouette | silhouette | hand puppet | 

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Taglines:

The first erotic martial arts action comedy.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

9 Ninjas 1/2

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elm Road Pictures, Image Organization

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofs 9½ Weeks (1986)

User Reviews

Well...um...Beats watching Weather Channel, I guess...

Okay, we all know going into this one that it's going to be bad. Shame on anyone who thought they'd be getting a classic motion picture, here. This was what you'd call a "B" movie at it's best...or worst, depending on who you listen to.

Basic plot line? Who cares. We're all here to see what happens when the star, Amee Gray takes off something. This is the early 90's when, along with really awful hair, most of your female leads would lose clothing. And...along with the aforementioned bad hair, she does. She's pretty by 1991 standards, but the looks are lost when she delivers any line. The woman's acting is pretty much like watching a middle school cast do Mamet. It just ain't happening...

Now remember, this movie was done in those days before the internet. Your typical teenage boy had to find movies like this to look at semi-clad women, or pick up a men's magazine. I suspect someone had that idea when coming up with "9 1/2 Ninjas". Make a movie with some skin in it...toss in some action, and find a joke writer to add a laugh. Then, when the movie has it's theatrical run, put Gray on the cover of the VHS clamshell in as little as possible. Put the movie in your local "Lou's Movie Rental" place that's probably a gas station as well, where one can rent a movie like this, and viola! It'll make money.

The acting is pretty wooden and sophomoric. But, I have to admit I laughed at the scene where there's a Ninja attack, and the actors slip on some sort of spilled oil.

Having friends who have had parts in low budget films, I have a warm spot in my heart for a movie like this. They are a "starting point" for talent and production people. And, if you think about it, the B-movie seems to have largely disappeared due to much better technology allowing slicker and better looking productions.

Do I recommend this movie? Sure! It'll give you something to tell your friends the next day.. "Holy crap did I watch a pretty rotten movie...but the girl in it was kinda hot for 1991!" Put this in your Que for "Bad Movies I Will never Own Up to Watching, But it Had Some Redeeming Reasons to Watch"...

4 out of 10, and that's being really generous.