Revenge of the Ninja (1983)

Director:

Sam Firstenberg

Writer:

James R. Silke (writer)

Release Date:

16 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

400 years of training in the art of sudden death... unleashed on 20th century America.

Plot:

After his family is killed in Japan by ninjas, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life...

Plot Keywords:

Doll | Ninja | Japan | Heroin | Murder Of Family

Cast

Shô Kosugi	...	Cho Osaki
Keith Vitali	...	Dave Hatcher
Virgil Frye	...	Lieutenant Dire
Arthur Roberts	...	Braden
Mario Gallo	...	Chifano
Grace Oshita	...	Grandmother
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

Also Known As:

Ninja II
Way of the Ninja (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1983) (1984) (1988) | Australia:R | France:-12 | Norway:(Banned) (1985-2001) | Norway:18 (re-rating) (2001) | UK:18 (heavily cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company:

Cannon Films

Trivia:

The film was originally going to be totally filmed in Los Angeles but the expenses to film there kept growing (city permits, mandatory police officers, fire marshals, location fees, parking, etc). The Utah Film Commission was trying to get Cannon Films to start producing films in their state and a representative promised no permits, location fees, or union deals as well as lower salaries for local crews. This is why the films production was moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Goofs:

Continuity: The van swerves for the same blue Toyota twice.

Quotes:

Cho Osaki: Only a ninja can stop a ninja.

Movie Connections:

Follows Enter the Ninja (1981)

Revenge of the 80's: Sho Kosugi's Cannon films!

Revenge of the Ninja (1983) was the second film in the "Ninja" series. This time Sho Kosugi is the good guy (ya!) and the Caucasians are the evil villains (Ya-ya!) Sho tangles with the mob over the usual scheme (drugs what else). The mob don't take too kindly to Japanese people but they picked the wrong guy to tangle with. Sho goes into action when his family's endangered. Using his skills in the ways of a ninja, Sho grabs his sword and stars and lays waste to the local mafia.

A better film than the first one. Although Sho Kosugi acts with all the emotion of a wooden Indian, he's one bad dude and is very credible as a hero. A fun action film filled with enough cheese and sleaze to entertaining fans of this genre. Followed by the weird and strange Ninja III: The Domination starring a very hot Lucinda Dickey!!

Recommended for Sho Kosugi fans and Cannon Film buffs. A film company that's sadly missed.

B+