Surf Ninjas (1993)

Director:

Neal Israel

Writer (WGA):

Dan Gordon (written by)

Release Date:

20 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Surf's up! Time to save the world!

Plot:

Two Asian-American "surfer-dude" brothers discover they are the long lost princes from a China Sea Island...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Martial Arts | Prince | Brother | Dictator

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ernie Reyes Sr.	...	Zatch
Ernie Reyes Jr.	...	Johnny
Nicolas Cowan	...	Adam
John Karlen	...	Mac
Rob Schneider	...	Iggy
Oliver Mills	...	Moto Surfer
Jonathan Schmock	...	School Cop
Neal Israel	...	Mr. Dunbar
Vladimir Parra	...	Back-up Singer #1
Brandon Karrer	...	Back-up Singer #2
Dathan Aragon	...	Back-up Singer#3
Phillip Bayless	...	Back-up Singer #4
Philip Tan	...	Captain Ming
Keone Young	...	Baba Ram
Romy Windsor	...	Miss Robertson
Rachel Kolar	...	Rachel
Yoni Gordon	...	Wendell
Sritao Thepchasoon	...	Dungeon Guard
Leslie Nielsen	...	Colonel Chi
Nathan Jung	...	Manchu
Thep Thien-Chai	...	Gong Man
Sa-Ngud	...	Prisoner
Sheng Meng	...	Major Snee
Tanin Tapmongkol	...	King
Montatip Kaewprasert	...	Queen
Tone Loc	...	Lieutenant Spence
Rick Dorio	...	Sergeant Bork
James Vallely	...	Surf Dude #1
Mitchell Horowitz	...	Surf Dude #2
Mark Dutt	...	Squad Car Cop #1
Desi Singh	...	Squad Car Cop #2
Tad Horino	...	Gum-Bey
Young Jue	...	Patu Sani Man
Kelly Hu	...	Ro-May
Marisa Theodore	...	Surf Babe
Pete Antico	...	Cop #1
Robert Terry Lee	...	Cop #2
Bowman Chung	...	Victim

Directed by
Neal Israel

Writing credits (WGA)
Dan Gordon		(written by)

Produced by
Matthew Gayne	....	associate producer
Dan Gordon	....	executive producer
Evzen Kolar	....	producer
Kevin Moreton	....	executive producer
Ernie Reyes Jr.	....	associate producer
Sara Risher	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Arthur Albert		(director of photography)
Victor Hammer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Walls

Casting by
Annette Benson

Production Design by
Michael Novotny

Art Direction by
Curtis Baruth		(as Curtis W. Baruth)

Set Decoration by
Janis Lubin

Costume Design by
Deborah Kramer

Makeup Department
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	hair stylist
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ric Keeley	....	post-production supervisor
Gene Marum	....	unit production manager
Anne McCaffrey	....	unit production manager: Thailand
Deborah Moore	....	executive in charge of production
Tom Udell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Stephen Buck	....	first assistant director
Cellin Gluck	....	second assistant director
Tippawan Mamawee	....	second assistant director: Thailand (as Tippawan Mamanee)
Martha L. Mericka	....	second second assistant director
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	second unit director (as Ernie Orsatti)
Somchai Santitarangkul	....	second assistant director: Thailand
Rebecca Strickland	....	second second assistant director
Charlie Sungkawess	....	first assistant director: Thailand

Art Department
Chuck Askerneese	....	props
Lek Chaiyan Chunsuttiwat	....	art director: Thailand (as Lek Chaiyan)
Deirdre Cotrell	....	set dresser
Debbie DeVilla	....	lead scenic artist
Roger L. King	....	construction gang boss
Ernie Reyes Sr.	....	martial arts choreographer
Peter McGennis	....	assistant set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor
Itzhak Magal	....	sound mixer
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Cathie Speakman	....	sound editor
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Mark R. Byers	....	special effects assistant
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects coordinator
Michael Huitron Lynch	....	special effects foreman: Thailand (as Michael Huitron)

Visual Effects by
Don Lee	....	digital compositor
Kevin Scott Mack	....	digital matte artist

Stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunt double: Rob Schneider
Mary Kircher	....	stunt player
Will Leong	....	stunts
Philip Tan	....	stunt coordinator
Mike Washlake	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Katz	....	gaffer
Richard Mall	....	key grip
John Nuler	....	Steadicam operator
Gary W. Shaw	....	key grip

Casting Department
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Jimmy Sandoval	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Mark Gantt	....	driver
Antonio Molina	....	transportation coordinator
John F. Teeple	....	driver

Other crew
Timothy Gray	....	production executive
Suzanne St. Pierre	....	key craft services
Alex L. Worman	....	product placement

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Surf Ninjas of the South China Sea (Australia)
Surf Warriors

Runtime:

UK:87 min | USA:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Australia:PG | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: No game cartridge in Game Gear hand-held video game system used and played by the kids.

Quotes:

Ro-May: Johnny, look. All my life I've done what's expected of a traditional Patusani girl. And who do my parents think they are, telling me who I'm going to marry? I'll decide who I'm going to marry, not them! That is if I marry. I mean that was a really swell kiss and all, but I just didn't want to hurt your feelings about the marriage thing.
[walks away, then comes back and kisses Johnny]
Ro-May: But we can still date right?

Movie Connections:

References Kung Fu (1972) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Barbara Ann

I liked it.

I saw this movie a few years ago and I happened to see it again recently. It is definitely not meant to be a super amazing martial arts movie in the sense of Bruce Lee. Rather this movie is supposed to be fun and lighthearted. I think it does its job. You can't judge it and say "Well that was a cheesy line". After all it was made in the early 90s so there is still a little of the 80s in the movie. It would be like watching those great movies of the 50s and mocking the dramatics of the women(ya know the screams with the hands on the face kinda deal.) People today just over think movies. If this movie makes you laugh and leaves you thinking... "I'm happy with the ending" then it served its purpose. It is just entertainment!!!!!!! And I like this movie!