According to the Official Ninja Webpage (yes, such a wonderful thing really exists), ninjas “fight all the time” and have one purpose: to “flip out and kill people”.
Nice. But, then, you can see why they’ve drawn that dramatic conclusion. Ninjas in movies are generally represented as stealthy, tricky and deadly (and, in the case of Cats and Dogs, just plain mean).
It’s certainly a model that James McTeigue seems to be sticking with for Ninja Assassin, out in the UK on 22 January.
So, in honour of all things ninjatastic, here are some of the most awesome (and, in a few cases, awesomely awful) ninja movie "flip outs" past and present...
Duel to the Death (1983)
The Film
The directorial debut of stuntman Siu-Tung Ching (who went on to choreograph the fights in Hero and House of Flying Daggers), this energetic 1982 classic contains disparate elements that brilliantly complement each other.
Humour. Action. Story. It’s a tale set in the time of the Ming Dynasty, when China and Japan constantly battled it out for supremacy.
Every ten years, the very best warriors from each nation face each other in a fight to the death.
This year, it’s Japanese ninja Hashimoto (Tsui Siu-Keung) versus Chinese warrior Ching Wan (Damian Lau).
Duel to the Death is notable as the last in the traditional Hong Kong martial arts pics, while its clever wirework and complicated fights eventually paved the way for the likes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Why It’s Awesome
Set against the elemental power of the ocean, this blade fight has the unstoppable force of nature on its side.
It’s misty. Hashimoto and Ching Wan balance on a rocky cliff face. They flip and spin. Their blades bite at each other with the clash of metallic thunder.
Claret sprays of blood are the only flashes colour. Seeming to harness command of the elements, these two fighters take flight and spar mid-air before shaking the foundations of the earth.
Oh, and the respect these two fighters share would reduce any grown man to tears. It’s that good.
Next: Revenge of the Ninja
Comments
bak2skool
Jan 4th 2010, 11:25
You have got to be kidding me. Whoever wrote this knows nothing about samurai flicks. How can you not include scenes from the incredible series of Lone Wolf and Cub or Iron Monkey but instead choose a piece of c**p hollywood flick like Beverly Hills Ninja.
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samkitch
Jan 5th 2010, 9:34
samurai and ninjas are completely different so i would be supriced to see 'scenes from samurai flicks' in a list of ninja stuff
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mitchsn
Jan 5th 2010, 23:55
Lone Wolf and Cub ie Shogun Assassin is a tale of a Ronin being hunted down by Ninja. Its a travesty that its not on this list. Also, Dagger of Kamui (Anime from 1985) is an all time classic that is a must see. Visuals from this movie have been stolen repeatedly.
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