Big Picture Big Sound

Ninja Assassin Blu-ray Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

This 2009 kung-fu horror flick opens with an old man tattooing up a storm and talking about demons. What he's actually talking about, however, is a Ninja Assassin.

Sadly, his rambling is the most coherent thing about this James McTeigue/Wachowski Brothers joint. That doesn't mean it doesn't have its CG-enhanced highlights. Standing out from the typical martial arts fest, Ninja Assassin is filled with slicing, dicing and limb lopping aplenty. In fact, it might actually have more blood splatters than all of the Final Destination films combined.

Now all of that would be fine and well if the film didn't take itself so seriously. After all, getting both hands chopped off is funny, right? Hey, it worked magic for Monty Python. Here, not so much.

Korean pop sensation Rain does his best as Raizo, a guy looking for revenge against his childhood abusers/ninja trainers. He took the training and ran with it -- literally, after his sweetheart met the business end of a trainer's sword. Flash forward to the present, where he teams up with Mika (Naomie Harris), an agent who uncovers the connection between Raizo's past and a bunch of recent political assassinations.

Sure, we don't look for realism in our martial arts. However, this film just comes off as one bloody mess -- and it's pretty gory to boot.

The Picture

Apparently, director James McTeigue and Warner Bros. know how to make ninjas look really good. The action is fast, furious, and sharp as a tack. There are plenty of details, down to the beads of sweat on Rain's extremely chiseled chest, to stand out in almost every scene. The skintones and other colors are absolutely awesome. Sadly, it doesn't make the bloody parts any more realistic. However, for some, it might make this killer (no pun intended) 2.40:1 transfer a lot more watchable.

The Sound

As if the action and blood weren't in your face enough, the DTS-Master Audio track one-ups the image, with bullets flying, blood splattering, and wood splintering at almost every turn. The dialogue is a little on the low side, which shouldn't matter since it's secondary here. The film is all about action, and this track uses every bit of the soundfield as a strong attempt to keep you entertained.  

The Extras

Clips of the movie are sprinkled throughout "The Myth and Legend of Ninjas," a 19-minute look at the history of ninjas. It's a lot more interesting than the actual movie, and well worth a look. The other two shorts are just that -- short. Apparently, it only takes 10 minutes to talk about how awesome the movie is in "The Extreme Sport of a Ninja." There's also 10 minutes on training Rain, who's six-pack will make you choke on your Cheetos.

Final Thoughts

We love ninja movies. It's even better when ninja movies actually have a budget. Still, it just doesn't work that well here. Unless, you like your ninjas fast, furious and soaked in blood, you'll want to stay far away from Ninja Assassin. However, the Blu-ray is absolutely awesome, and might be worth a peek for true fans of the genre.

Product Details

  • Actors: Rain, Naomie Harris
  • Director: James McTeigue
  • Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (French, Spanish)
  • Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Region: A
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Rating: R
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Blu-ray Disc Release Date: March 16, 2010
  • Run Time: 99 minutes
  • List Price: $35.99
  • Extras:
    • The Myth and Legend of Ninjas
    • The Extreme Sport of a Ninja
    • Training Rain
    • Exclusive Look at the New Clash of the Titans
    • Deleted Scenes
    • BD Live
    • DVD + Digital Copy Combo Disc

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View all articles by Rachel Cericola
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