Spoiler free review and thoughts on Ninja Assassin

I just came back from the Ninja Assassin screening at the Warner Bros private theater. It was a packed house full of press and other writers which, having gone to many advanced screenings for Asian movies, that’s a bit unusual. It’s also a sign that this isn’t just an Asian movie, but a super big Hollywood Blockbuster type fare. Waiting for the film to start, I was trying to think of the last time a movie with an Asian male lead had this kind of buzz leading the way. Really, there hasn’t been any. In addition to watching a movie, I was thinking perhaps I was watching history too. Well we got there early so there was a lot of time to think — don’t judge me!

I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to read advance reviews or any type of spoiler so that I can go into the movie with no pre-conceived notions. That was a bit hard for Ninja Assassin with the amount of PR material that Warner Bros was sending us. And the first thing handed to us as we checked in was a 28-page all-you-need-to-know package about the movie. Plus I remember there was an early edit screener already seen by many people earlier in March that did not do well.

Fortunately for me, I chose not to go to that March screening because the version I saw was in one word, BADASS. As I continue writing this post, I’m really going to try hard to not use that word like little school girls use exclamation points when they’re excited.

The knock on Ninja Assassin is the over the top storyline and use of hokey Asian folklore. That unfortunately seems to be true. So if you’re the type to look for excellent plots or Oscar-caliber screenplays, your other alternative opening that week is Twilight: New Moon, in which case, pick your poison.

The fighting and action scenes – BADASS! I did not know until watching this movie that ninjas can throw stars faster than guns can shoot bullets. It has been a long while since ninjas were give the Hollywood treatment and boy is the wait worth it. Every single fighting scene was so edge-of-your-seat intense. And there were MANY fighting scenes. Every time a ninja steps out of the shadow, they made it look so cool. Every time ninjas killed someone; you’re just like, “wow, that quick huh?” To quote the PR package, “ninjas are the elite special forces of the martial arts world,” and they showed us why in the movie.

Everything Rain did, he made it look really cool. In general Rain was commanding with his scene presence, but in a quiet, Jet Li-esque manner. The PR package has quotes from the director and producers saying Rain was the perfect choice for this movie. I definitely agree with that, but feel it was also by default. What other Asian actors, American or otherwise, could have done a leading role in a big budget Hollywood movie?

Even though this isn’t a comedy, there were some great one-liners. One of which, is a crack about Rain looking like a boy band member rather than an assassin. I think I was cracking up for like a whole minute. Not many Asian critics were there so I was kinda embarrassed for laughing so long, but it was funny! Rain himself had some great one-liners which makes me think he might not be bad in a comedy…

For the ladies, there was a heartbreaking romance that’s typical of Asian dramas where the love was forged since childhood and the build up to the first kiss is the climax coming after many years of shyness and awkwardness.

I kinda wish friend of Ningin, Sung Kang, got more screen time. I thought he role in the movie was going to bigger, but that’s not the case. Same with Rick Yune, who always seem to play the bad guy in these types of movies.

So would I recommend this people? Yea, I would for the fighting scenes, because Rain kicks ass, and because it’s a big budget movie with lots of ninjas! It’s a good formula for success and the filmmakers of Ninja Assassin did well to focus on that.

Don’t forget we have tons of Ninja Assassin Giveaways and I’ll be doing an interview with Rain tomorrow. If you have questions for Rain, you should let me know.