NINJA ASSASSIN (USA/Germany 2009) ***
Directed by James McTeigue

Director McTeigure directed the narratively hard-to-follow V FOR VENDETTA recently.  In his latest action spectacle NINJA ASSASSIN, story is immaterial.  McTeague provides lots of stylised violence and gore, a trademark of the Wachowski Brothers (THE MATRIX and writers for VENDETTA) which should certainly satisfy fans of the martial-arts film genre.

But there has at least to be some bare plot line.  And the filmmakers have made the effort.  The plot involves a Europol agent stationed in Berlin, Mika (Naomie Harris) discovering political murders linked to a Far-East underground assassin network.  This makes her the target of its leader Takeshi (Rick Yune).  But she is rescued by Raizo (South Korea’s pop superstar, Rain making his illustrious Hollywood debut) who is himself hunted down by the clan.  The climax involves obviously chases around the streets of a recognized Berlin near the Central Station as the film is an American German co-production.

The opening segment combining real martial-arts and CGI is impressive with flying limbs and splattered blood.  Raizo is introduced as a myth come to life.  Other stylized fight sequences variations using pointed darts and blood soaked soaked screens. 

Rain should suitably impress western audiences with his clean cut looks and near perfect body.  He reportedly trained for months only eating vegetables and chicken breast.  The romance between Rain and Naomie Harris is slight and believable.  McTeigue has sufficient humour throughout the film that keeps audiences laughing while providing a break from the film’s dark theme.

NINJA ASSASSIN should prove a success to fans of the martial-arts genre.  The film also remains true to the feel of the ninja Japanese films.