Ninja, the killer machine

Movie
German title	Ninja, the killer machine
Original title	Enter the ninja
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1981
length	95 minutes
Age rating	FSK 18
Rod
Director	Menahem Golan
script	Dick Desmond ; Mike Stone
production	Judd Bernard ; Yoram Globe; Menahem Golan
music	W. Michael Lewis ; Laurin Cattle
camera	David Gurfinkel
cut	Michael J. Duthie ; Mark Goldblatt
occupation
	Franco Nero : Cole; Susan George : Mary Ann; Shō Kosugi : Hasegawa; Zachi Noy : "The Hook"; Christopher George : Venarius; Alex Courtney : Frank;

Ninja, the killer machine (also: Ninja - Die Killermaschine and Die Rache der Ninja OT: Enter the Ninja ) is an American action film by Menahem Golan . The martial arts film from 1981 marks Shō Kosugi's breakthrough as a ninja actor and is the prelude to a trilogy .

action

Much to the displeasure of his adversary Hasegawa, the Vietnam War veteran Cole is elevated to the rank of ninja by their master . Hasegawa does not see Cole as a like-minded person, because as an American he would not come from the traditional line of samurai . After the appointment, Cole leaves Japan and visits his old friend and comrade Frank in the Philippines . His old friend has degenerated into a drunkard, but in Mary Ann he has a pretty woman by his side. Together they own some land in the Philippines that the locals cultivate. But the real estate mogul Venarius wants to bring the country under his control. Cole first helps his old friend against "Hook", a villain with a hook as a prosthetic hand. The two succeed in eliminating the man who then leaves the organization.

Further attempts by Venarius also fail, and so his assistant, Mr. Parker, visits Japan and hires a ninja, coincidentally Hasegawa, who quickly agrees to kill Cole. Meanwhile, Cole attacks Venarius' domicile to learn something about his plans. But Hasegawa takes advantage of this to attack Frank's property. He manages to kill Frank and kidnap Mary Ann. When Cole realizes this, he hurries back to the villa. There he first kills all the guards and then Venarius. Then it comes to the final battle against Hasegawa. Cole succeeds in defeating his opponent and freeing Mary Ann. He then grants his enemy an honorable death. In the end, Cole leaves the Philippines but promises Mary Ann to come back. At the airport he meets Hook, who is now working as a porter.

background

The film was shot in January and February 1981 in Manila , Philippines and Tokyo , Japan . It was the prelude to a trilogy that continued with The Return of the Ninja in 1983 and concluded with The Rule of the Ninja . Sam Firstenberg took over the direction in each case . Shō Kosugi took on a leading role in all of these films.

It was released in theaters in Germany on July 16, 1981. The film was only released in US cinemas on October 2, 1981. The film was only available cut in German video stores. Nevertheless, it was indexed by the Federal Testing Office for writings harmful to minors . The resolution has now expired and the film was first re-released uncut on DVD by Ascot Elite / Infopicture on May 22, 2012 . Previous DVD versions were bootlegs .

Reviews

Ninja, the fighting machine heralded the start of a wave of ninja films that tried to swim with the popular Eastern wave. The often cheaply produced films were rather spurned by the critics. However , this and similar films are popular with B-film fans.

"Trivial action story that celebrates the killing of people developed into perfect technology."

- Lexicon of international film

“Shuttling between trash and the glorification of violence, beer seriousness and (voluntarily / involuntarily) comedy, this Cannon production fueled the cult of ninja films in the eighties. The undemanding but entertaining ENTER THE NINJA even shows itself to be capable of the grace (and coarseness) of Italian exploitation films. An imdb user was enthusiastic: 'Fantastic Crap!'. How true:"

- Filmtipps.at

Web links

Ninja, the killing machine in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Comparison of the cut versions Premiere MGM from 18 - French. Pay TV from Ninja, the killer machine at Schnittberichte.com

Individual evidence

↑ Ninja, the killer machine in the online film database
↑ INTERVIEW: MENAHEM GOLAN. Films in Review, August 20, 2008, accessed July 15, 2012 .
↑ Ninja, the killer machine. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed July 15, 2012 .
↑ Enter the Ninja. Filmtipps.at, accessed on July 15, 2012 .

[1] Ninja, the killer machine in the online film database

[2] INTERVIEW: MENAHEM GOLAN. Films in Review, August 20, 2008, accessed July 15, 2012 .

[3] Ninja, the killer machine. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed July 15, 2012 .

[4] Enter the Ninja. Filmtipps.at, accessed on July 15, 2012 .