Two incredibly fun and also incredibly cheap shot-on-video Taiwanese ninja flicks are given a heap of love from Video Vengeance in a Blu-ray collection.
The Films (for some reason Born a Ninja is presented first on the disc, but it seems to be chronologically after; though the whole is a mess and it doesn’t really matter)
I’m packaging these together for one review because they are one big story, or a part of one. Commando the Ninja and Born A Ninja (both of which may or may not be directed by ninja-movie staple Godfrey Ho and/or Law Chi) may be a cut-down three hours from a Taiwanese TV series. Or not. Yes, weird. But there is precious little information on where exactly this all came from. The pair are low-budget to the max, made for pennies, and strug together is slap dash scripting, acting, and production values. That’s the charm. There’s a wonderful Shot-on-Video cheesiness to it all. Essentially, if you read the description up to now, you’re either in or out. If this is something you enjoy, you’ll have a blast laughing and cheering along with the low-budget action fest; if not, nothing will win you over. I’m reminded of what AGFA does for cheap-ass horror films. But with ninja action flicks.
The plot, as it is, is interwoven across these films. Mr. Tanaka is a scientist who created a virus that hurt plenty of folks since the end of WWII (for a series from 1988, they often talk about WWII like it JUST happened, weird). Evil American Businessman Richard Harrison is trying to use him for… um… evil? Two martial artists, Larry and David (cue Curb Your Enthusiasm theme music) initially fight over and with Mr. Tanaka but join forces, along with a pair of girls who I THINK were Mr. Tanaka’s daughters. Or many were that in one movie and not in another. Or a different set of women. I dunno. And they fight an endless series of ninjas and other baddies. Where are all these goons coming from? It’s all filmed in a house that seemed ot be in around people’s homes, actors using their own clothes, and maybe even improvising dialogue from outlines, sort of thing. Or that could be the bad dubbing (giving an extra oomph). Maybe that’s why I’m confused.
But you know what? I don’t care. It’s a blast of fun. I can appreciate this sort of thing and am all in. Films like this Ninja duology, while shot on video, are far from the likes of Sledgehammer or Things (as Joe Bob paired for a night of pain) or Boardinghouse. There’s a sense of knowing it and running with the concept. And, honestly, despite everything else that might ding on it, the fighting is legit. And plentiful. Touches of wire-fu give a magical touch (in the films, it’s called “Hokus Pokus”), and these folks are obviously trained fighters.
And that’s what they are. I don’t think I need to continue to sell you; the upper 400 words either work for you or don’t. Heck, “Shot on video ninja movies?” is either thumbs up or down. Thumbs up for me!
The Packaging
Visual Vengeance puts together an awesome physical package. Both films are on a single Blu-Ray disc. The disc art is a close-up of the O-Ring slip cover. The disc is placed in a clear Blu-ray case with a reversible sleeve, one side features kick-ass ninja action and explorious from The Dude Designs and the other a drawn Ninja Double Feature original VHS art. In the case is a set of posters, one for each movie with original VHS art, a booklet, and a set of twelve small stickers replicating video store stickers. It’s all within a cardboard O-ring slip with yet another art choice from Uncle Frank. It has spine number 28 and is all-region.
The Presentation
As you can expect, a pair of shot-on-video, maybe made-for-TV, Taiwanese flicks aren’t going to look great. But Visual Vengeance is upfront with that, on the packaging, and they look alright with those transfers from the original tapes. Looking around the internet, one can see what these films used to look like, and the difference is massive. The audio is the same, with a bit of fuzz that one can’t get rid. Subtitles in English.
Also, the disc starts with three trailers. Also, the menu is freakin’ awesome. It’s made to look like a Street Fighter II-era arcade adaptation of the films. From the little animations to the text font, it’s such a great throwback. I loved it.
The Features
Commentaries:
Commando the Ninja has Justin Decloux and Will Slone from The Important Cinema Club podcast, and Born a Ninja has Justin Decloux on his own. Very fun, flowing tracks. Now there is little to run with about the films themselves, so Decloux and Slone get into the careers of Godfrey Ho, Law Chi, and any information they can find about the actors, especially Richard Harrison.
Essential Godfrey Ho
Decloux gives a very energetic talk about Ho and his storied career. Decloux has an infectious zest in how he talks about Ho’s brand of taking other works, buying rights, adding footage, and putting it back out with his name on it – and how others did the same, whether Ho was involved or not (not too far off from Italian cinema adding a bunch of random numbers to unrelated movies). (11m)
Law Chi Effect
Decloux continues with the other name behind these films and his interesting career. I need to start listening to Delcoux’s podcast as he’s wonderful to listen to and seems to be a font of knowledge on this niche. (12m)
Kwan Chung interview
A great interview with a film actor and his career; Shaw Brothers, Sammo Hung, and the like. (8m)
Image Gallery
Trailers
Booklet
Fold out with images and the essay “Looking Back American Commando Ninja and Born a Ninja” by C.J. Lines. The essay gives a quick history of the filmmakers and company that made these, and attempts to make the plot make sense.
Final Thoughts
Visual Vengeance puts a ton of work into a shot on video, Ninja-based double feature. From the menus, the sheer awesomeness of the packaging, and appreciating features, there’s a lot of love put into it. For folks who will gladly sit down and eat up Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja on their own just because, everything around the pair makes it a great pick up of knowing enjoyment.