Starring: Rain, Naomie Harris
Director: James McTeigue (V for Vendetta)
Running Time: 1 hr 39 min
Release Date: Nov. 25, 2009
Budget: $40 million
Critics’ Thumbs Up: 28%
“…a bloody good time.” Ethan Alter, The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a gorefest, a borefest and a snorefest.” Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Though the talented Wachowski brothers who directed The Matrix are billed as producers, this bloody but boring revenge tale is bad even for a ninja movie. Korean pop star Rain plays Raizo, a deadly assassin who travels the world retaliating against the secret society who trained him as a child. One after another unrealistic and poorly choreographed fight scene ensues as blood spatters and lame dialogue flies. Clearly not the intended audience, Ninja Assassin, is way too gory and mind-numbing for non-ninja fans. But even martial arts mavens will be bored of the all-too frequent flashbacks – not to mention they’ll be dying for at least a few impressive fight scenes that never come.
