The Black Ninja

Last updated
The Black Ninja
The Back Ninja cover.jpg
Directed byClayton Prince
Written byClayton Prince
Produced byParris Z. Moore
StarringClayton Prince
Carla Brothers
Nicky DeMatteo
Yuki Matsuzaki
Heather Hunter
John Canada Terrell
Michael Chance
CinematographyBrendan Flynt
Edited byMichael Rector
Production
company
Distributed byMTI Home Video
Singa Home Entertainment
Release date
  • January 14, 2003 (2003-01-14)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Black Ninja is a 2003 American martial arts action film written, directed and starring Clayton Prince, and featuring Carla Brothers, Nicky DeMatteo, Yuki Matsuzaki, Heather Hunter, John Canada Terrell and Michael Chance. The film has been called a modern-day blaxploitation film, and it received very poor reviews from critics. After a limited theatrical release, it was released on DVD and distributed worldwide in January 2003.

Contents

Plot

Maliq Ali is a defense attorney whose guilt over freeing guilty criminals, and the death of his family, leads him to become a costumed ninja vigilante who stalks these same criminals at night. After refusing to defend Tony Fanelli, a small-time mobster accused of murder, he finds himself involved in protecting the only witness, Tracey Allen, from Fanelli's hired thugs. While protecting this young woman, he is confronted by The Red Ninja, a Japanese assassin, who years before killed his family rather than pay Ali for defending him.

Cast

Production

Primarily financed by Clayton Prince, filming began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ended after two weeks. An hour-long "Making of" documentary was produced and included on the DVD following its release.

Reception

The Black Ninja was given a limited theatrical release on November 2, 2002, and distributed worldwide on DVD on January 14, 2003. The film was heavily criticized for its apparent lack of martial arts choreography and generally poor quality of the story, acting and cinematography.[ citation needed ] Critics said that the rush to finish the film drastically affected its overall quality, much of which could have been cleaned up post-production editing, leaving it looking "unfinished and more like an amateur, student film".

Sources

Related Research Articles

<i>Kill Bill: Volume 1</i> 2003 American film by Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a 2003 American martial arts film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Uma Thurman as the Bride, a former assassin who swears revenge on a group of assassins and their leader, Bill, who tried to kill her and her unborn child. Her journey takes her to Tokyo, where she battles the yakuza.

<i>Science Ninja Team Gatchaman</i> Japanese animated franchise

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is a Japanese animated franchise about a five-member superhero ninja team created by Tatsuo Yoshida and produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The original anime series, which debuted in 1972, was eponymously entitled Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman and is best known in the English-speaking world as the adaptation entitled Battle of the Planets (1978). The series had additional English adaptations with G-Force: Guardians of Space (1986) and ADV Films' uncut 2005 release. Tatsunoko also uses the official translation Science Commando Gatchaman in related products and media.

<i>The Cat Returns</i> 2002 Japanese animated film directed by Hiroyuki Morita

The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga The Cat Returns by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Hakuhodo, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Mitsubishi and Toho and distributed by the latter company. It stars Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Tetsu Watanabe, Yosuke Saito, Aki Maeda and Tetsurō Tamba. This is Hiroyuki Morita's first and only film as director for Studio Ghibli.

<i>American Ninja</i> 1985 film

American Ninja is a 1985 American martial arts action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role and is the first installment in the American Ninja franchise, followed by American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987). It had a mixed reception, but it was a financial success, and since then, it has been considered a cult film.

<i>Surf Ninjas</i> 1993 American film

Surf Ninjas is a 1993 American family comedy film involving martial arts, directed by Neal Israel and written by Dan Gordon. The film stars Ernie Reyes Jr., Rob Schneider, Nicolas Cowan and Leslie Nielsen. Surf Ninjas follows two teenage surfers from Los Angeles who discover that they are crown princes of the Asian kingdom Patusan and reluctantly follow their destinies to dethrone an evil colonel who rules over the kingdom.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze</i> 1991 film by Michael Pressman

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is a 1991 American superhero action comedy film directed by Michael Pressman and written by Todd W. Langen. It is the second theatrical Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), and the second installment in the original Turtles film trilogy. The film stars Paige Turco and David Warner, with the voices of Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Adam Carl, and Laurie Faso. Resuming from the events of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the villain, the Shredder, returns to take back command of the Foot Clan and work towards getting revenge on the Turtles. When he learns the secret behind the turtles' mutation, he becomes more dangerous than ever. The film sheds some light on the origins of Splinter and the Turtles as well as introduces two new villains, Tokka and Rahzar.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III</i> 1993 film directed by Stuart Gillard

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is a 1993 American superhero action comedy film written and directed by Stuart Gillard. It is the third theatrical Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, the sequel to The Secret of the Ooze (1991), and the third and final installment in the original Turtles film trilogy. It stars Elias Koteas, Paige Turco, Vivian Wu, Sab Shimono, and Stuart Wilson with the voices of Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, and Tim Kelleher. The plot revolves around the "Sacred Sands of Time", a mystical scepter which transports the Turtles and April back in time to feudal Japan, where they become embroiled in a conflict between a daimyō and a group of rebellious villagers.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> (1990 film) 1990 film by Steve Barron

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1990 American superhero action comedy film directed by Steve Barron and written by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck, from a story by Herbeck. It is the first film adaptation of the comic book characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It stars Judith Hoag and Elias Koteas with the voices of Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, and Josh Pais. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows the Turtles on a quest to save their master, Splinter, with their new allies, April O'Neil and Casey Jones, from the Shredder and his Foot Clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Dudikoff</span> American actor

Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Jr. is an American actor and martial artist. Born in New York City, his family later moved to Los Angeles. Dudikoff did different jobs to pay for his education, during this time he became a model. This led him to do acting auditions. He played supporting roles in films and television shows, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts action film American Ninja (1985).

Gary Edward Daniels is an English actor, producer, martial artist, fight coordinator and former world light heavyweight kickboxing champion. Born and raised in London, England, Daniels started to take martial arts lessons at the age of eight. By his late teens, he became a competitive kickboxer. In 1980, Daniels moved to the United States to continue the sport. In 1990, he won the WKBA California State Light Heavyweight Championship and the PKA World Light Heavyweight Championship.

<i>Ninja III: The Domination</i> 1984 film directed by Sam Firstenberg

Ninja III: The Domination is a 1984 American martial arts action horror film directed by Sam Firstenberg, and starring Sho Kosugi, Lucinda Dickey, Jordan Bennett, and James Hong. It is the third film in Cannon Films' Ninja Trilogy anthology series, the first being Enter the Ninja, and the second being Revenge of the Ninja. Like the previous films in the series, it has also garnered a cult following.

<i>Enter the Ninja</i> 1981 film directed by Menahem Golan

Enter the Ninja is a 1981 American martial arts film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi and Christopher George. The film is about a martial artist named Cole (Nero) who is visiting his friend Frank in the Philippines. On arrival, Cole learns that his friend is being harassed by the wealthy businessman Charles Venarius who wants Frank's land for the oil underneath. Frank and his wife are continuously thwarted by Cole who defends them with his martial arts skills. Learning of Cole's presence, Venarius hires his own ninja (Kosugi).

<i>The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe</i> 1973 film

The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe is a 1973 Spaghetti Western kung fu film directed by Mario Caiano and starring Chen Lee as Shanghai Joe. The film was released in a number of alternate titles in the United States, including To Kill or to Die and The Dragon Strikes Back.

Tetsujin Tiger Seven, translated as Iron Man Tiger Seven, was a Japanese tokusatsu television series that broadcast on Fuji TV from October 6, 1973, to March 30, 1974, with a total of 26 episodes, produced by P Productions. Unlike Kaiketsu Lion-Maru and Fuun Lion-Maru, which focuses on cat-based ninja heroes in the feudal eras of Japan, this series is set in modern Japan. The international English title that P Productions refers to for overseas distribution is Tiger Seven.

<i>Lady Snowblood</i> (film) 1973 Japanese film

Lady Snowblood is a 1973 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Toshiya Fujita and starring Meiko Kaji. Based on the manga series of the same name by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura, the film recounts the tale of Yuki (Kaji), a woman who seeks vengeance upon three of the people who raped her mother and killed her half brother. The film's narrative is told out of chronological order, jumping between present and past events. Alongside Kaji, the film's cast includes Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimonm, Miyoko Akaza, and Kō Nishimura.

<i>Ninja Assassin</i> 2009 martial arts film directed by James McTeigue

Ninja Assassin is a 2009 martial arts film directed by James McTeigue. The story was written by Matthew Sand, with a screenplay by J. Michael Straczynski. The film stars South Korean pop musician Rain as a disillusioned assassin looking for retribution against his former mentor, played by ninja film legend Sho Kosugi. Ninja Assassin explores political corruption, child endangerment and the impact of violence. The Wachowskis, Joel Silver, and Grant Hill produced the film for Legendary Pictures, Dark Castle Entertainment and Silver Pictures. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miyamoto Usagi</span> Fictional character in Usagi Yojimbo

Miyamoto Usagi is a fictional character, who appears in the American comic book Usagi Yojimbo, a Dark Horse Comics book created by Stan Sakai. Usagi is an anthropomorphic rabbit and a ronin now walking the musha shugyo.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> (2012 TV series) Animated series

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, known as Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for its 2017 fifth and final season, is an American computer-animated television series developed by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and Jennifer Ventimilia. It is the third animated series in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The series aired on Nickelodeon in the United States from September 28, 2012, to November 12, 2017. It was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and LowBar Productions. Bardel Entertainment handled layout and CG animation services. The series begins with the Turtles emerging from their sewer home for the first time, using their ninjutsu training to fight enemies in present-day New York City.

<i>Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu</i> (pilot episodes) Danish animated television season

The pilot episodes are the first installments of the Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu computer-animated television series. The series was co-created by Tommy Andreasen. It focuses on the adventures of four teenage ninja who live in the fictional world of Ninjago and fight against the forces of evil.