American Ninja (1985)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Sam Firstenberg

Writers:

Gideon Amir (story)
Paul De Mielche (writer)

Release Date:

30 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sport

Tagline:

The Orient created the world's deadliest art.Now there's an American master!

Plot:

American soldier, obviously very skilled in martial arts, single-handedly takes on mercenaries in the Philippines.

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Training | Ninja | Ninja Magic | Punched In The Face

Cast

Michael Dudikoff	...	Pvt. Joe Armstrong
Steve James	...	Cpl. Curtis Jackson
Judie Aronson	...	Patricia Hickock
Guich Koock	...	Col. William T. Hickock
John Fujioka	...	Shinyuki
Don Stewart	...	Victor Ortega
John LaMotta	...	MSgt. Rinaldo (as John La Motta)
Tadashi Yamashita	...	Black Star ninja
Phil Brock	...	Pvt. Charley Madison
Tony Carreon	...	Older Colombian
Roi Vinzon	...	Younger Colombian
Manolet Escudero	...	Bodyguard
Gregg Rogero	...	Bodyguard
Berto Spoor	...	Bodyguard
Michael Hackbart	...	Bodyguard

Also Known As:

American Warrior (USA) (trailer title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:18 (original rating) (cut) | Germany:18 (re-release) (uncut) | Australia:M | USA:R (Certificate #27866) | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

In an interview in the late eighties, Steve James stated that when he came on board American Ninja he wanted to change a lot of the dialogue, as it was written like "no problems, whatever you say....partner."

Goofs:

Continuity: One of the dead soldiers in the beginning of the movie seems to be getting up in the background even though he was killed in the previous scene by a Ninja.

Quotes:

Shinyuki: The Black Star Ninja has betrayed the code.
Joe: Then... he must die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Robbing Peter (2004)

chop socky action

For those who know Michael Dudikoff, he most-likely became a household name thanks to this movie. Who knows where he would be today had Chuck Norris not passed on the film. (Probably busy as a child psychologist since that's what he originally wanted to be). This is a film I virtually grew up with as a kid, thanks to it being on cable seemingly every other day. Anyway, Dudikoff finally got his shot at headlining a movie with this cheapo chop socky flick about an Army G.I. in the Philippines going up against a secret Ninja army and an international weapons dealer. Dudikoff is at his most wooden in the this part, but as someone who's a fan and has see nearly all his movies, I can see the progression of him as an actor over the years, and he has certainly improved since this movie. Steven James co-stars in the first of three collaborations with Dudikoff, and the two work well together, but they're basically the best part of the movie. There's the usual B-movie acting, ranging from stiff to lame over-the-top performances, but pretty co-star Judie Aronson fares well. Of interest only to chop socky fans.