American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987) Cannon Films/Action RT: 90 minutes Rated R (language, violence) Director: Sam Firstenberg Screenplay: Gary Conway and James Booth Music: Michael Bishop and George S. Clinton Cinematography: Gideon Porath Release date: May 1, 1987 (US) Cast: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Larry Poindexter, Gary Conway, Jeff Weston, Michelle Botes, Mike Stone, Len Sparrowhawk, Jonathan Pienaar, Elmo Fillis, Bill Curry, Dennis Folbigge, Ralph Draper, John Pasternak. Box Office: $4M (US)
Rating: *** ½
What stands out most for me about American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is that it’s the first movie I ever saw with an urban audience. It was Memorial Day weekend ’87, Saturday to be exact. I was in Philadelphia with a friend. I don’t remember exactly what we had planned for that day, but it started to rain and we didn’t want to go home. I guess it was serendipity that we were on Chestnut Street, a street that used to be lined with movie theaters back in the day. I suggested we check out the double feature playing at Eric’s Place (15th & Chestnut)- Evil Dead 2 and American Ninja 2, neither of which I had seen. Although she detested horror flicks, she agreed to see the show. I still consider it one of the best days of my life. Not only did I get to see two cool flicks; I saw them in the city with a rowdy audience. There’s a scene in American Ninja 2 where Steve James’ character pulls out two huge knives when confronted by a ninja. All you heard in the theater was a simultaneous chorus of “DAMN!!!!” I love that kind of thing.
So what about the movie itself? Is it any good? I have to say it ….. HELL YEAH!!!! Not only do Michael Dudikoff and Steve James reprise their roles, Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination) returns as director. Besides, I can hardly knock a B-level action flick that carries the Golan-Globus insignia. I said it before, I’ll continue to say it, Cannon rules!
This time around, Joe Armstrong (Dudikoff) and Curtis Jackson (James) find themselves at a Marine base on some remote Caribbean island investigating the disappearances of four soldiers. The commanding officer, known as “Wild Bill” (Weston, Alien from L.A.), isn’t exactly thrilled about a pair of Army Rangers (they’ve both been promoted!) being there, but he doesn’t have too many options.
So what’s going on here? Somebody has been kidnapping soldiers from a local bar. A witness, a local boy named Toto (Fillis), tells our heroes the soldiers were taken away by men all dressed in black. Yep, we know what that means. Their suspicions are confirmed after they’re attacked on a remote island by a group of ninjas.
The man behind the abductions is a drug dealer called “The Lion” (co-writer Conway). He has a secret laboratory on Blackbeard Island where he’s creating an army of “super ninjas”. What’s a super ninja? Glad you asked. According to the Lion, it’s the ultimate fighting machine and a miracle of genetic engineering. They’re “strong, obedient, heartless” and plentiful! Their nerves have been replaced with steel wires so they don’t feel pain and other such scientific silliness. How does the villain get away with all of this? All of the officials on the island are corrupt, DUH!
American Ninja 2 is dumber than the first movie, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. I love that the villain and his nefarious plot come straight out of a comic book. He has a seemingly indestructible henchman called “Tojo Ken” (fight choreographer Stone) who will ultimately face off against Joe in the climactic fight to the finish. It’s B-movie ninja silliness all the way.
Dudikoff’s acting hasn’t improved since the first movie, but his action movie partnership with James has settled into a nice groove. Once again, this franchise doesn’t disappoint when it comes to action and fighting. It has plenty. It also has plenty of violence which is the main reason audiences show up for films with the word “ninja” in the title. There’s this one barroom brawl that’s particularly awesome.
American Ninja 2 is tailor-made for Saturday afternoon matinees at questionable urban cinemas. A lot of the time, it enhances the experience of seeing one of these goofy low-budget action movies. Yeah, they don’t cost all that much to make so they typically turn a profit. Cannon found a real cash cow with the American Ninja movies. At least they did with the first two. The third one went straight to video, but I’ll talk about that one in more detail when I review it.
For now, I’ll leave you with my enthusiastic recommendation of American Ninja 2. It’s a fun movie, just like its predecessor. It has a purity about it that today’s movies just can’t seem to replicate. Some of you know exactly what I mean.
