In the landscape of late-2000s action cinema, sandwiched between the grounded realism of the Bourne sequels and the rise of the CGI-saturated superhero genre, a peculiar, R-rated gem was released on November 25, 2009. That film is .
In the landscape of late 2000s action cinema, a specific sub-genre was experiencing a quiet renaissance. While Jason Statham was busy with The Transporter series and Liam Neeson was redefining the thriller with Taken , a South Korean pop icon and the visionary directors of The Matrix were conspiring to deliver one of the bloodiest, most stylized martial arts films of the decade.
Years later, Raizo is lying in wait, biding his time until he can exact revenge on his former master (played with menacing gravitas by legendary martial arts actor Sho Kosugi). Meanwhile, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) stumbles upon a political money trail linked to the Ozunu Clan. Her investigation puts a target on her back, forcing Raizo to step out of the shadows to protect her and finally confront his past. ninja.assassin.2009
What was the reception of Ninja Assassin on DVD and among martial arts fans? Ninja Assassin | VERN'S REVIEWS on the FILMS of CINEMA
If you are watching for plot or character development, bring a pillow. In the landscape of late-2000s action cinema, sandwiched
For hardcore fans, the presence of as Lord Ozunu is the film’s secret soul. Kosugi was the king of ninja movies in the 1980s ( Enter the Ninja , Revenge of the Ninja ). Having him play the villain was a passing-of-the-torch moment. When Raizo finally faces Kosugi, it is not just a fight; it is a dialogue between classic ninja cinema and modern CGI-enhanced action.
Have you seen Ninja Assassin (2009)? Share your favorite kill scene in the comments below. While Jason Statham was busy with The Transporter
One common critique of is its visual palette. The film is dark . Not thematically dark—literally dark. Nighttime, shadows, rain, fog, and blood. McTeigue used a technique called "bleach bypass" to desaturate the colors and increase contrast.