Nekko Media
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Cinephiles/Cenobites >
      • Season 01
      • Season 02
      • Season 03 >
        • s3czero
        • s3c01
        • s3c02
        • s3c03
        • s3c04
        • s3c05
        • s3c06
        • s3c07
        • s3c08
        • s3c09
        • s3c10
        • s3c11
        • s3c12
        • s3c13
        • s3c14
        • s3c15
        • s3c16
        • s3c17
        • s3c18
        • s3c19
        • s3c20
        • s3c21
  • Blogs
    • FILM REVIEWS >
      • CURRENT Reviews
      • Vintage Vices
    • ON FILMMAKING... >
      • GENERAL
      • FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS >
        • DAMIEN DE BOURGUIGNON >
          • ENGLISH
          • FRENCH
        • RICHARD NEIL
        • JED BRIAN
        • MIG WINDOWS
        • Vincente DiSanti
        • Daniel DeWeldon
        • COVERAGE Ink FILMS
        • Greg Fallon
        • Stephen Biggin
        • Jonathan Patrick Hughes
      • ON WRITING
      • ON RANDOM
    • Ceno_Writes
  • ABOUT
    • The CATS >
      • Thomas Otterman
Picture

We.Watch.Film.

Go.Watch.Film.

Revenge of the Ninja (1983)

3/18/2018

Comments

 

Directed by Sam Firstenberg
Written and story by James R. Silke
Based on an idea by Menahem Golan
​Starring: Sho Kusugi, Keith Vitali, Virgil Frye,
Arthur Roberts, Maria Gallo, Grace Oshita,
​and Kane Kosugi

Picture
Revenge Of The Ninja is a 1983 Martial Arts/Thriller Directed by Sam Firstenberg who also directed the 1980s Cult Films American Ninja 1985, and Ninja 3 : The Domination 1984. The film was Produced by Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan names very familiar with Cannon Films fans. I personally enjoy many of Cannon’s catalog of films. There are so many good ones to repetitively watch and never get tired of. 
I was first introduced to Revenge Of The Ninja in 1986 already 3 years after its initial release. I was only 9 years old when I first saw this movie I remember the first time I saw the film. It was during the Summer Of 86, I had only recently started practicing ATA Taekwondo as my grandparents wanted me to learn self defense as a way to protect myself from the school yard bullies. At this time the dojo was having a sleepover, and for me the highlight of the night was the treasure trove of VHS martial arts films. 
It was definitely one of those occasions were I forced myself to stay awake till the wee hours of the morning to watch films after all, many of the films they were showing were R rated titles. So I knew the likelihood of me getting to watch them anytime time soon were slim. So in that particular night I remember watching American Ninja 1985, Enter The Ninja 1981, Ninja 3 : The Domination 1984 Pray For Death 1985 and Revenge Of The Ninja 1985. 
I am glad I did as it gave me a high appreciation for Martial Arts films, especially Sho Kosugi ninja films. Sho’s films are my favorite along with Bruce Lee and Sonny Chiba. 
Picture
Which brings me to Revenge Of The Ninja.
​

The film sets off in Japan with a squad of Ninjas setting up positions around Cho Osaki’s (Sho Kosugi) ancestral home where most of his family is slaughtered by the ninja clan. 
Picture
Cho (who is also a Ninja) and his longtime friend and business partner Braden confront and kill all the remaining ninja. with Braden insists that Cho his mother and his last surviving son return with him to the U.S. as it is no longer safe to live in Japan. 
Flash forward a few years and Cho and Braden are now importing dolls from Japan for that are to be put on display and sold at the gallery. Later at the gallery Kane, Cho’s son drops one of the dolls by accident exposing a white substance. 
The substance is actually Heroin as we soon find out that Braden has been smuggling Heroin in the dolls to sell to Caifano, the local Italian mob boss. Braden meets with Caifano in order to collect the balance of the money for the heroin but ends up leaving the meeting with the two threatening each other. 
Picture
Soon after we find out that Braden is actually a Black Ninja who wears a metal mask and is beginning to pick off one one by one all of Caifano’s family. Caifano not wanting to deal with Braden any more decides to rip him off and sends some thieves to break in the gallery and take the remaining dolls with the Heroin. Cho arrives and confronts the group of thieves, a brawl ensues and the thieves make a run for it. 
After doing many ninja flips over walls Cho catches up with the thieves and ends up fighting them again inside a moving van and then again on the street, kicking much ass.
Picture
Not long after Braden appears and is confronted by Cho’s mother which we find out knows a thing or two herself about wielding traditional Japanese ninja weapons. She is killed by Braden and Kane is kidnapped and held at the Sauna with Cathy, one of Cho’s students at the dojo. 
Once Cho finds his mother murdered and Kane missing he once again finds himself going back to his life as a ninja to seek vengeance. 
Picture
Eventually Kane and Cathy escape the sauna. Braden goes to Caifano’s building where he goes up each floor killing all the bodyguards and the rest of the mob including Caifano. 
Unknowingly to Braden, Cho has also arrived at the building in order to settle the score, which culminates in one of the greatest ninja fights battling to the death with a wide assortment of weapons and trickery. 
Picture
I personally enjoy this film, and personally think it’s one of the best ninja movies that I have seen. Sho Kosugi’s films have always been very entertaining full of great fight scenes. If you enjoy martial arts films than I definitely recommend Revenge Of The Ninja as it is jammed pack with a great story, awesome fight sequences many unique weapons in the ninjas arsenal along with a bunch of great kills. 
Picture
Picture
Fun facts,
​

Sho Kosugi’s real life sons Shane, and Kane both appear in Revenge Of The Ninja. 
Picture
Revenge Of Ninja is the second of the Cannon ninja trilogy. Enter The Ninja 1981 and Ninja 3 : The Domination 1985 are the other 2. 
So if you want to watch a great Ninja flick that in my opinion is one of the best ever made then this is for you! 
Picture
Comments

The Beast Must Die (1974)

2/5/2018

Comments

 
Picture

Directed by Paul Annet
Written by Michael Winder
Story by James Blish
Starring: Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark, Anton Diff
ring, Michael Gambon 
Released by Amicus, 1974

The Beast Must Die is a 1973 horror film released by Amicus pictures, the same company that released the classic horror anthologies: Asylum 1972, Tales From The Crypt (1972), The Vault Of Horror (1973), just to name a few. 
Picture
I initially became a fan of The Beast Must Die, by watching a late night showing of it on television in the mid 1980s. At that point of time the only identifiable actor I was familiar with was Hammer films star Peter Cushing. I knew him from the numerous Hammer films that he starred in as either Van Helsing, or Dr. Victor Frankenstein. I knew at that point that I was in for a treat. 
Picture
Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) is a Big Game Hunter who has enormous wealth and is looking to find the ultimate big game trophy. 
Tom has extremely sophisticated security that he has set up to track any movement on the island with multiple cameras and motion sensors all being monitored by his head of security Pavel (Anton Diffring) as we see in the beginning of the film Tom is testing out the system by having his men track him with it, the test is successful. 
Picture
The film then sets out with a group of 5 guests all arriving as they were all sent invitations to stay at the mansion as guests of honor. None of the invitees know one another or the reason that they were invited. Tom arrives with his Wife the beautiful (Marlene Clark) and explains to the guests why he has invited them. He then tells them that he knows that one of them is a werewolf and explains his reasoning on why he believes it to be so. Too Hunt and Kill a Werewolf. 
Picture
The dinner guests laugh it off with it being old wives tales .. and that’s where the film really begins.
Can you figure out who will be the Werewolf by the end of the “Werewolf Break”?
Picture
Picture
I enjoyed this film in its entirety from the beginning of the testing of Toms security system, which in those days was pretty fucking high tech. The suspense kept me going through out the film as I was finding myself trying to solve who it was. 
Unfortunately everyone that I had guessed initially ended up getting torn to pieces, which is always a good thing in my opinion. By the time the film reached the end I was surprised to find out who the Werewolf was and the ending is pretty decent also. 
Picture
I don’t want to reveal too much about this film as I would like to keep many of the spoilers intact. I definitely recommend this film to any Horror fan especially fans of Werewolves and Peter Cushing. 
The addition of the aforementioned Werewolf break I thought was a neat 70s gimmick, however that is also part of the charm of this film. Sadly Amicus pictures didn’t last for too many years after Beast was released. 
Picture

Thomas Otterman

"Horror Film Fan for LIFE!"

Comments

Invasion, USA

2/2/2018

Comments

 
Picture

Directed by Joseph Zito ​
Written by James Bruner and Chuck Norris
Story by Aaron Norris and James Bruner
Starring Chuck Norris, Richard Lynch, Billy Drago
 

Invasion USA is an Awesome Action film released from The Cannon films group​. It Stars Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter, a retired C.I.A agent, that has to come back to hunt down an army of Cuban, and Russian Terrorists lead by Rostov - Richard Lynch. 
Picture

The film starts off...

With a group of Cuban Refugees that are trying to make it safely to the coast of Florida. Unfortunately for all the Refugees, Rostov- Richard Lynch Sails up to the boat, disguised as the US coast guard. As soon as the Refugees think that they are being rescued, Rostov kills one point blank, and the rest of Rostov’s crew murder all the other refugees in order to find the hidden stash of Cocaine. 
Picture
Picture
​Rostov then meets up with Arms dealer Billy Drago, where he (Drago) gets double crossed and killed.

 **May I note that at this part in the film, there is a great scene where a woman is doing rails of cocaine, only to have her Head smashed down on the table , j
amming a steel straw up her nose, before being thrown out a window.​** 
Picture
From there, the movie picks up. ​

As Rostov goes After Matt Hunter , Norris- the only man that knows who he is and has the ability to stop him.

Once Rostov blows up Matt’s house, and kills his friend...

​It’s totally FUCKING on!
Picture
The rest of the film shows Hunter going after Rostov and his men, culminating in a final trap in which pits Matt and Rostov into a final showdown. 
Picture
I personally like Invasion USA, for me it is one of the finer entries in the Cannon films Library. The action in the film kept me going. 
Richard Lynch does an exceptional job as playing Rostov, once again he steals many scenes. His facial expressions are priceless.
​
​
Chuck Norris once again is in a role as the only man for the mission, where again he doesn’t disappoint, as this was filmed during the peak of his popularity. 
Tom Savini’s FX are pretty dope, ESPECIALLY the COCAINE scene, made me cringe.
Invasion USA is also a film that has a deep Cold War feel to it, as it’s from the 1980s and a lot of films back then had Cold War undertones. 
Picture
I would definitely recommend this film for watching, as it is action filled , and you definitely won’t get bored. 
Picture

Thomas Otterman

"Horror Film Fan for LIFE!"

Comments

    Films...

    that are awesome oldies. See 'em if ya haven't. 

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All
    Canon
    Film Review
    Ninja
    Thomas

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Cinephiles/Cenobites >
      • Season 01
      • Season 02
      • Season 03 >
        • s3czero
        • s3c01
        • s3c02
        • s3c03
        • s3c04
        • s3c05
        • s3c06
        • s3c07
        • s3c08
        • s3c09
        • s3c10
        • s3c11
        • s3c12
        • s3c13
        • s3c14
        • s3c15
        • s3c16
        • s3c17
        • s3c18
        • s3c19
        • s3c20
        • s3c21
  • Blogs
    • FILM REVIEWS >
      • CURRENT Reviews
      • Vintage Vices
    • ON FILMMAKING... >
      • GENERAL
      • FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS >
        • DAMIEN DE BOURGUIGNON >
          • ENGLISH
          • FRENCH
        • RICHARD NEIL
        • JED BRIAN
        • MIG WINDOWS
        • Vincente DiSanti
        • Daniel DeWeldon
        • COVERAGE Ink FILMS
        • Greg Fallon
        • Stephen Biggin
        • Jonathan Patrick Hughes
      • ON WRITING
      • ON RANDOM
    • Ceno_Writes
  • ABOUT
    • The CATS >
      • Thomas Otterman