The Mastermind Behind Babylon 5 Unleashes His Cinematic Brilliance in this Gritty Action Flick

The decline of the ninja movie has had a negative impact on cheesy entertainment worldwide. In the 80s and 90s, fans enjoyed watching averagely skilled martial artists donning black pajamas and masks as they fought each other to the death. Ninjas deserve recognition in this conversation. To make the case for their continued presence, one can reference the underrated 2009 classic Ninja Assassin.

In the year 2009, the discussion surrounding CGI was quite different. Nowadays, Marvel movies and other big-budget films heavily rely on digital backdrops, rendering nothing on screen as real. Back in the late 2000s, critics and audiences were either impressed by high-quality CGI or disappointed by lackluster examples. During that time, films often used CGI for added flair rather than creating an entire setting.

What is Ninja Assassin about?

Ninja Assassin tells the tale of Raizo, an orphan who endured abuse and training from the Ozunu Clan. Despite the cruel treatment, Raizo forms a bond with Kiriko, who sadly meets her demise during an escape attempt. As an adult, Raizo rebels against the Clan and becomes a skilled assassin himself, seeking vengeance and dismantling the organization.

Meanwhile, a Europol agent named Mika stumbles upon the existence of the ninja clan. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, a series of murders links back to the elusive group. Mika convinces Raizo to join forces, and together they face numerous highly skilled assassins armed with extraordinary abilities and lethal weapons. The film centers around intense knife fights, incredible acrobatics, stealthy sequences, and occasional use of superpowers. Notably, the film introduces the kyoketsu-shoge, a dagger attached to a chain, which is visually depicted with stunning CGI. Overall, Ninja Assassin offers a thrilling blend of action-packed scenes and dark dialogue.

How did Ninja Assassin do at the box office?

Despite its impressive title and extensive marketing campaign, Ninja Assassin did not meet expectations. The film earned $60,462,347 at the box office, while reportedly having a production budget of $40 to $50 million. According to industry standards, it is often assumed that the marketing budget should be roughly equal to the production cost. Based on this assumption, Ninja Assassin likely faced losses of $20 to $40 million during its initial release. The movie debuted alongside The Road, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Princess and the Frog, but its main success came from the United States. It reached Japan in March 2010, premiering in a single theater in Shinjuku where it managed to earn $25,672 during its second weekend. Although considered a disappointment at the box office, Ninja Assassin's performance was not excessively detrimental to the studio's overall success.

Who wrote and directed Ninja Assassin?

James McTeigue, the director of Ninja Assassin, gained valuable experience as an assistant director for science fiction films that heavily relied on CGI. Notably, he contributed to the production of Dark City by Alex Proyas, the Matrix trilogy, and even Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. McTeigue's collaboration with the Wachowskis, which began during The Matrix, led to his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed V for Vendetta. This film, based on Alan Moore's graphic novel, featured a screenplay written by the Wachowskis. Following Ninja Assassin, McTeigue went on to direct The Raven, a horror film centered around the works of Edgar Allan Poe, as well as Survivors, an English spy film. Additionally, he took charge of Breaking In, a movie starring Gabrielle Union. Notably, McTeigue continued his partnership with Lana Wachowski as a producer for The Matrix Resurrections.

The story of Ninja Assassin was written by Matthew Sand, known for his work on only one other produced film, which includes the filmography of Ninja Assassin and Deepwater Horizon. The screenplay, on the other hand, was written by the multi-talented J. Michael Straczynski, who has contributed his talents to various mediums such as films like Changeling, comics like Supreme Power, and TV shows like Babylon 5. Straczynski is also the creator of the beloved 90s sci-fi series and has collaborated with McTiegue in the creation of the Wachowskis' Sense 8. Additionally, he is recognized as one of the first TV creators to actively engage with fans online and serves as the executor of beloved sci-fi author Harlan Ellison's estate.

While Ninja Assassin may not possess profound depth, it serves as a playful tribute to the enjoyable ninja films of the 80s. Fans of mindless action movies may find it worth viewing, despite its lack of success at the box office, limited recollection, and missed opportunities for recognition. Nonetheless, newcomers could still have an entertaining evening with Ninja Assassin.