Just what I expected

A lot of fun.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

"American Ninja" is a simple-minded little Kung-Fu action flick that is here simply for entertainment, no more no less. And let me start off by saying that American Ninja is by no means a film to be taken to heart, it's cheesy and hokey and is pumped full of the most annoying sword sound effects since "The Street Fighter", but, "American Ninja" can be a fun little 80's flick that will keep you on the edge of your couch cushion for an hour and a half if you view it with all your logic in suspension.What I love most of this film is..... It gives me what I expect. Ninjas, ninja training, ninja action, and the icing on the cake the epic battle between Joe and the leader of the ninjas.... The Black Star Ninja! Tadashi Yamashita as black star tears up the screen and in one scene, some other ninjas in a fight not equaled by Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan-fast and ferocious! This movie singlehandedly made me want to be a ninja throughout my childhood! Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

It's "Die Hard" for ninjas. There ain't no such thing as too much Michael Dudikoff, baby. The real centerpiece of the film is its acting, mainly that of Dudikoff. I really like this type of film, as it reminds me of French movies where it's more about the characters and their environment. This is a story about a place most people might not be able to conceive. All the characters struggle against a system that has perpetuated falsehoods. Against this backdrop, our hero must fight on. Great performances help to enhance this amazing story of ninja warfare and violence. I give it a rating of 7 out of 10 because it's flawed but good.

Joe Armstrong is drifter forced into the military finds himself stationed in the Philippines. After his convoy is attacked by ninjas (that's right ninjas in the Philippines) Joe finds himself hunted by this mysterious group of ninjas, and the United States Army seeking his court marshal. Can Joe survive and prove he is an American Ninja? American Ninja should be listed on very VH1 I love the 80's special. Every once of this movie screams 1985. From the big hair to 1980's TV show special effects (American Ninja must have hired the special effects guy from A-Team) to ever present crotch rocket. American Ninja is at one with the 80's.The major problem with American Ninja is that it's a child of the 80's. American Ninja doesn't transcend to new generations. It's stuck in 1985. The sets, the script and the characters are just believable to today's viewers.That being said Micheal Dudikoff did a good job as Joe Armstrong. His acting was believable for a 1980's film. His acting had a few wholes in it, but mostly good. The character I love to watch the most was Cpl Jackson, the black Rambo of the 1980's. Really I know that last sentence wasn't pc but it was the truth. For some reason in the 80's Hollywood felt the only way to connect with the African American community was to copy other characters and replace them with an African American actors. I guess Hollywood forgot about amazing African American actors such as Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby from the 60's and 70's. I feel characters like Jackson where huge stumbling blocks for African American actors. All in all, American Ninja was great in 1985 but didn't transcend to today's audience. Sunday, May 23, 2010...written by John Richards for http://aroundthemovies.com

while this 80's martial arts cheapie from Cannon films(produced By Golan/Globus) won't win any awards,it's a decent enough time killer with some good if not spectacular action sequences.it's not boring at all.in fact,it moves along at a pretty good pace.and as long as you know what you're getting you shouldn't be disappointed.Hamlet,it ain't,but it doesn't pretend to be,and none of the actors involved in it do either.it's just cheesy fun.and as far as Cannon films and producers Golan/Globus go,there are a lot of movies in the stable much worse than this.i for one,quite enjoyed it for what it is.for me,American Ninja is a 7/10