3 Ninjas Kick Back

Who would have thought that “3 Ninjas” was good enough to have a sequel made? Well, they must have because in 1994, they released “3 Ninjas Kick Back.” I think this movie was made not only to make money, but also with their eyes on the international movie market. Set mostly in Japan and adding a female ninja to the three brothers, this sequel succeeds in communicating the positive and fun elements from both the Japanese and American cultures. Emanuel Levy said in his review, “This sequel may not be as big a bonanza as “3 Ninjas,” Disney’s 1992 sleeper hit, but TriStar should expect strong response from children of all ages.”

The second in the series puts our three main characters, Rocky (Sean Fox), Colt (Max Elliot Shade) and Tum Tum (Evan Bonifant) on two different stories. The three brothers have to help their Grandpa Mori, reprised by Victor Wang, return to Japan to give a ceremonial dagger he won 50 years ago to the new winner of the Ninja tournament. On top of that, they have to return home on time for their upcoming baseball game, where their team, the Dragons, play against their rivals, The Mustangs.

In search of the dagger, which is a key to a secret gold cave, Grandpa’s old nemesis Koga, played by Sab Shimono, hires his nephew and two rockstar friends (Dustin Nguyen, Jason Schombing and Angelo Tiffe). Largely played, and wearing ridiculous wigs and costumes, they are exactly like the villains from the last movie, which Levy describes them as “more bumbling buffoons than villains,” and also give the reason for some funny fights and severe physical comedy.

To broaden the story’s request, scriptwriter Mark Saltzman sensibly adds a girl, Miyo, played by Caroline Julio King, whose skills let her teach the boys a new move or two in martial arts. Miyo also becomes Colt’s girlfriend, the teenager who begins to experience cramps of the heart.

Levy stated in his review, “A new bicultural and reconciliatory tone underlies “3 Ninjas Kick Back.”” Some of the previous American movies have showed heated competition and lack of sympathy toward Japan. However, this film strains the similarities of the countries and what kids of both cultures can learn from one another. Staying with Miyo’s family, the Americans get a geography lesson, eat Japanese food, and improve their karate. In the same vain, Miyo gets a firsthand lesson of American culture.

Charles T. Kanganis, who has directed a handful of action movies, knows that the essential factors in some adventures are comic energy and fast pace. Indeed, expecting a few of unnecessary scenes, like the one’s involving our main character’s parents (Alan McRae and Margarita Franco), pic benefits from kinetic humor and fast pacing.

Levy said in his review, “Tech credits, notably the lensing and colorful production design, are most proficient.”

The film’s moralistic dimensions are so well put together into the narrative that they’re hardly noticeable. Levy even stated, “Still, as in “The Wizard of Oz,””The Secret Garden” and other classic fairy tales, younger viewers will get a flavor of a new and “dangerous” magical world with a healthy dosage of traditional family values, such as security of country and comfort of home.”

Want my honest opinion? Not only is this film feeling more like another cash-in to copy “Ninja Turtles,” but it almost feels like it’s copying “The Karate Kid II.” Seriously it does, with the traveling to Japan and Rocky falling in love with one of the Japanese girls. Don’t you think that, for those of you who have seen this movie? If you get the chance to not see this one, do so. If you have seen it from your childhood, do yourself a huge favor and save yourself from seeing this again because you will not like it.

Now that I got that out of the way, let’s try to recollect ourselves before next week when I look at the third in this horrible franchise.