Ninja Assassin

Name: Ninja Assassin
Item: Ninja Assassin
Rating: 3
Author: Jeffrey M. Anderson

Movie review by

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 18+

(i)

Extremely bloody, but it will entertain mature action fans.

R
2010
99 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 12 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 14 reviews

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Common Sense review | 1:44

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

The movie more or less speaks out against conformity and encourages individual thought, as the main character leaves the only home he ever knew in an effort do to the right thing. He also risks his life to bring down an organization with evil intentions. But the fact that he meets violence with violence is a much iffier message. And there's a bit of confusion surrounding the organization -- although there are nine clans, Raizo is only concerned with taking down one of them.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Main character Raizo is a formidable martial artist, and he's diligent about keeping himself in top form -- which may inspire younger viewers to do the same. But his actions in the film include violence and revenge, even if his end goal is the common good. Secondary character Mika comes out a little better. She constantly demonstrates bravery and always tries to do the right thing, even in the face of terrible danger.

Violence

Wall-to-wall extreme martial arts violence, with gallons and gallons of blood spewing, splatting, splashing, spraying, and gurgling everywhere. But it's all comic book-style fantasy battle violence. Several characters lose limbs or heads, some of which go flying a good distance from their original locations. A female ninja-in-training gets her face sliced. A man's head is repeatedly battered into the urinals in a public restroom. A throwing star is extracted from a gaping stomach wound. Most disturbingly, a ninja master whips the feet of a young boy, a ninja-in-training, creating painful-looking gashes on the boy's soles.

Sex

A teen couple -- both ninjas in training -- shares a tender kiss. In another scene, they rest their heads on each other's chests, listening to each other's heartbeats (while clothed and in the open).

Language

Significant stretches of the movie are profanity-free, but "f--k" is used several times overall. Other words include "s--t," "dumbass," "damn," "Oh God" (used as an exclamation), and "scheisse" (the German word for "s--t").

Consumerism

In one scene characters drink Pepsi and prominently display Pepsi bottles, but the name is never mentioned aloud.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Ninja Assassin is a fast-paced action movie with tons of extreme martial arts violence and gallons of blood, though its cartoonish tone may be more likely to inspire laughter than shock among teens. The story is about a man who takes on many enemies in the name of the common good -- but he does so violently and is motivated by revenge, which sends some mixed messages. Still, the movie is somewhat smarter and better told than others in this genre, and there's a female supporting character who's much braver and stronger than women typically are in these movies. Don't expect Shakespeare quality, but older teens are likely to have a good time.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byclarence August 7, 2015

age 10+

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Adult Written bydarthsitkur August 22, 2012

age 15+

crazy movie

ninja assassin is the second most gruesome and most insane movie ever and i love it, 10/10

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Teen, 14 years old Written byqwqwqw August 17, 2019

age 17+

blooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodddddddddddddddd

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Teen, 17 years old Written byMovie Nerd 45 May 15, 2018

age 17+

Very violent and cool idea though it ultimately fails as a film.

Ninja Assassin has an awesome opening scene and exciting action throughout, however the plot is very thin and the characters and their relations are not develop... Continue reading

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What's the story?

For centuries, the so-called "nine clans" have taken orphaned children and trained them to be ninjas, with the power to hide in the shadows and follow their targets by scent alone. The ninjas are then sold to world governments to be used as assassins. Raizo (South Korean pop star Rain) escapes and decides to bring down the entire organization, especially his cruel, former sensei Lord Ozunu (Sho Kosugi). Meanwhile, Europol agent Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles) and researcher Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) stumble upon the conspiracy and find themselves in the middle of a war between Raizo and an army of angry, evil ninjas. Lots of blood and flying body parts follow.

Is it any good?

As directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and produced by the Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix), NINJA ASSASSIN is of a generally higher quality than the typical "ninja" martial arts movie. It's slick and fast-paced with some gorgeous set pieces and choreography, as well as characters who more or less behave as if they know what they're doing. Rain gives a fairly one-note, brooding performance, but Miles and Harris help make up for it.

The movie is extremely and self-consciously violent and gory, although in a comic book/fantasy way that will probably inspire more laughter than cringing. Moreover, most of the bloody hackings and severings are accomplished via CGI, and none of it actually looks or feels too real. The larger plot arc has a few holes and leaves a bit to be desired, but individual moments can be ridiculously exhilarating.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about their reaction to the movie's bloody, violent scenes. Were you shocked? Did you laugh? Why do you think you reacted this way?
What is Raizo's motivation? Is it personal revenge, or is it more for the common good? Were his tactics appropriate?
Do you think the character of Mika is strong and brave? Is she a good female role model, or is she more of a stereoytpe?