Enter the Ninja

Directed by Menahem Golan, Enter the Ninja follows ninjutsu-trained American Cole (Franco Nero) as he’s drawn into a violent battle between an old war buddy (Alex Courtney’s Frank) and a vicious land developer (Christopher George’s Charles Venarius). Filmmaker Golan, working from Dick Desmond’s script, delivers a strong (if somewhat context-free) opening that goes a long way towards initially capturing the viewer’s interest, as the movie, beyond that point, segues into a mostly tedious midsection that contains few elements worth embracing or getting excited about – with the arms-length atmosphere compounded by an egregiously low-rent atmosphere and distressing lack of compelling characters. (Nero’s wooden turn as the one-dimensional protagonist is certainly the most obvious example of the latter.) The proliferation of clunky, far-from-exciting fight sequences does little to alleviate the progressively interminable vibe, and although the climax admittedly boasts a handful of entertainingly over-the-top kills, Enter the Ninja has been saddled with a predominantly endless third act that effectively (and ultimately) cements its place as a hopelessly underwhelming actioner.

*1/2 out of ****