American ninja 4

If it wasn't bad enough in the previous entry where Steve James wasn't promoted to be the star when Dudikoff temporarily exited the series, the producers don't even call him back for this entry! Actually, upon carefully looking at the movie, it DOES seem that it was originally written for James to return; Bradley is given a sidekick character that you can easily picture James playing, and Dudikoff's character gets involved only when he's told that his "friend" Bradley is in trouble, even though there was previously no evidence they were friends - both being signs of a quick rewrite.

I'm willing to bet that the reason James didn't return was his own decision instead of the producers - the movie didn't end up giving his role a whole lot to do. Also, the end results just aren't very good. Certainly, it's a notch up over the terrible part 3. For one thing, the production values are a significant step up. Also, the movie starts off very promising with a not-bad action sequence. But after that part of the movie ends, the movie quickly collapses. Bradley is again an uncharismatic lead (who fortunately is moved offscreen for much of the movie!), and Dudikoff (who finally appears halfway through the movie) seems alternately bored and annoyed to be there, though he is clearly more confident in his martial art sequences. There's also very little action, a very slow-moving plot, and some *unbelievably* bad editing. The climax does bring back some action, and also has a number of unintentionally funny moments, but it's too little too late.

In part 4, the two American Ninjas, Joe Armstrong and Sean Davidson, team up to do battle against a terrorist and his band of Ninjas. It is always in people's nature to put down great things and to nitpick or sometimes just be plain mean. No matter what anyone says, this is utterly fantastic, an eye-popping cinematic treat. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. I am not saying the film is a classic, but I love it. My rating ends up being 7 out of 10.

Michael Dudikoff, although not doing much acting, has more on screen presence in this movie. He's clearly evolved over this series as an actor, and has a leading man charisma to him in this movie.

Unfortunately the series didn't evolve with him, but devolved.

Seen one, seen em all characterizes this fourth installment of the American Ninja series. Producers might lose interest after the first few production, and they're only making it on inertia. Even a big franchise like the JAWS went the same route, so maybe we can't blame the producers too much.

The story is choppy, and doesn't flow smoothly. Trying to find a meaning in a movie like this is a futile effort, but I wished they kept producing the movie in a nicer looking locations as they did in part 2 of this series.

I imagine Cannon was pretty excited about the concept of teaming up the two leads from their earlier "American Ninja" trilogy. Unfortunately the two barely appear on screen together, and Bradley (who resembles a less macho Rick Springfield) is a woefully inadequate screen presence. Booth--whose son appears to have been the screenwriter...or was it Booth himself using a pseudonym?--gets all the best lines and chews enough scenery for everybody. There's nothing here you haven't seen a dozen times before, but it should keep you awake if you stumble upon it on late-night cable.

Michael Dudikoff and his blank stare return to the "American Ninja" franchise, and he's the film's selling point, though even with him this fourth installment of the series that really should have stopped after the first two is hard to sit through.

We do desperately need Dudikoff's Joe though, because our other ninja is Sean, played by David Bradley, who looks too weird and wears too much eye makeup for me to ever fully get behind. Plus he's not a very effective ninja. He spends what feels like half of the film's running time chained to a post in someone's basement. Jackson, who served as Joe's sidekick in the first two movies and then Sean's in the third, would never have settled for that. He would have ripped the post out of the ground, and then ripped off his own sleeves before pulling two giant machetes out of his underwear and kicking some ninja ass.

Speaking of Jackson, this is the first film in the franchise that doesn't have Steve James in it, and when he's absent, you realize how much he made the series in the first place.

I did enjoy the Mad Max band of ruffians who appear mid-way through this movie living in some kind of dystopian society. I'm not really sure where they are supposed to be or why they're all living like characters out of "Ready Player One," but I could roll with it.

It's not like the "American Ninja" movies were ever movie masterpieces to begin with, but the third and fourth installments make you realize how relatively good the first two are.

Grade: C-