Staack117

SICK SICK SICK, but either a sign of the times when such brazen brainwashing and homogenizing was the norm, or twisted-genius. Akin to those identity-stealing `educational' (read: propaganda) shorts, they teach you that everything you do is wrong and you are only slightly LESS wrong by denying individuality. One can only guess the true intent.

Were the children cast as more villainous characters, one could almost rationally excuse and/or condone their ghastly fates. But they were mainly just being kids with their typical personality quirks, which many of which grow out of with proper care. And the so-called `hero' of the story is no less a meddlesome troublemaker, by the standards set by the other children, as illustrated in the bubble room.

The lessons learned...? No children can resist sin, and all of them are evil? Affluence is evil? Only poor kids are worthy of a second chance? Evil masquerades in bright colors, and sings funny songs? Candy is bad?

And that's just the underlying barely-subliminal wrong-messages (I didn't even touch the possible Freudian suggestions). Some OBVIOUS red flags should be the glorification of an unchecked crazed despotic slave driver with Svengali-like control over children and the media, breaking the laws of nature and physics (and probably many other laws), housing a small personal army, and endangering children in hopes of finding an heir.

Good grief, is there a SINGLE positive message?

Most other children's movies and shows are drivel, but are far less harmless. I wouldn't recommend this for ANY children you hope to grow up well adjusted. I DO, however, recommend adults to watch this. It's either a work of twisted-genius, or just a really bad kids movie. Either way, it's fun to analyze.

Obviously this didn't win any awards for excellency, but it wasn't that horrible of a movie either. It showed bits and pieces of comedic genius mixed in with lowbrow and downright idiotic slapstick. Could this be a deeper and uncomfortable view into the twisted mind of Leguizamo (who must have been on a diet of sugar and caffeine throughout the filming of The Pest)? For what it's worth, about 20 minutes into the movie I wanted to kill his character, Pest. Hopefully that's what the writer intended... It was worth the $1.50 I paid for it, but it wouldn't last 1 second against true comedic genius like Pee Wee's Big Adventure.

The American Ninja series was a screaming roller coaster, starting high and rocketing straight down into darkness. And just when you think you've hit rock bottom, someone puts dog poo down there to further insult the series. This is an abomination, even compared to American Ninja 4 and 3. Is it trying to be a kids movie, akin to the MUCH better Surf Ninjas or TMNT? Is it trying to be an action packed movie, featuring a good stunt actor James Lew? Is this the triumphant return of Pat Morita? I don't know, and I bet the crew didn't either. This is an embarrassment to ALL involved with horrible action, horrible dialogue, a horrible plot, and again... HORRIBLE ACTION. James Lew deserves better.