tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post5144309794541410196..comments2022-04-03T07:50:07.237-05:00Comments on The Monthly Midnight Movie Exchange: Enter the Ninja (1981)... Tony's Pick for SeptemberNoelCThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-80266195352668481502013-06-17T12:48:43.777-05:002013-06-17T12:48:43.777-05:00Nero's stay atop the list of "Least convi...Nero's stay atop the list of "Least convincing Ninja ever" was short-lived, as he was handily dethronend three years later by Mr. Lee Van Cleef and his very un-Ninja-like paunch in <i>The Master</i>.<br /><br />Coincidentally, <i>The Master</i> also co-starred Sho Kosugi.Tony Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127116586453811407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-4762409329879267632013-06-17T03:59:33.434-05:002013-06-17T03:59:33.434-05:00+JMJ+
I also had some difficulty suspending disb...+JMJ+ <br /><br />I also had some difficulty suspending disbelief when watching Nero. =/ Was he supposed to be American? Angolan? And that was the least of it. He just didn't suit the role. I would have found him more believable as Frank--if the role of Frank had called for someone more genteel, "old rich," and maybe slightly decadent. =P Which is actually the sort of person I'd expect to have a house like that in the Philippines. Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-51823396747867384522013-06-16T21:46:07.420-05:002013-06-16T21:46:07.420-05:00Yeah, it's totally not a good movie, but I sti...Yeah, it's totally not a good movie, but I still have fun with the colorful villains and how wildly out of place Franco Nero is as the lead. :)NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-59299664754812424202013-06-16T14:08:30.430-05:002013-06-16T14:08:30.430-05:00+JMJ+
I finally watched this tonight and I'm...+JMJ+ <br /><br />I finally watched this tonight and I'm afraid that I wasn't too impressed, for reasons already mentioned here. Angie is right that the pacing is really uneven, making the movie seem much longer than it was. And I'm with Noel on Hasegawa being a surprisingly bad mercenary. <br /><br />But why don't we look at the bright spots? Like the other villains! The penthouse office with the swimming pool in the middle was the best set in the whole movie! I'd love to see what that building looks like now . . . And like Noel, I love the moment when Hook gets to stand up for himself against the stevedore. =) Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-83344902944289963162012-09-03T19:34:14.757-05:002012-09-03T19:34:14.757-05:00- Whether Cole grabbed the cookie or someone hande...- Whether Cole grabbed the cookie or someone handed it to him, it still ended up in his mouth ;-)<br /><br />- "At least, upon discovering Frank's body, Cole didn't say, "I did her for you, Frank. I did her for you." :P<br /><br />LOL!Tony Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127116586453811407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-776602505546877392012-09-03T19:33:30.403-05:002012-09-03T19:33:30.403-05:00Also, the second screengrab? The one with Cole abo...Also, the second screengrab? The one with Cole about to double-chop the two guards? That's currently my desktop background. :)NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-87955800496512690042012-09-03T19:19:35.646-05:002012-09-03T19:19:35.646-05:00Tony: as who could refuse the sexual advances of a...Tony: <b>as who could refuse the sexual advances of a mustachioed Ninjitsu Master?</b><br /><br />But did Cole ever really make any advances? At all? He was just (arguably) studly and was there for her in moments where Frank wasn't.<br /><br />Angie: <b>It may be that I found too many of Cole's traits unlikable that I automatically liked Hasegawa better.</b><br /><br />Just to clarify, I don't really like Cole as a person, a character, or Nero as an actor, I'm just endlessly amused by how out of place he is in pretty much every way. It worked for me simply because it so spectacularly <i>didn't</i> work. :)<br /><br />Angie: <b>Because when your husband is having a hard time in his life, it's totally okay to cheat on him.</b><br /><br />At least, upon discovering Frank's body, Cole didn't say, "I did her for you, Frank. I did her for you." :P<br /><br />Tony: <b>Will Hare and Zachi Noy (Hook) were the unsung heroes of this movie.</b><br /><br />I'll agree to that. There's so much life and quirkiness in the supporting cast. Mr. Parker, too. And the casting agent in his two quick yet memorable scenes. And I even like seeing distinctive henchmen, like Preacher and the long-haired guy tailing Cole, all showing up again for the curtain call of the climax as Cole brutally slaughters his way through them.NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-55042290442925169642012-09-03T17:55:43.718-05:002012-09-03T17:55:43.718-05:00- Will Hare and Zachi Noy (Hook) were the unsung h...- Will Hare and Zachi Noy (Hook) were the unsung heroes of this movie.<br /><br />Will Hare fun fact!: Mr. Hare played Old Man Peabody in 'Back to the Future'.Tony Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127116586453811407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-65047957950671169162012-09-02T18:51:36.197-05:002012-09-02T18:51:36.197-05:00-I'll agree that there's not a whole lot o...-I'll agree that there's not a whole lot of meat to what Hasegawa is all about here. It may be that I found too many of Cole's traits unlikable that I automatically liked Hasegawa better.<br /><br />-I'm fairly convinced that beyond his first scene, all of Dollar's lines were just Will Hare making them up on the spot. Everything he says is just pure reaction to what's happening around him, and he always made me laugh.<br /><br />-I think the painfully slow scene where Frank admits to Cole that he's impotent is supposed to be proper set up for Cole and Mary Ann sleeping together. Because when your husband is having a hard time in his life, it's totally okay to cheat on him. therealphoenixanewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06728133971705657561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-17849867706011985242012-09-02T17:03:28.143-05:002012-09-02T17:03:28.143-05:00- Just wait until Kosugi goes from antagonist to p...- Just wait until Kosugi goes from antagonist to protagonist, that's all I'll say for now.<br /><br />- I found it difficult to get past the fact that Cole and Mary-Ann sleep together while Frank is still very much alive, however I give Mary-Ann a saving roll on this one, as who could refuse the sexual advances of a mustachioed Ninjitsu Master? Not me.Tony Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127116586453811407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509384866393376444.post-19609258235386030852012-09-02T14:27:18.611-05:002012-09-02T14:27:18.611-05:00A few thoughts:
- No, I didn't like Kosugi. I...A few thoughts:<br /><br />- No, I didn't like Kosugi. I think part of it is them playing Hasegawa as a guy so full of himself that he occasionally bumbles into ineptitude, but I found Sho's performance just didn't gel with it. Every other villain was glorious when they hammed things up, but Sho just couldn't sell it, so stuff like his "HEE-HEE-HEE" and "HAW-HAW-HAW" moments felt off. I don't think the guy is a comedic actor, but I'll give him a fair shot as the lead, so I do look forward to the sequels.<br /><br />- Another example of Hasegawa's ineptitude... Look at the scene where Cole sneaks into a stronghold and takes out the guards. He's quick and efficient, never allowing for noise or a mess to give him away. When Hasegawa is sneaking into Frank's house, what's the first thing he does? Brain a guard with hand spikes, causing the dude to rip out an extended shriek while spraying blood everywhere. I get that Cole being the better ninja is part of the point, but Sho played his role so straight that it kept trying not to acknowledge Hasegawa's shortcomings.<br /><br />- Gah, how could I forget to mention Dollar, too. He doesn't really serve much purpose to the plot than to be a fun sidekick that keeps tagging along, but I like how Will Hare played him with a laid-back naturalness instead of pushing it as over-the-top as, say, Hook (who I still liked, but he's in a part where that style works better). I also like that the film didn't go the expected route of his greed causing him to flip sides in the last act, and that he forgoes any potential profit because he's having so much fun tagging along with these heroes that the experience alone is enough for him to treasure.<br /><br />- Susan George was a mixed bag, becoming all passionate when she has to deal with the hardships of the farm, but losing interest when the romantic triangle plays out. Angie's spot-on that her introduction is awful. Cole sneaks onto someone's property and when greeted with a woman with a shotgun, he never once tries to explain himself, instead kicking her to the ground. It made him an asshole, and his half-hearted apology soon after doesn't really make up for it. And why did he never once regret sleeping with his best friend's wife? That twist was all about him and her, and never once did thoughts about Frank - as boozed up a looser as he was - come up.<br /><br />- The small piece of furniture Cole slashes one goon and stabs another with is a little stool with a large blade on one end, which is used to shave the coconuts they harvest on the farm.<br /><br />- A few other moments I really enjoyed... The villains realizing they're short on guards, then Cole walking out of the shadows with all the downed mens' guns. Cole taking out a building full of guards and even one of the main henchmen, only for Mr. Parker to walk up, rolling his eyes, as he says, "Was this necessary? We have been expecting you." Cole realizing Hasegawa's part in things when he and Dollar discover the inexplicably professionally shot and edited film of him killing some random goon. Cole taking out two goons with a handstand mule kick. The fact that the final showdown takes place in an actual cockfighting arena. The final tag where we learn the fate of Hook, and Cole turns to the camera and winks in a move as smooth as one of his roundhouse kicks.NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.com