A relative newcomer to North American films, but already a household name in Korea and much of that side of the world, Rain is getting his chance to show the rest of the world he has what it takes.
After working with the Wachowskis in a small role in Speed Racer, Rain is now playing a man who was raised by Ninja to be the pinnacle of the ninja arts. Check out the first three TV Spots:
I have seen much of Rain’s pop star concert footage to tell you this guy can move, and after wasting the opportunity to show it off in Speed Racer it looks like they are making up for it.
This looks pretty impressive.
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This movie is going to just rule. I might be setting the bar pretty high, but I think this is going to be one of the BEST action movies ever made.
And I am SOOOO happy someone has finally taken the idea of a great ninja movie and made it happen in full force.
They should of made a Ninja Gaiden movie already and made it look as good as this one. But oh well, props to the peeps behind Ninja Assassin for taking the awesome risk instead.
I can’t wait for this movie. Looks awesome. It will be nice to see martial arts film that (hopefully) doesn’t have a rap star or soundtrack.
You do realize that in Korea, Rain is the full package. Actor, Dancer, Singer.
He is a popstar.
“You are bitching that they made a Ninja movie with an Asian as the lead?
I dont see a problem of a studio using a Japanese actor in a film. Why would you?”
I believe Grave is upset that a Japanese actor is not being used as the main character(who is supposed to be Japanese), Rain is Korean.
“If you have done any research about this movie you would find they are trying to avoid CG and wire fighting.”
From the early reviews I’ve seen the movie does rely a bit too much CGI weapons and blood.
He is also not a ninja. Let’s split hairs.
They are acting like someone they are not. That’s what acting is. It isn’t like there is some rule that says an Asian can’t play a different Asian culture. He looks the part, and (hopefully) plays it well.
Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman are all Australian, but have made careers playing almost entirely American (or non Australian) characters. Why can’t Rain play a part when he looks it just because he is Korean?
People moan that there are no Asian superstars in Hollywood, then when we get the chance to introduce one you moan that he isnt the RIGHT Asian? Seriously.
OK so from your point of view does that mean that a white man can play a black guy. If you say no then your enforcing the idea that all asians look the same.
No, from my point of view its not a big deal if a Korean plays a Ninja. Are you to suggest that NO ONE of Korean decent lives in outside Korea?
Why do you have to be Japanese to be a ninja?
Grave says:
October 21, 2009 at 4:57 pm
OK so from your point of view does that mean that a white man can play a black guy. If you say no then your enforcing the idea that all asians look the same.
robert downey jr did just that in Tropic Thunder!
In American Ninja a white guy played a ninja, and them movie rocked back in the day. When you make a movie about ninjas in present day that ninja can easily be white, black, yellow, red, green, asian, martian, what-the-fuck-ever…. Present day you can have anybody trained as a “ninja” and go with it. A complaint about a non-Japanese ninja in a period peace may be a small bit justifiable, but even then who cares if the portrayal is pulled off correctly and fits with the movie?
I dont have a problem with non-japanese being ninja’s. My point is I have a problem with a Korean actor playing a Japanese character. Just like in Geisha, I refuse to watch that movie because they hired a chinese women to play japanese. Sure some people cant tell the differance but those that can its like night and day. Its insulting in the same way if you call a puerto rican a mexican.
“From the early reviews I’ve seen the movie does rely a bit too much CGI weapons and blood.”
CGI weapons I noted as an exception, but despite that… “CGI weapons and blood” is not “CG fighting martial arts bullshit” which is what my comment was in relation too. “Fighting martial arts”, in my mind, is the actual fighting and stunts.
Edit: actual fighting styles*
In other words, when I hear/read “CGI fighting martial arts” I picture the Matrix where Neo sticks a staff in the ground and uses that to fly in circles kicking all the Agents… both characters being completely CGI in those scenes.
Lame, Im so sick and tired of this jumping and flipping, CG fighting martial arts bullshit. Why are these guys still making movies? Im gonna stick with the older ninja films. True they are cheesey but they still fun to watch. This just reminds me of Crouching Tiger. Also what is the problem of studios having Japanese lead actors? Geisha, GI Joe, now Ninja Assians all dont have Japanese lead actors. Am I the only one that notices this?
You are bitching that they made a Ninja movie with an Asian as the lead?
I dont see a problem of a studio using a Japanese actor in a film. Why would you?
“CG fighting martial arts bullshit”
If you have done any research about this movie you would find they are trying to avoid CG and wire fighting. They are focusing on using talent for the fighting, not effects. Granted I’m sure some CG is required for some stuff such as that whip chain thing, but the actual hand-to-hand combat and stunts are supposed to be done by some talented individuals rather than the reliance of CG/Wire.
First off Im not bitching cause the lead is Asian, Im bitching because he not Japanese. He looks Korean
Second of all some director telling me he/she is avoiding CG and wireworks sounds good. But its bullshit if you blantly put it in so a scene would look cool. CG is a tool not a requirement in movies. Now that you mention the combat looks just like the same combat from the Matrix. The kung-fu fighting gymnastics is played out. I got an idea! How about trying to use REAL ninjutsu for a change.
The Matrix, relied on multiple fighting styles. This I hope will focus on multiple fighting styles. Why limit yourself or a movie to a single discipline? A single discipline is fine if your doing a competition in that form, but in movies it is illogical and boring. Under the condition of using a fighting style in a random encounter your best bet is to not focus on a single style, better to be unpredictable. Bruce Lee proved that fairly wow in the development of Jeet Kun Do, a fighting technique that avoids the use of style. Obviously that is all my own personal opinion and your welcome to disagree. The movie looks good and where you see bad use of CG I see well used.
The use of real life gymnasts and parkour experts is a good use for such a film as this whether you think it is overplayed or not. They are the best suited for performing the stunts that people would expect to see in a great Ninja movie.
Count yourself lucky, though. At least you recognize this movie isn’t for you and you will stick with your old school ninja movies rather than waste your time on this. I for one will not waste any time seeing this, as when I am watching it I won’t be feeling a second wasted.
The trailer for this movie has be excited. When I saw the First Look at the beginning of a movie at an AMC theater and they said they were avoiding wirework by bringing in a grip of parkour and gymnast people… the parkour information just blew my excitement through the roof. Cannot wait for this movie.