where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when: Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
show: 2:25 p.m.
costs: $7.25 Ticket + $7.56 all-you-can-eat Pizza and Salad lunch at Mountain Mike's Pizzeria = $14.81
auditorium: 11
seat: 4th row, 9th column
synopsis: An orphan, Raizo ( Rain ), is taken-in by a ninja clan, the Ozunu, and taught the ways of the assassin. When his friend and fellow assassin-in-training, Kiriko ( Anna Sawai ) is executed by his clan, he begins to question his upbringing. And when he is chosen to execute another deserter, he betrays his master, Lord Ozunu ( Sho Kosugi ). From that point on, he makes it his sworn duty to destroy the clan or die trying.
noteworthy scenes: 1.) The black sand; 2.) One hundred pounds of gold; 3.) Laundromat; 4.) The orphans; 5.) The salve; 6.) The Sabatin residence; 7.) Real pain; 8.) Nine Clans of Black Sand; 9.) The heart; 10.) Blindfolded; 11.) Kiriko's refusal; 12.) Taebo class; 13.) The execution; 14.) The gold watch; 15.) The betrayal; 16.) Size 34; 17.) The set-up; 18.) Boy band; 19.) The attack; 20.) The chase; 21.) The motel; 22.) Tracking device; 23.) The mudras; 24.) The device revealed; 25.) The surprise attack; 26. ) The "father" and "son" fight; and 27.) The anatomical anomaly.
audience reaction: There were a few laughs here and there. I guess the audience was entertained by this movie.
recommendation: This is a highly-stylized "slice and dice" movie that appeals to people who are fans of the genre. If this describes you, go see this movie.
spoiler alert! The lead character is played by a Korean. Why couldn't they have used a Japanese instead? How did Raizo make it past the airport metal detectors and x-ray machines with all his bladed weaponry? Why were Raizo and Kiriko always the only ones who woke up in the middle of the night while the other ninjas-in-training were deep asleep and oblivious to that fact? The only way that blood could come out of a washer or dryer is if the door is ajar--but such machines were designed not to operate when the door isn't closed properly. I guess with Raizo and Kiriko out of the picture, the other ninjas-in-training had better nights' sleep. Why didn't the "gold watch" guy use the dagger he held in his hand against Raizo? Somebody called and tipped-off Raizo to Mika's ( Naomie Harris ) whereabouts but it wasn't revealed who the mysterious caller was. For assassins who are trained in the use of the shuriken, such experts sure missed their intended target, Raizo, a whole lot! How come these ninjas didn't use smoke bombs, blowguns and throwing spikes? When Raizo pulled the shuriken and dropped it unto the car's floor, it sounded like it hit concrete! Why didn't anybody notice the shuriken-studded car parked in the motel parking lot? The ninjas were made to move unbelievably fast. Blood doesn't glow in the dark. As a SWAT team member moved across the screen from right to left in the Ozunu compound, a ninja jumped down unto the fountain in the background and struck or threw something at the SWAT guy, but the SWAT guy just kept on moving without so much as a flinch from him as his blood splashed out from the right side of his body. I guess this particular bit player doesn't understand a word of English and missed his cue! I guess only ninja lords have samurai swords that can easily cut through chain. The sword penetrated Mika's thoracic cavity, puncturing the pleura and the left lung which would have led to fluid build-up in the lung and cavity, not to mention a collapsed lung. So ... Mika should have had a hard time breathing and, not only that, she should also have been coughing-up blood--they should have consulted with Cine-Man on this anatomical matter first! When Raizo decided to climb up the wall, it looked too convenient for the bullet holes to be where they were at. I get the impression that ninjas are like cockroaches because as soon as you turn on the lights they go scurrying away a.s.a.p!
I can't believe they spent millions on this movie without hiring the services of Cine-Man to make it more believable.
Where's "Grasshopper" when you need him?
fyi: This movie is produced by the Wachowski brothers, Andy and Larry, who are famous for their MATRIX trilogy. According to the rumor mill, Larry had a sex change operation and is now going by the name of Lana. If this is true, then they should be called the Wachowski brother AND "sister"!
How odd that they should use glass Pepsi bottles in Berlin.
The good news about this movie is that they didn't use a white guy to play the part of the great ninja, a Hollywood cliche that thankfully had finally been beaten to death by none other than the late Chris Farley himself in, BEVERLY HILLS NINJA ( 1997 ).
word of advice: Don't teach anybody everything you know until after that person has proven himself/herself worthy, capable and LOYAL.
If you know of a Mountain Mike's Pizzeria and you want to take REAL advantage of their all-you-can-eat pizza and salad, go to their Wednesday night dinner buffet and show-up about thirty minutes before closing time. Act nicely and well-behaved but take your time eating so that after the restaurant closes, and you're still there, they will give you pizza slices to take home for free because it's either that or they will just end-up throwing it all away--and you know those guys are sick and tired of eating pizza every single day at work!
tidbits: After the ending credits, as I made my way towards the exit, I noticed an old Japanese couple seated in the row behind mine. O0ohhh--must be an old ninja!
Nikki, one of my co-workers here in Benicia, CA looks like Anna Sawai.
I decided not to go to either Fairfield or Vacaville just to see this movie. Consequently, I didn't buy a spool of 50-pack CD-R discs. Maybe next time.
