List of ninja films

The following is a list of (non-anime) films where at least one ninja character appears as a significant plot element.

Contents

Japanese films

Silent films

The first ninja movies were silent films, including the Koga Unōn Ninjutsu Kogaryū (1916, possibly the first ever ninja film) and many others, such as the series Genkotsu to Ninjutsu (1920-21), four movies titled Sarutobi Sasuke (1918-1922), and the films Gotô Matabei Ninjutsu Yaburi (1921), Hotaiko Gozen no Nînjutsu Kurabe (1920), Ninjutsu Chôji (1917), Ninjutsu Daisûke (1922), Ninjutsu Jîrai (1921), Ninjutsu Jûyushi (1917 and 1923), Ninjutsu Kirigakure Sen'emon (1922), Ninjutsu Sanyushi (1922), Nyô Ninjutsu (1917), and Sarutobi no Ninjutsu (1924).

Erotic films

There are numerous softcore ninja films (in addition to innumerable hardcore-pornographic costume movies, often featuring BDSM motives), including the series: Injū Gakuen (La Blue Girl Live, three films), Kunoichi Ninpō-chō (a.k.a Lady Ninja, Female Ninja Magic Chronicles or Tales of the Women Ninja, at least eight films), Kunoichi Nimpoden (Ninja Vixens, at least nine films) and Sanada Kunoichi Ninpō-den: Kasumi (Lady Ninja Kasumi, at least three films).

American films

Other films

  • 7 Lucky Ninja Kids (1989)
  • A Life of Ninja (1983)
  • A Man Called Hero (1999)
  • Blood of the Samurai (2001)
  • Challenge of the Lady Ninja (1983): Also known as Never Kiss a Ninja.
  • Der Sommer des Samurai (1986)
  • Double Edge (1986): A Filipino action movie.
  • Duel to the Death (1983): A Chinese movie about a clash of the ninjas and Shaolin monks.
  • El Ninja Mexicano (1991)
  • Explosive Brigade Against the Ninjas (1986)
  • Five Element Ninjas (1982): Also known as Chinese Super Ninja, another film about Shaolin monks.
  • Heroes of the East (1978): Also known as Shaolin vs. Ninja.
  • Ninja Apocalypse (1982)
  • Ninja Death (1987)
  • Ninja Hunter (1984)
  • Ninja in the Deadly Trap (1981)
  • Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982): A Hong Kong production set in ancient China, with Japanese co-stars.
  • Ninja Kids (1986): A Filipino action comedy film.
  • Ninja: The Final Duel (1986): Another Chinese film putting ninjas against Shaolin. There is also a re-dubbed version of this film, called Shaolin Dolemite.
  • Ninja's Force (1984): A Filipino action movie.
  • Ninja Over the Great Wall (1987)
  • Ninja Warriors (1985): A Filipino action movie.
  • Norwegian Ninja (2010)
  • Shadow Ninja (1980)
  • Sons of Shadow (2008)
  • The Lotus Flowers (2005)
  • The Warrior's Way (2010)
  • Ultimax Force (1986)

Independent and short films

There is a number of U.S. independent and short films, including A Ninja Pays Half My Rent (2003), Beneath the Mask: Portrait of an American Ninja (2005), Irish American Ninja (2005), Lonely Dragon (2006), Ninja Apocalypse! (2007), Ninja Mission 2000 (2000), Ninja Star in the Eye (2006), Ninjas vs. Zombies (2008), Super Ninja Bikini Babes (2007) and Undercut (2004).

Godfey Ho films

Main article: Godfrey Ho

There is a large number of the "Ninja"-titled Z-movies by the Hong Kong-based low budget director Godfrey Ho, with the titles such as Full Metal Ninja, Ninja Death Squad, Ninja in the Killing Fields, Ninja Terminator, Ninja Operation: Licensed to Terminate, Ninja the Violent Sorcerer, Vampire Raiders: Ninja Queen, or Zombie vs. Ninja. Scores of films credited to Ho contain the word "Ninja" in their titles, released mostly between 1984 and 1990.[4] Their exact number is unknown because of Ho's numerous pseudonyms and the probability that some of these films have been released under more than one title. Ho's "cut and paste" technique of creating his ninja movies involved shooting a large amount of largely random ninja combat and interstitial footage that would be spliced with existing footage from incomplete or abandoned Asian films, many of which were not martial arts films - in result, these films often appear to have two storylines. They were recorded without sound, so although the gweilo actors spoke English while recording their lines, they were dubbed over by other voice actors.

Minor roles

24 Hours to Midnight, Action Her00?, Backfire!, Blind Fury, Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls, Bloodbath, Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh, Bowfinger, Brighton Wok: The Legend of Ganja Boxing, Bugi Fiction, Bullet of Life, Cats & Dogs, Date Number One, Death Machines, Death to the Supermodels, Double Dragon, Dragon Fire, Ella Enchanted, Expect No Mercy, Fight Ring, Flying Naked, Girl With Gun, How to Cope with Rejection, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (in the trailer only), Knock Outs, Kung Fu Rascals, Kung Phooey!, Last Hurrah for Chivalry, Legend of the Tsunami Warrior, L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies: Return to Savage Beach, Let's Talk About Sex, Licence to Kill, Miami Connection, My Lucky Stars, Nikos, Ong Bak 3, Operation Dance Sensation, Operation Las Vegas, Order of the Eagle, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pervirella, Pineapple Express, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, Prison-A-Go-Go!, Puppet Master: Axis of Evil, Reel Guerrillas, Robocop 3, Rollergator, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Samurai Vampire Bikers from Hell, Sci-Fighter, Shoot or Be Shot, Speed Racer, Stereo Future, Super Tromette Action Movie Go!, Taxi 2, The Adventures of Brer Rabbit, The Adventures of El Frenetico and Go Girl, The Crow: City of Angels, The Killer Elite, The King Maker, The Last Action Hero, The Last Samurai, The Master of Disguise, The Pacifier, The Roller Blade Seven, The Samurai of Strongsville, Thunderman, Toad Warrior, Torrente 3: El Protector, Trading Mom, Trailer: The Movie!, Two's a Mob, Valley Party Girls, Violent Shit III, War, The Punisher, War, Who Makes Movies?, X-Men: The Last Stand, Zatoichi.

See also

References

  1. ^ Short Film KAGE
  2. ^ S H I N O B I N O M O N O
  3. ^ Pocket Ninjas (1997)
  4. ^ Godfrey Ho at the Internet Movie Database

External links