Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)

Scott Adkins is back as the ninja warrior. It's still another cheesy movie, but I personally thought it was fun to watch. Even if the story didn't make much sense sometimes and some parts just seemed random. This is a low budget action movie, but it's still a good one. It's just cool to watch Scott Adkins do what he does best. And to watch a real martial artist in action that knows what he is doing. So yeah, it's has a passable story for a martial arts action movie and the fights are cool to watch and choreographed excellently. Even when it comes to the cinematography you know exactly what is going on, despite the quickness. Sure, there are some parts where the bad guys could have easily killed or apprehended the main character. But it's a movie and it was too distracting. Overall this is a cool martial arts ninja movie. Even if the ninja and stealth elements aren't really shown much.6/10

I have long been a fan of Isaac Florentine, for many many years now.His films always aim to grab that feel from the 80's classics of Hong Kong cinema, yet are often marred by weak story lines and silly acting.That said, one thing that always stands out is the fight scenes - and none more so than this awesome sequel, Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear!I liked the first Ninja movie and thought Scott Adkins, as always, proved his worth as a martial arts actor. There was just a small hint of 'meh' that surrounded the first causing it to be slightly forgettable.It seems though, with Shadow Of A Tear, that hint of 'meh' has been thrown to the side!Again, acting and story line plays second fiddle to what is possibly some of the best fight scenes ever put to film in a Western production!Beautifully shot, crisp with amazing choreography, I felt that Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear stands punches and kicks above the over-rated hit, The Raid...

I've long thought that Isaac Florentine is one of the best action movie directors out there, enough that I greatly anticipate each new movie he manages to put out. I thought that the original "Ninja", which he directed, really delivered the goods. So when I heard that there was a sequel coming out, you can bet that I couldn't wait to watch it. As I type this, it's been a few minutes since I watched the movie. What did I think? Well, I will admit that the movie is not perfect. The biggest problem with the movie is the script. There's not much of a story here - there's just enough to make an excuse for an action sequence every few minutes. There are also a few minor murky parts in the plot that make for some unclear elements (though it's possible that more explanation was removed in the editing room.) The characters, from the hero to the villains, are pretty weak when it comes to character development. And the "big twist" revealed in the final few minutes is painfully predictable - you'll see it coming long before it unfolds.Despite these problems, the movie manages to redeem itself, mainly with the action sequences. The action choreography is first rate - swift, exciting, and brutal are the words to describe the mayhem, mayhem that keeps rearing its head frequently. The Asian locations add a feeling of authenticity to the movie, more so than the first movie (where Bulgarian locations were used to depict Japan and New York!) There's more eye candy than brain candy here, but sometimes you want to watch a movie where you don't have to think that much. If you are in such a mood, then this movie will more likely than not satisfy.

NINJA: SHADOW OF A TEAR is a follow-up to the surprisingly decent NINJA, an action flick starring Brit martial artist Scott Adkins and directed by direct-to-DVD helmer Isaac Florentine. This one has a different scope in that the chief character, Casey, having been banned from returning to the USA after the events of the first movie, trawls southeast Asia in a straightforward and undistinguished revenge storyline.Okay, so the plot is nothing new, it's the kind of simple, join-the-dots stuff you'd expect to be written by a high school student. The twists are obvious from the outset and there's a slight weariness and staleness to the whole concept. The acting isn't much to write home about, either; Adkins is passable, a briefly returning Mika Hijii is a joy while she's around, and Kane Kosugi is slowing becoming a younger version of his father, but nobody else makes an impact.It's good news, then, that this film really hits home when it comes to the action stakes. NINJA: SHADOW OF A TEAR packs a punch in terms of hard-hitting martial arts action, and it's filled to the brim with well-choreographed mayhem. The fights are incredibly hard-hitting and the actors are accomplished performers who are performing to the best of their ability. There's nothing not to love; this is outstanding stuff, and the best straight-to-video action flick of the year.