Ninja Kids

This, without a doubt, is the KING of "back-in-the-day" fun stuff. Its "The Goonies" for the 90's, and, well...sure kicks butt compared to "Home Alone." Did you cheer when he rolled down his own stairs in a sled? Not exactly. Of course who wouldn't cheer for three kids taking down a six-foot, two hundred-plus pounder henchman (who's really posing as a light-up dummy)? Even though slightly unintelligent...plot remains solid with sharp humor and on-your-feet fight scenes. Yet, its not exactly Bruce Lee...but did you ever see Bruce Lee kick butt at age 13? See the movie. It's definitely some high-kickin' fun.

For a kiddie flick, and this film is certainly not aimed at anyone upwards of adolescence, '3 Ninjas' isn't bad in the grand scheme of things. It is, undoubtedly, better than many of the martial arts films aimed at children that have been produced (check out tosh like 'Tiger Heart' and 'Double Dragon' for proof!).

The film centres on three young brothers-- thirteen-year-old Rocky, twelve-year-old Colt and eight-year-old Tum-tum-- who have been studying martial arts since they were toddlers, under the tutelage of their sensei grandfather. The boys' father, an FBI agent, doesn't approve but he is too pre-occupied with catching bad guys to stop them. Then the boys find themselves at the centre of a kidnapping plot by one of their father's perps Snyder, who incidentally was also trained in martial arts by their grandfather.

The film has many unrealistic scenes where the three wee moppets take down hordes of grown men with ease and cue the 'Home Alone' style tricks as the boys rig their house against three would-be teenage kidnappers who have the IQ of toast (one of whom was portrayed by Patrick Labyorteaux, who went on to play Bud in 'JAG'). However, to the film's credit, Snyder was depicted to be genuinely cruel and threatening and the three young actors, especially the elder two, who played the brothers were not as irritating as many child actors can be.

This is an enjoyable film for kids, especially those interested in martial arts (it did influence me to take up Tae-Kwon Do as a kid!), or those who watched it as a child themselves. Unfortunately, the two sequels '3 Ninjas Kick Back' and '3 Ninjas Knuckle Up' were much cheesier and less watchable and the fourth film '3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain', filmed much later in 1998 and featuring different kids in the role of the brothers, was just so atrocious that it's better to pretend it doesn't exist.

I love this movie! Those three guys are not only great at martial arts but funny and charming actors as well. All the kids loved it when it came out and still quote lines from this 'classic.' Yes, there are borrowed ideas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Home Alone...) but who doesn't? And stunt doubles for the Grandfather, but who do you think he is, Jackie Chan? Victor Wong makes a sincere grandfather/mentor. Hey, the adult reviewers may not have enjoyed or even understood this movie, but the 'kids' that I know, did. As for the Ninjas themselves, they acted naturally and credibly. A perfect family movie.

I remember I loved this movie as 7 year old karate kid wannabe back in 92. While not as timeless as other movies in this genre such as Home Alone, it's a good, safe (for content) movie for kids to enjoy. It's no Oscar winner, but it wasn't trying to be (obviously). Yes, the dialog is stupid, the plot is amateurish, and if you're over the age of 11, you'll be unamused by most of the humor. Everyone knows that three kids outnumbered 10 to 1 by professional criminals with extensive martial arts training AND who have guns wouldn't stand a chance, but this is a kids' fantasy movie. Every little boy dreams of fighting bad guys and kicking their butts; 3 Ninjas just plays it out on screen. I find it funny that so many find THAT aspect of the movie to be its "downfall." If you're planning on having a sleepover party for you 6-10 year old son, this is a good movie for him and his friends.

Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliot Slade, and Chad Power star in this great family action film. Victor Wong stars as the grandfather who teaches his three grandchildren the art of being a ninja. Soon they're kidnapped by an old acquaintance of Grandpa's. This movie is also very funny and no doubt everyone in the family will laugh out loud. I recommend this film to anyone that likes action films mixed with humor.