captainpervert

Just when you thought the cheesy "touch me and I die" ninjas were something from your childhood, you come across this flick. When I was 10, I watched the American Ninja movies over and over again, even constructed my own ninja weapons in my dad's shed. Being 27 now, I somehow could't resist watching it. And an instant flashback it was. The wooden acting, the predictable plot, all there, and more. The editing is a bit more flashy and incorporates many closeups, but other than that, it's all the same. Perhaps a little more blood.

It's not all that bad, though, I'd day it's better than the average Seagal movie, but that's not saying much.

Bottom line: just as bad as the other ninjamovies, but ideal stuff for todays 10-year olds.

Compared to other recent Seagal films this one is OK, but it is nowhere near as good as his early movies (Under Siege, Above The Law, Hard To Kill, all of which have an honorary place in my DVD collection).

On the plus side, they don't even bother hiding the fact that Steven has become old and fat. However, he doesn't take himself too serious, by playing a down-on-his-luck drunk. The film itself is alright. Roel Reiné, the Dutch director who recently stated that his goal to make Blade Runner-like movies in the future, made the best out of it he could. He pursued Seagal to do more of his own fighting, talking and... well everything (since he has stand-ins for almost everything in other recent movies, even stepping out of a car). The plot is decent and the camera work is entertaining.

But then there's a protagonist who just doesn't want to be there. Sorry Steven, each time I try to like your films, but you just don't like making them anymore, and it shows. It is nice to see Steven do his own fighting again (or at least not with the obvious use of stunt doubles all the time), but a real comeback is still far, far away.

Although I'm not particularly into German television, this miniseries caught my attention when it was first aired in 1996. It had a lot of cliches and a strong resemblance with 1997's "Donnie Brasco".

Undercover cop infiltrates criminal organisation and then feels bad about selling out his new friends. That's basically it.

So if you like this setting and are able to get a hold of this series (that is, if you are able to receive German television, you speak German and you have the luck that it is aired again), it's well worth your time. The acting is good (the cast includes some of Germany's finest actors) and so is the plot. 7/10