Alien vs. Ninja takes us on the journey of a young, fearless, and often over-ambitious warrior by the name of Yamata (Masanori Mimoto). Yamata was orphaned as a child and has always felt like an outsider in his own village. Nevertheless he has proven himself as the greatest ninja in all of Asia. During a brutal battle with neighboring ninjas Yamata and his companions Shuji Kashiwabara and Donpei Tsuchihira see a flying ball of fire fall from the sky. Upon the Masters request the three warriors seek out this source of the fireball, hoping to protect the village from whatever dangers lie ahead.
While searching for the fireball, they meet up with another group of ninjas. This group includes Rin (Mika Hijii), the only female ninja and Yamata’s romantic interest. As the groups discuss the fireball they are ambushed by a pack of ruthless, blood-thirsty aliens. Several ninja’s are slaughtered and Yamata and his fellow men can do little to prevent the onslaught. The only ninjas that survive this battle are Yamata, his two companions, and Rin. What follows is a quest to save the village and avenge their fallen ninjas.
Alien vs. Ninja is equipped with a ridiculous plot that is often so cliche it hurts. However, the comedic undertones serve as a clear declaration that this film is not taking itself too seriously. The almost comical action sequences and witty pseudo-sexual innuendo make for an incredibly entertaining viewing experience. What the film lacks in structure, composition, and artistic integrity it makes up for with exciting fight sequences, Western-style horror, and comedic relief.
I was especially impressed with Masanori Mimoto’s acting abilities. I thought he contributed a powerful yet charming leading performance, which lent well to the film as a whole. Mika Hijii’s provided a domineering and sexy performance that gave the film another layer in term of character development. Ultimately this was an enjoyable film that was saved by its’ actors.
In this turbulent time in Hollywood can Asian actors make as smooth transition into Western cinema?