Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)

best movie i've ever seen.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

If you're going to watch this for the acting, don't get your hopes too high. The acting is mediocre at best, I watched it purely for the fight scenes with being an admirer of the many varied forms of Martial Arts, also being a fan of Scott Adkins. The fight scenes are pure, there are no two ways about it, this film is all about fighting. Of course every movie needs a storyline, although I think the storyline could have been completely baseless and the action scenes would still have kicked major ass. I did however make one mistake, I watched Ninja 2 before the first movie, which I shall be rectifying tonight and I am super stoked to watch some more intense fighting scenes that make you go "Aw hell no, that SOB definitely won't be getting up after that".I'm a lover of violence & I've rated this movie 9/10.. If the acting had of been even 5% more realistic it would have got top marks!

Ninja: Shadow of a Tear continues the story of Casey Bowman (Scott Adkins), an American raised in a Japanese dojo. Since the events of the first film, Casey has settled down to run the dojo after the demise of his master. But now a new threat rears its head as his pregnant is murderer while he's out for groceries. Fueled by rage, Casey travels to Thailand in order to avenge his wife.This film works as a sequel. It continues the storyline instead of just telling the exact same story with new villains, the old cast is back and the story stays faithful to the characters. Furthermore, Adkins is still very believably in his role, both physically and mentally. The tone of the film is perhaps even darker than in the original, and it show's in Adkins' acting. His brooding and occasional bouts of rage feel justified - not just merely cheap tricks to make him seem more antiheroish - especially when his true character shines through most of the time.The action and the fight scenes are still the best part of this franchise. Adkins is a skilled martial artist and the film makers have a good eye for shooting the fights in a way that makes them seem exciting and new. There's flair to them, but no so much that it seems unrealistic.Ninja: Shadow of a Tear is easily recommended for all those that enjoyed the first film and want to see more. It's also a good martial arts action film in general.

Don't snob the movie because of the title. While I have seen my fair share of Dudikoff starring Ninja movies, I'd rather watch something like this. Scott Adkins therefor is being called the new van Damme and not Dudikoff for a reason. And while this movie does not have any big surprises in it (you will be able to know where this is going, waiting for the next action scene to start), it is highly enjoyable.Especially during the well choreographed fight scenes. Which sometimes are very long takes (no cutting away and therefor even more difficult to perform and get it right). There is also some trickery involved while shooting those scenes and if that was done on set and not afterward, the movie deserves even more respect than it already has gotten from me.

I have never been a fan of Florentine's work. But I do like Ninjas so I thought I'd give it a try. Although my expectations were not high seeing how it is a Florentine movie and a DTV release I was still underwhelmed.Despite the many things I didn't like with this film the action never left me disappointed. The choreographies were varied but still seemed to have a underlying foundation and therefore fit really well together. The cinematography and editing during the fight scenes was also to my liking. Every strike was well executed and comprehensible.Unfortunately that is about the only good thing this movie got going. I am not gonna nag about the thin plot - it's a DTV action flick what did I expect? Well, for starters I expected some darn Ninjas! But to be fair you get half a Ninja at the very end of the movie. When Adkins puts on a Ninja outfit, recites the 9 levels of power, does exactly 1 stealth kill and then starts blowing the whole place up....so much for that Ninja action promised in the title. Why not name it "Burma Knockout" or "Gaijin Revengeance" instead? You might as well...Another thing that really bugged me was the cinematography and editing outside of the fight scenes. Often times there was soft focus or very uninspired shots mixed together with some oddly paced cuts sometimes resulting in unintentionally funny moments.Though I won't critique the plot i will criticize the characters and their motives. I mean, I want to see Adkins beat up a bunch of Asian guys as much as everybody else but I find it a little unjustified to mow down a whole bar just because one a**hole made you spill your beer. Also the film had seemed to get this weird message across that revenge can get you happiness and inner peace...they never say it out loud but it is always kind of there.Looking at the other reviews and the 6+ rating it makes me wonder if I maybe have watched a different movie. Of course the action is superb but nothing more - not the best. And besides that the movie has nothing more to offer. Not to mention that it barely even delivers what the title promisesHence my rating: 3/10 3 stars entirely for the very well executed and very well captured action.