American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987)

the audience applauded

Highly Overrated But Still Good

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This 1987 sequel to the 1985 "American Ninja" movie is essentially the same as the first movie, just with a different villain and location. But the rest of the story and movie was pretty much the same.So is that a good thing or a bad thing? Well, that depends on if you liked the first movie or not. If you did like it, then you will like part two as well. And if you didn't like part one, then you will not like part two either.Again, you got all the campy ingredients; cheesy storyline, generic characters, stereotypical villain, worthless henchmen, wonderful dialogue (you see the irony here, right?), action, martial arts, explosions and, of course, ninjas! Lots and lots of ninjas.The acting was every bit as strained and wooden as in part one, but isn't that just part of the charm of these movies? One of my favorite things in "American Ninja 2: The Confrontation" was this particular piece of dialogue delivered by the commanding officer who requested the help of the US rangers: "I don't know who you are, what you are, or why you are here". Wait, what? Didn't he himself request the help?Story-wise, well with little deviation from part one, it is about American ninja Joe Armstrong who is on a Caribbean island to solve the mysterious disappearances of US marine personnel, when he is confronted by a ninja syndicate.While not a masterpiece, "American Ninja 2: The Confrontation" is as enjoyable as the previous movie. Equally campy, cheesy and requires little brain activity from the audience.

Sequel to the "classic" American Ninja sees Michael Dudikoff and Steve James tackling a villain named The Lion. The Lion has an army of super ninjas. This would terrify most mortals but not the American Ninja! Not as much fun as the original but still good for some laughs and fist pumps. Dudikoff acts his best, which usually means squinting a lot and looking as though he's trying to figure out complex math equations. James outshines him in this one. He knows he's in crap and has a great deal of fun with it. As with the first movie, it's very low-budget and proudly wears a badge of inauthenticity surrounding anything military or martial arts related.

Joe Armstrong (the likable Michael Dudikoff) and Curtis Jackson (the equally engaging Steve James) battle a legion of genetically engineered ninja assassins on a Caribbean island. Director Sam Firstenberg, working from a blithely inane script by Gary Conway and James Booth, relates the delightfully ludicrous story at a swift pace, makes the most out of the exotic locale, and stages the wall-to-wall action set pieces with rip-roaring brio. James and Dudikoff make for a charming duo, Conway snarls it up with wicked aplomb as nefarious drug lord Leo "The Lion" Burke, and the fetching Michelle Botes provides plenty of spark (and tasty eye candy) as the foxy'n'feisty Alicia Sanborn. Moreover, the gut-busting array of hopelessly incompetent ninjas (they run around in broad daylight clad in hilariously conspicuous black garb!), continuity gaffes galore, and an inspired sense of giddy absurdity further enhance the infectiously campy merriment. Gideon Porath's slick score gives the picture a pleasing glossy look. George S. Clinton's bouncy score hits the stirring spot. Good cheesy fun.

Here's another great martial arts action film. Prior to the first AN, American Ninja 2, provide lots of action and suspense just like the first one. This time taking on "superninjas" they weren't so super to me there. Both Armstrong and Jackson(Michael Dudikoff and Steve James) were always on top of things. The Marines weren't so warm to the Army Rangers at first, but when it was getting the job done Armstrong and Jackson don't play around. Armstrong was all techniques, Jackson was all power, that's why he is later named "Powerhouse" Jackson. He was the martial artist with attitude. Especially when he stomped on the ninja and he said, "STAY DOWN!" You don't play with Powerhouse Jackson. The outside fight scene with Joe and the ninjas were memorable as well. I liked the part where Joe catches the dart with his hand and took out that ninja with the shuriken(throwing star). These characters were outrageous, they'll make any brawler run home to mama. This movie is just as good as first, however it does have more action though, which I like the best. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.