Ninja III: The Domination (1984)

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Kelly from Breakin' has changed her name and by doing this has been possessed by the evil spirit of a dying ninja. At first, changes in her behaviour is limited to having strange interactions with an arcade game, doing strange, erotic things with V8 juice, and being attracted to the hairiest guy this side of Alec Baldwin. But soon enough, she's killing the officers responsible for the ninja's death, and can only be stopped by another ninja.........The Cannon Group. That company would either make you jump for joy or shudder in fear when you sit down to watch a movie and see their logo appear pre-credits. Luckily I'm in the former, because I know the excellent cheese that they can produce, and here, it's one of the most pungent cheese-feasts I've seen from their studios.So it's the third in their Ninja series of films, all unrelated in both story and narrative, but they do have the word Ninja in the title. But I'd also subliminally class it as an unofficial three-quel to Breakin', because Dickey is literally playing the same character.But what do the makers do to make this stand out from all the other Ninja based films released around this time? Why, they cross the Ninja movie with The Exorcist.......So, not only do we have your usual slew of throwing stars finding their way into hench mans faces, we ha a prolonged sequence of Dickey being possessed, and with no disrespect to the film, it's hilarious. From spinning her full body around and around, and blurting out incomprehensible nonsense, it really does make the film standout, for all the wrong reasons of course, but in essence, it's a wonderful concept.Dickey for some reason, has always been a sort of screen presence, but here the focus is on her, rather than a dance style, and she handles her scenes pretty well, despite the things the script gets her to do (you'll never see vegetable juice in the same light again), she's watchable enough, even if her acting is a little questionable.Sho Kosugi comes in halfway through the film to try and give the audience sense of the uneven narrative, and gives us all the exposition to makes us give the possession lark the benefit of the doubt.The fight choreography is a little stodgy and lethargic, but if you've seen the other two ninja films, you'll forgive its shortcomings. Side characters are hilarious, and the love interest would put Chewbacca to shame on the hair level.All in all, it's a must for anyone who likes The Cannon Group, as this has to be one of their most bonkers movies ever made, and it's all the better for it.Plus it's the best film ever made about an attempted sexual assault by five men in broad daylight, where there is a group of people looking on, and ones a police officer!!!Luckily though the potential victims is Dickey, and she's possessed!Essential cheese

"Ninja III: The Domination" is energetic, sometimes priceless popcorn fodder from those reliable folk at the Cannon Group, producers and distributors of so many irresistible B movies of the 1980s. An in-name-only sequel to "Enter the Ninja" and "Revenge of the Ninja" (all the three movies really have in common is star Sho Kosugi) with its own stand alone story, it functions as a martial arts / "Exorcist" mash-up as an evil "black ninja" assassin (David Chung) slaughters some people on a golf course and then leads the police on a chase. Eventually, he's pumped full of bullets, but he has enough life left in him to stumble his way to a young woman, Christie (Lucinda Dickey of the "Breakin'" movies) and then transfer his spirit to her body. He then periodically takes control of her in order to avenge himself on the cops who shot him, while a good ninja (Mr. Kosugi) is sent from Japan to take care of the situation.Director Sam Firstenberg, a regular in Cannon Group productions (his other credits including "American Ninja" and "Avenging Force"), really seems to be having fun with the melding of genres here, and this movie sizes up as *very* cheesy and *very* funny entertainment that scarcely takes a breath. Its opening 17 minutes surely has to rank as one of the best ever openings for a cult film. There's plenty of action to enjoy; Dickey looks great in and out of ninja costume even if she is doubled by stunt men for the majority of the action sequences. Mr. Kosugi is in extremely fine form, especially for the final showdown with the black ninja at the movies' conclusion. Jordan Bennett, as a cop who becomes Christies' love interest, is annoying for a while but he does eventually grow on you. Also among the cast is the incredibly prolific and always wonderful character actor James Hong, playing a Japanese spiritualist. The horror parts of this movie are never exactly scary, but that's part of the clunky charm of this thing, which does feature one of the oddest bits of product placement ever seen in cinema.Bottom line: this is solid no-brainer escapism. If you're ready to just kick back and put your brain in neutral, the laughs and thrills are enough to keep you satisfied for 94 straight minutes.Eight out of 10.

Christie (Dickey) is just going about her day as a worker for Metro Telephone when a dying ninja bestows upon her a magical sword. Suddenly, Christie starts acting very weird and ninja-y, which concerns her new boyfriend, police officer and body hair enthusiast Billy Secord (Bennett). As it turns out, the spirit of the ninja has inhabited Christie's body, and is now attempting to get revenge on the group of cops that murdered him. Now officially a were-ninja, Christie is taken by Billy to a ninja exorcist, or "Nexorcist" as they are known in the biz, Miyashima (Hong). When the ninja's old rival, Yamada (Kosugi) shows up, things get really complicated. Will the lovely Christie ever be the same again? Or will her closet be forever filled with black outfits and her purse filled with throwing stars? Yes, the above description is entirely accurate and is a real movie. Needless to say, we loved it and you gotta see it! This is a Cannon production directed by Cannon mainstay Sam Firstenberg, who that same year would also direct Lucinda Dickey in Breakin' 2 (1984). And in 1983, he directed Revenge of the Ninja (1983). Interestingly, though this movie is called Ninja 3, technically this is the third in a trilogy: Enter the Ninja (1981), Revenge of the Ninja, and this - even though none of these movies were ever called, simply, "Ninja". Regardless, Ninja III is interesting, entertaining, and certainly never boring.The movie is filled with 80's genius: great outfits, makeup and hair, Christie has an arcade game called Bouncer in her apartment, and in her spare time does aerobics on shag carpeting. Musicians Harpaz and Segal are credited not with just a score, but a "synth score"! It's all just awesome. And adding to all the ninja action, stunts and inventiveness, the filmmakers added some horror elements inspired by the Nightmare on Elm Street Series, the Exorcist series and even Ghostbusters. They were obviously unafraid to bend the rules of the ninja movie and crossed genres. The result is a completely fresh take on the ninja boom movie which is a joy to watch.Right from the get-go, when the ninja finds some ninja gear in a glowing box in a cave near a golf course, you know something great is about to happen. And once the "golf cops" show up - watch out! And we didn't even really talk about the great Sho Kosugi - but he's present and accounted for, and does his usual great job.Filled with cool moments, there's so much to love about Ninja III. And you'll never look at V8 juice quite the same way again. In a good way.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Ninja III: The Domination was one of those 80s movies that were always on TV, and were pure entertainment. Nobody knew why it was called "Ninja 3" and no one really cares about it. This 80s Cannon Films were great, no doubt about that. The plot: a near-immortal black ninja posses a beautiful babe to make her commit revenge against the cops that kill him. Thats basically the story of this gem.The first action sequence of the movie is amazing, pure action, lots of ninja action and gunshots with cool and absolutely dated synthesizer movie (i love this music in this 80s films). No logic, lots of plot holes this is a no-brainier that its very enjoyable7/10