From even the most generous of viewpoints, Ninja III: The Domination is an objectively terrible film, filled as it is with poorly performed stunts, choppy editing, indifferent direction, cheap-ass special effects, bland cinematography, lazy scripting and a range of truly lamentable performances.
No rational critic on the planet would be bold enough to suggest that it is anything other than a blatantly transparent ’80s attempt to combine the popularity of The Exorcist, Enter the Ninja and Flashdance into a blandly inoffensive package that is just watered down enough to work for kids, while also satisfying moronic adults on the lookout for an impressive body count.
Thankfully, I am not a rational critic. Ninja III: The Domination happens to star Lucinda Dickey, the iconic star of Breakin’ and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, which is more than enough to compel me to watch it every chance I get.
How could I not? It’s a blatantly transparent ’80s attempt to combine the popularity of The Exorcist, Enter the Ninja and Flashdance! It don’t get any better than that!
Dickey plays Christine, a California linewoman/aerobics instructor who becomes possessed by the vengeful spirit of a Japanese ninja assassin who was killed in a truly ridiculous hail of police gunfire. Under the spirit’s control, Christine begins to stalk and kill the cops involved in the shooting, until Sho Kosugi arrives to drive the spirit out of her and battle the resurrected ninja one on one, because, “Only ninja can kill ninja!”
Awesomeness. —Allan Mott
Sold! Nice review!
I’ve been wanting to see this forever. This came out during that awkward time before I had a job or a driver’s license and, thus, couldn’t go see all the movies I wanted to. I remember flipping through the daily newspaper every Friday, particularly in the summer months, drooling over all the ads for B product like this and other Cannon Films releases.
Naturally, my mother would never drive me to the theater to see such things. For some reason, she approved of MEATBALLS II.
Of course she approved of MEATBALLS II! It had that nice Richard Mulligan in it!
Sadly NINJA III is still (criminally) unavailable on Region 1 DVD, but it IS available to all of us who own a PS3, courtesy of their online network.
Hey im from Trinidad in the caribbean and i saw that movie longggggggg time ago. would love to get it on DVD. i didnt even remember the name, all i could have remembered was “only a ninja can destroy a ninja” lol. and i googled it and found it. i dont think it was all that bad but then again ican bearly remember the entire movie. if anyone as a copy email me @ choyfelix@hotmial.com