Ninja Assassin (James McTeigue, 2009)

If there is one thing that James McTeigue has accomplished with Ninja Assassin, his third outing as a director (though he has served as an Assistant Director on many films), it is that he has a deliciously alluring knack for orchestrating slick, hyper-stylized visual elements - particularly action sequences. That is essentially what Ninja Assassin is - pure style over substance. There is a plot, or at least there is the absolute slightest foundation for one, told mostly through flashbacks of opportunity. However, the plot is not what draws one to see this film, and McTeigue knows this fact all too well. The script serves only as a bridge to cross the gaps between scenes of brutal, frenzied bloodbaths in which the protagonist, Raizou, slaughters countless evil doers (predominately other ninjas from the clan he once belonged to). Just like most other films featuring a rogue badass taking on absurd odds in every other scene, none of the other ninjas can seem to take Raizou down, despite the fact that they attack in ridiculous numbers and have undergone the same rigorous training.

Though preposterous, Raizou's godlike abilities do make for one hell of a fun time. McTeigue maintains control throughout each fight sequences, meticulously blending fluid choreography and CGI effects (specifically blood - of which there is an ample amount) to create visually appealing (if not occasionally disgusting) scenarios that are truly a spectacle to behold - especially in the final scenes of the film. The final battle between Raizou and his former master stands out among the rest, as McTeigue beautifully renders the action inside a burning temple, capturing an immensely entertaining duel that unfolds amid flames, cinders, and ashes that majestically share the frame with the two combatants. This climactic bout provides as much closure as the narrative requires in its extremely limited scope, and leaves the viewer with something bordering on breathtaking, if only for the pleasure it brings to the eyes.

So, is Ninja Assassin a good film? Hardly. It is merely an acceptable offering aimed at those thirsting for action, which has been provided in copious amounts all throughout the summer by a tidal wave of blockbusters - most of which ranged from mediocre to downright awful. This film finds its place somewhere in between. Given that McTeigue was the director of V for Vendetta, a directorial debut I would go so far as to call a masterpiece of cinema (it is my favorite film, after all), his latest effort (which is his second credited as director, though was hired to direct some additional scenes for the 2007 remake of The Invasion when the studio was unsatisfied with the original cut [according to IMDb]) is all the more disappointing. However, his visual flair (which took flight with V for Vendetta) is unique and promising - he just needs to focus on having it grounded in more solid narratives.

Basically, Ninja Assassin is little more than a flashy action film that substitutes a gripping, coherent narrative for an overly violent, lush and exquisitely exaggerated style. This is not particularly a problem, though, if one has the right expectations. After all, the movie is titled "Ninja Assassin." Keeping that fact alone in mind, McTeigue delivers what one should anticipate in such a film, and nothing more.