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Category:    Home > Reviews > Comedy > Martial Arts > Tongan Ninja

Tongan Ninja

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Main Program: C+

 

 

In one of the recent films that has made a rise in New Zealand film production possible, Jason Stutter’s Tongan Ninja (2002) combines spoofing latter-day martial arts films with any pop culture it can throw in, even if it is a very belated send-up of the New Wave band M’s video for Pop Music as a song called “chop suey” with its own choreography.  Despite characters called Gun Man, Knife Man and Action Fighter, this is no Kentucky Fried Movie or Loose Shoes.

 

What there is of a narrative takes whatever shots at the genre it can, but the genre was so played out by 2002 that this as late as Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs (1987) was to the original Star Wars films.  Too bad, but since New Zealand has not had this kind of film or material much, everything seems new to the performers, who save this from total disaster.  It has a few smile-making moments, but this is otherwise strictly for fans only, something Anchor Bay is aware of, so it should do well as another cult item on DVD.  For non-fans, a little will go a long way.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot on video, but a good job was done to do the transfer here and was made in conjunction with Showtime Australia.  Since it is still a silly pastiche, they can get away with much of this.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some Pro Logic surround information and is the strongest point of the DVD by default.  The original soundtrack was Dolby 5.1 EX, so why a 5.1 Dolby & DTS option does not exist is odd, especially for Anchor Bay.  Extras include a making of program with Peter Jackson showing up, deleted scenes, two commentaries TV spots and teaser trailer and theatrical trailer.  That will satisfy those who enjoy this.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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