THREE NINJAS

US, 1992, 84 minutes. Colour.
Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power, Rand Kingsley.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Three Ninjas is designed for entertaining young audiences, especially boys who are interested in martial arts (not excluding girls). It came out in the early 90s, at the time of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It also relies on such films about boys and their adventures as The Explorers, The Goonies – and the Home Alone series.

The film is about an FBI officer who has three children, Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum (meaningful names given to them by their grandfather). Grandfather lives in Japan and the boys go each year to visit him where he instructs them in martial arts.

The adventure side of the film has the boys being kidnapped by a criminal, getting his comeuppance as the boys put their skills into practice – and Grandfather comes to the rescue.

Victor Wong is a genial figure and has appeared in many films, often in rather grandfatherly roles.

The film is interesting for the career of its director, Jon Turteltaub who went on to make While You Were Sleeping and Phenomenon a few years later and then moved into bigger-budget films, especially with the National Treasure series.

1. A film for a young audience? Adults? Homes, children, martial arts?

2. The city, the locations, the action, the stunts, the musical score?

3. The title, the role of Ninjas in Japanese history? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

4. The characters of the boys, their father, their mother, the background, their grandfather? The holidays, their training, their devotion to their grandfather, developing skills? Showing their skills for visitors?

5. The character of the grandfather, Japan, his skill in training, a nice man, visitors, the past?

6. The father, his role as an FBI agent, the relationship with Snyder? Cover, bonfire, the kids?

7. The boys and Snyder, at home, the babysitter, school and Emily?

8. The thugs hired by Snyder, their foolishness, dim-witted, together, the robbery, the phone call, messing up?

9. The kidnapping, the role of Emily?

10. Their doubting their grandfather, his coming to the rescue?

11. The shrewd boys, the phone call, the escape? The fight and using all the skills?

12. The father, his decision? The happy ending and the moral?