THREE NINJAS
US, 1992, 84 minutes, Colour.
Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliot Slade, Chad Power.
Directed by John Turtletaub.
Three Ninjas is a Hollywood- Asian co-production, designed for younger boys. Three Ninjas focuses on a Japanese grandfather, his three American grandchildren, their Secret Service father and is involvement with a drug dealer who used to be a partner with the grandfather. The grandfather trains his grandsons in the martial arts, giving them new names. Their father is too busy to pay them attention. However, the drug dealer tries to abduct them (with two ineffective Bill and Ted surfies) but eventually takes them hostage. They use their wits to escape and there is a final confrontation between the grandfather and the drug dealer. The plot is familiar - but is geared for the younger audience, indicating that martial arts should be a matter of control and be used as a weapon in the fight against evil rather than as a weapon against others.
1.The popularity of the film? With younger boys? Family audiences?
2.The American settings, the grandfather's home, the city and the ship, offices? The musical score?
3.The title, audience expectations of Ninja martial arts? The focus on the boys?
4.Sam, Jeff and Michael, their age, their experience, their holiday with their grandfather, learning the art of combat, self-defence - and their new names: Rocky, Colt and Tumtum?
5.Sam, the FBI agent, the attempt to capture the arms dealer Snyder, the boat, the blowing of the cover, the failure of the attempt?
6.Sam's being too busy to care for his sons? Their relationship with him? With their mother? The boys trying to interest their father in their change and their names?
7.Snyder, arms, customers, henchmen? His assistant hiring the two surfies - inept, their patter, the comedy of their attempts to kidnap the brothers?
8.Kidnappers, taking the boys, holding them hostage? The reaction of the boys - overcoming the surfies? In the warship?
9.The message to Emily, her getting the information to Grandpa? Their going to the ship?
10.Sam and the agents, his dealing with the boys, their escape, Grandpa - and the confrontation?
11.The arrival of the FBI in time, the contribution by the boys, the agents? Saving Grandpa? And Sam finally promising to spend more time with his sons?
