It’s the turn of American audiences to get the American Ninja series on blu-ray – now packed with an assortment of behind-the-scenes featurettes about the classic 80s releases…
For 2000 years the sacred art of the Ninja has been guarded in the East, Now it has come to the West! August 2016 will see Cannon Films‘ American Ninja series hit Blu-ray in North America courtesy of Olive Films. The first three films were given a UK Blu-ray release a while ago, but Olive Films is giving the four American Ninja movies a solid and most deserving shiny disc release: American Ninja 1 and 2 starring Michael Dudikoff and Steve James, American Ninja 3 with David Bradley and Steve James, and American Ninja 4 which teamed Bradley with a returning Dudikoff. And they’ve assembled a solid set of special features for the releases…
American Ninja
Audio Commentary with director Sam Firstenberg
“A Rumble in The Jungle” – The Making of American Ninja: Featuring interviews with director Sam Firstenberg, actors Michael Dudikoff and Judie Aronson, Screenwriter Paul De Mielche and Stunt
Co-ordinator Steve Lambert.
Theatrical Trailer
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
Audio Commentary with director Sam Firstenberg
“An American Ninja in Cape Town” – The Making of American Ninja 2: Featuring interviews with Director Sam Firstenberg, actors Michael Dudikoff and Gary Conway, Executive Producer Avi Lerner and Stunt Co-ordinator BJ Davis.
Theatrical Trailer
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt
“Strike Me Deadly” – The Making of American Ninja 3: Featuring interviews with Director Cedric Sundstrom, Executive Producer Avi Lerner and actor Gary Conway
David Bradley Audition Tape
Theatrical Trailer
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation
“Last Tango in Lesotho” – The Making of American Ninja 4: Featuring interviews with Director Cedric Sundstrom, Executive Producer Avi Lerner and actor Michael Dudikoff
“The Cobra Strikes” Music Video
Theatrical Trailer
That’s a great set of special features with the first two films also getting audio commentaries from director Sam Firstenberg, plus ‘Making of…’ for all four… and it will be very interesting to see David Bradley’s audition tape and how he secured the role…
We’re happy to see that American Ninja 5 is not being included. While we’re fans of James Lew who plays the villain (and it was great to see Tadashi Yamashita back in action, this time as Bradley’s teacher, Bradley also playing a totally new character) the film’s approach to the subject matter makes Three Ninjas at Mega Mountain look like Citizen Kane, and closed the door very ungracefully on the American Ninja franchise.
But of course if the new Cannon Films get their way, both Bradley and Dudikoff will be returning to the world of the Ninja in American Ninja Apprentice.
