Review of Ninja III: The Domination (1984) by James O — 07 Jul 2011

Don't you just hate it when you're out golfing, minding your own business, when suddenly, a ninja comes out of nowhere and starts killing everyone around you before eventually dispatching you? Then the cops come and after killing several cops, they blow the ninja to kingdom come, but not before he transfers his soul into the body of a telephone repair-woman/aerobics instructor? Well, that's just the opening of this incredible ninja epic.

It stars the always awesome Sho Kosugi as the good ninja, and Lucinda Dickey as Christie, the possessed aerobics instructor. The martial arts fights are all incredibly well choreographed, but the scenes between the fights kind of drag in places.

This being the third in the "ninja" trilogy starring Sho Kosugi (the others being Enter the Ninja and Revenge of the Ninja), they had to come up with some idea to set this apart from other ninja movies, so why not mix a ninja movie with The Exorcist? There's a great scene at a Japanese spiritualist's place where we find out Christie is possessed by the Black Ninja, and only a good ninja (Sho Kosugi) and stop the evil spirit.

Dickey really astonished me with how amazing she could act possessed. The final battle was an epic showdown that lasted a full 12 minutes! I don't know anyone who doesn't like ninjas, and if you like ninjas you'll like this movie a lot.