Ray Choon
Though it’d be rather difficult to picture singer and K-pop sensation Rain (Jung Ji-Hoon) attempt a serious acting role in a Hollywood film, you’ll be astounded by his surprising transformation from pop star to genuine action hero in his third film, Ninja Assassin.
In this movie, he plays Raizo, one of the world’s deadliest assassins, who was brought up and trained by the Ozunu Clan, that he intends to destroy in order to regain his freedom. The clan consists of other assassins who share the similar fate as him, kidnapped during childhood, and raised in Spartan, soul-wrecking conditions in order to train their assassination skills.
The flashbacks that occur throughout the movie allow you to follow the growth of Raizo, from an abandoned orphan to the finest assassin of his clan. Director James McTeigue spared nothing, showing Raizo’s harsh upbringing in painful detail, from various punishments bordering on torture to the austere lifestyle that “kills one’s heart”.
His “Father”, Lord Ozunu, (Sho Kogusi) is illustrated as a grim, merciless mentor who brainwashes his students into becoming emotionless killing machines. His motto, “the strong survive”, leads Raizo to pit himself against his fellow “brothers and sisters” in numerous battles.
Things eventually start to change when one of his friends get executed by the clan. This is when the whole direction of the movie transitions in sync with Raizo’s plot of taking vengeance.
Overall, moviegoers have to bear in mind that this is an action flick, and thus should expect extremely bloody scenes bordering on gore. While the plot and ending may seem somewhat predictable, it still manages to live up to what an action movie should ideally be by emphasising on the fighting scenes. Hence, escalating the movie towards a surprising and satisfying climax.
Do catch it for the amazing action sequences if not for anything else. And for all the Rain fans out there, this can’t be missed. The director must’ve been thinking of the fans — Rain is shirtless more than half the time.
It really was impressive to see Rain in an action film, not because of his ripped muscles but the way he could carry the role very naturally. Well, it’s no surprise after his aggressive 8 months of training that not only allowed him to fit the role comfortably, but also made him achieve zero body fat!
Fans of recently K-pop boy band formed by Rain himself, MBLAQ, will be pleasantly surprised to catch suave group member Lee Chang Sun, also known as Joon, acting the part of young Raizo in place of Rain.
Strangely enough, both Rain and “Joon” do look like brothers. And since the movie consists of quite a number of flashbacks, fans will be glad to know that “Joon” appears almost as much as Rain. Definitely making it a visual feast for all the fans out there.
But please do remember to not watch the men for their well-toned bodies only, but also to appreciate and observe Rain’s achievement for climbing the next milestone in his career.
Overall, UrbanWire give Ninja Assassin 4 stars!
For StarHub TV users, tune in to VIP Access this Nov 29 at 8.30pm on Channel 58 STAR MOVIES, where host Dominic Lau presents the ultimate backstage pass to Ninja Assassin, the action-packed martial arts extravaganza featuring Korean pop superstar Rain(Speed Racer).
VIP ACCESS
VIP Access is the ultimate backstage pass to the latest blockbusters from Hollywood and Asia. Every episode features exclusive movie footage, behind-the-scenes action and celebrity interviews with LA-based film correspondent Stevie Wong. Presented by Dominic Lau, VIP Access provides coverage from the premieres in Asia and US and reviews of new releases.
Viewers can keep up to date with movie news 24/7 by logging on to http://www.startv.com/vipaccess and check out Stevie’s blog, which gives the lowdown on movie news and gossip.
Opens: Nov 26 (Singapore)
Duration: 99 min
Language: English
Rating: M18
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Rain, Ben Miles, Naomie Harris, Sho Kosugi