Not so Serious Movie Review: Shinobi 4 - A Way Out

 

The final chapter of the epic Shinobi saga. When we left our heroes, Kagerou and Aoi, they were running through the woods of Japan otherwise known as the Kingdom of Aiga. They were Shinobi on the run. Aoi was poisoned, and Kagerou was forced to work with a two-faced shinobi who might be their friend, or he might be working for the local tribal strongman. In Shinobi 3, we were also introduced to power hungry warlords because Aiga is in the middle of a civil war, in case you didn't hear the same introduction that plays in the opening of each movie.

To be honest, Shinobi 4 is the best of the series. Things actually happen in this movie. Some things make sense. Some don't. Of course, there is running through the woods. There are also plenty of random ninjas and sword swinging. And in a case of lack of imagination, they bring back the crazed Kagerou-hating madman from Shinobi 2. His reappearance is an extreme stretch in what is an entire saga of reality stretching.

But whereas Shinobi 2 and Shinobi 3 were filler following the Shinobi 1 introduction of story, Shinobi 4 brings the story to an emotional ending. After watching over six hours of Kagerou and Aoi running through the woods, I grew attached to them. I wanted them to find a way out and escape the drama, trials, and tribulations of shinobi life.

I will say, Shinobi 4 hit me in the feels. It had the same B-level dialog, effects, and plot, but I felt for the characters. I wouldn't recommend any of these movies to anyone unless you are a martial arts movie fan or a glutton for bad movies (I happen to be both.). But out of all the Shinobi flick, Shinobi 4 found the way to my heart.

Grade: 3 sad shinobis out of 5

Not so Serious Movie Review: Shinobi 3 - Hidden Techniques

 

Yet again we find ourselves in the woods of maybe feudal Japan in the land of Iga, home of the Shinobi. Yet again, we find Kagerou and Aoi running through the woods. Yet again, there are bad guys trying to kill them. Yet again, there is awkward narration and low budget aesthetic.

In Shinobi 3 we see more of Kagerou's friend and his attempts to help Kagerou and Aoi run through the woods. But is he friend or foe? This chapter of the saga introduces higher level bosses into the story. We knew Rokoku, the chieftain of Kagerou and Aoi's former village, the guy who set Kagerou up for murdering his mentor, but now we met the bigger bad, a robed guy with a big stick. He wants to take over the entire region of Iga. Did I mention it was a time of civil war? The narrator says that before each movie.

Whereas Shinobi 2 had a crazy Kagerou-hating guy who fought Kagerou in the final battle, this movie features two Shinobi hunters, Steel Fist and Cape Man. That's not their names, but they are kinda irrelevant outside of their fighting scenes so that's what I am calling them. Steel Fist is the more vocal of the two, but he is angry at the world. He and Cape Man are employed to hunt Kagerou and Aoi. Cape Man has the magical power to disappear and reappear. He also fights with his cape and poisonous feathers, which was kinda unique. Kudos to the fight between Kagerou and Cape Man, although the conclusion was awkward.

Speaking of poison, the movie ends with Aoi poisoned and captured. Kagerou leaves her in the woods, sitting under a tree while he runs to a nearby village for a plant that can cure the poison. Of course he knows exactly where he left her and exactly how far the village is. But why would you leave your friend under a tree for 24 hours while she is suffering from poison and every bad guy in the movie is out to get both of you?

Of course she gets captured. Although I don't know how she got found. What if she died from the poison under the tree? Or was attacked by a bear?

Which leads me to my biggest question. I've watched three of the four Shinobi movies at this point and my biggest question is how do the characters always know where the other characters are? We see Kagerou and Aoi running through the woods attempting to flee their village. They run for days. Yet the bad guys and allies know exactly where they are and find them with no problem. Even spying ninjas have no problem keeping their eyes and ears on the two runaways. Kagerou and Aoi are like kids who run away in their fenced backyard. No matter how much they run in the backyard, they are still in the backyard. It's like Kagerou and Aoi have a GPS in their pants and everyone is tracking them. Or they are the world's worst runaways.

What will happen in Shinobi 4? Will there be more running through the woods? Will Kagerou and Aoi live happily every after? Will Kagerou free her and will they ever find their freedom?

I care too much for this low budget saga. But alas, it is still not recommended.

2 Running Shinobis out of 5

Check out LoveHKFilms.com review on Shinobi 3: Runaways here. They didn't like either, but I don't they were as invested in the saga.