cityonfire.com | Ninja in the Deadly Trap

	Ninja in the Deadly Trap "Ninja in the Deadly Trap is his (Philip Kwok) one and only directorial effort; a pity, but at least he can say he never directed a bad movie." - Numskull Ninja in the Deadly Trap (1985) AKA: Ninja's Deadly Trap, Ninja in a Deadly Trap, Hero Defeating Japs, Ninjutsu, Ninja Kung Fu, Ruthless Tactics Director: Guo Juei (Philip Kwok) Producer: Wu Duen, Chang Cheh Writer: Shun Sai Sing Cast: Ti Lung, Guo Juei (Philip Kwok), Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Tsang Tyan (Yasuaki Kurata), Wang Sheau-Chyr, Chung Chuen Yung, Yue Chun Sin, Fuk Tin Ching, Fuk Tin Mu, Chang Pang, July Chu Running Time: 92 min. Plot: A Chinese general becomes the target of ninja assassins, and his son recruits three men with ninja training to foil their efforts. Availability: This title is available at HKflix.com Reviews NUMSULL'S REVIEW: Philip Kwok (aka Guo Juei, aka Kuo Choi) pulls triple duty as director, actor, and martial arts choreographer in this better-than-average chop socky produced by "Venoms" daddy Chang Cheh. General Chi (Ti Lung) and his troops are making life difficult for the Japanese bandits terrorizing the countryside, so their boss (Yasuaki Kurata) tries to have him assassinated. And who better to assassinate someone constantly surrounded by armed guards than a stealthy, sneaky team of ninjas clad in garishly colored costumes? Green, blue, yellow...when these ninjas are clustered together, they look like a handful of Lucky Charms marshmallows. General Chi's son goes off to find an old hermit who has spent time in Japan and knows some of the ninjas' tricks. After receiving the young man he reveals to him that he taught three different styles of fighting to three different disciples who never met one another...an element lifted from "Five Deadly Venoms", presumably with Chang Cheh's blessing. The first possesses extraordinary jumping and climbing abilities, the second is a master blacksmith and sword fighter, and the third specializes in unarmed combat and sleight of hand. Young Master Chi sets out to recruit these men and arranges jobs for them in his father's home so they can expose and foil any assassination attempts made. And that they do; the movie eventually becomes a series of battles against the evil ninjas until they and their leader are put down for good. Oh, there's plot development here and there, but Kwok doesn't allow the film to coast in first gear for very long. The narrative is a little bit disjointed at times, and there's a very thin subplot about a female would-be assassin that seems to have been added merely to increase the film's length. But what the hell, at least we got an OK fight scene out of it. Most of the others are better, though. The talent for choreography that has served Kwok in good stead for quite a few years is displayed well here. Ninja in the Deadly Trap is his one and only directorial effort; a pity, but at least he can say he never directed a bad movie. NUMSULL'S RATING: 7/10

Ninja in the Deadly Trap

"Ninja in the Deadly Trap is his (Philip Kwok) one and only directorial effort; a pity, but at least he can say he never directed a bad movie."

- Numskull

Ninja in the Deadly Trap (1985)

AKA: Ninja's Deadly Trap, Ninja in a Deadly Trap, Hero Defeating Japs, Ninjutsu, Ninja Kung Fu, Ruthless Tactics

Director: Guo Juei (Philip Kwok)

Producer: Wu Duen, Chang Cheh

Writer: Shun Sai Sing

Cast: Ti Lung, Guo Juei (Philip Kwok), Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Tsang Tyan (Yasuaki Kurata), Wang Sheau-Chyr, Chung Chuen Yung, Yue Chun Sin, Fuk Tin Ching, Fuk Tin Mu, Chang Pang, July Chu

Running Time: 92 min.

Plot: A Chinese general becomes the target of ninja assassins, and his son recruits three men with ninja training to foil their efforts.

Availability: This title is available at HKflix.com

Reviews

NUMSULL'S REVIEW: Philip Kwok (aka Guo Juei, aka Kuo Choi) pulls triple duty as director, actor, and martial arts choreographer in this better-than-average chop socky produced by "Venoms" daddy Chang Cheh. General Chi (Ti Lung) and his troops are making life difficult for the Japanese bandits terrorizing the countryside, so their boss (Yasuaki Kurata) tries to have him assassinated. And who better to assassinate someone constantly surrounded by armed guards than a stealthy, sneaky team of ninjas clad in garishly colored costumes? Green, blue, yellow...when these ninjas are clustered together, they look like a handful of Lucky Charms marshmallows.

General Chi's son goes off to find an old hermit who has spent time in Japan and knows some of the ninjas' tricks. After receiving the young man he reveals to him that he taught three different styles of fighting to three different disciples who never met one another...an element lifted from "Five Deadly Venoms", presumably with Chang Cheh's blessing. The first possesses extraordinary jumping and climbing abilities, the second is a master blacksmith and sword fighter, and the third specializes in unarmed combat and sleight of hand.

Young Master Chi sets out to recruit these men and arranges jobs for them in his father's home so they can expose and foil any assassination attempts made. And that they do; the movie eventually becomes a series of battles against the evil ninjas until they and their leader are put down for good. Oh, there's plot development here and there, but Kwok doesn't allow the film to coast in first gear for very long.

The narrative is a little bit disjointed at times, and there's a very thin subplot about a female would-be assassin that seems to have been added merely to increase the film's length. But what the hell, at least we got an OK fight scene out of it. Most of the others are better, though. The talent for choreography that has served Kwok in good stead for quite a few years is displayed well here. Ninja in the Deadly Trap is his one and only directorial effort; a pity, but at least he can say he never directed a bad movie.

NUMSULL'S RATING: 7/10