Ninja Assassin
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by James McTeigue
Written by Matthew Sand, J. Michael Straczynski
Starring Rain, Naomie Harris, Shô Kosugi, Ben Miles, Anna Sawai
Warner Home Video
Release Date: March 16, 2010

When Ninja Assassin first made its presence known to us, it sounded like it could be one of the more entertaining flicks on its way to our eyes. Sometimes the production process is a long and trying one, however, and when the movie’s release drew near and every single commercial break had a spot advertising it, I found myself personally losing interest at an alarming rate. The movie had gone from a fun and exciting prospect to a title that had seemingly over-done it before it had even hit theaters.

This of course wasn’t the best of set-ups for someone like myself entering into a review of the movie, but it’s been multiple months now since the theatrical run, allowing the persistent advertisement efforts to wear off enough for me to jump in.

Ninja Assassin tells the story of a secret society of ninjas who inherit orphaned children and turn them into the deadliest killers the world has ever seen, paid 100 pounds of gold (or its equivalent over time) to remove people who need removing. One of these boys is Raizo (Rain), one of the most promising students that their “Father” Ozunu (Shô Kosugi) has ever seen. As time goes on, Raizo realizes that the methods used to discipline the students is a little too extreme. These views are confirmed when it comes to a fellow-student named Kiriko (Anna Sawai), whom he cares deeply for, is punished. Raizo eventually turns his back on everything he’s ever known and leaves this family of ninjas — something that they do not take too kindly to.

If you watch any television at all, then you’ve surely seen the trailer for James McTeigue‘s (V for Vendetta) newest film Ninja Assassin about 45 times. After that film has come and gone, McTeigue already has his next project lined up and it will be a fictional story based on the life and works of author Edgar Allan Poe.

What we’ve learned so far is that the movie is called The Raven, and it tells the story of Poe being challenged by a serial killer to solve the murders that are based on his very own works. Most comparisons are to the movie Se7en, but in Poe’s dark and cold 1800s setting. We also know that the movie takes place in Poe’s final days, before his mysterious death at the early age of 40. The movie is written by Hannah Shakespeare and Ben Livingston.

Now comes some new information on the project from the mouth of McTeigue, who spoke to SciFi Wire recently, including what Edgar Allan Poe stories were looked to for inspiration (and likely many gruesome Poe-esque murders) in the movie, and where the casting path is leading toward.

A completely nuts new video has been uncovered that shows the stunt team from the new movie Ninja Assassin practicing their choreography for the movie.

The video is filled with some amazing sword fighting and martial arts work, so you have to check it out if you’re into that kind of thing. If this video is any kind of sample as to what we can expect when the movie comes along, then we’re in for some sort of treat here, folks. Especially if this gets a hard R-rating as it looks to be getting.

The movie is directed by James McTeigue, who directed V for Vendetta. The Wachowski Brothers produced Vendetta for him and are also producing this movie along with Joel Silver. Current hot hand J. Michael Straczynski (Changeling) wrote the script.