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Release Date: August 7th, 1992 (theatrical) (3 Ninjas) / May 6th, 1994 (theatrical) (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / April 7th, 1995 (theatrical) (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / April 10th, 1998 (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain) / January 12th, 2024 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 96 mins (3 Ninjas) / 93 mins (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / 85 mins (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / 93 mins (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Region Code: FREE
Disc Count: 2 (BD-50)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio) (3 Ninjas) / 1080p (1.78:1 aspect ratio) (3 Ninjas Kick Back, 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up, 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Sound: English LPCM 2.0 (all films)
Subtitles: No
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power (3 Ninjas) / Victor Wong, Max Elliott Slade, Sean Fox, Evan Bonifant, Dustin Nguyen, Sab Shimono (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Victor Wong, Charles Napier, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power, Vincent Schiavelli (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Hulk Hogan, Loni Anderson, Victor Wong, Mathew Botuchis, Michael J. O'Laskey II, James Paul Roeske ll, Jim Varney (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Written by Kenny Kim, Edward Emanuel (3 Ninjas) / Sang-ok Shin, Mark Saltzman (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Alex S. Kim (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Sean McNamara, Jeff Phillips (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub (3 Ninjas) / Charles T. Kanganis (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Shin Sang-ok (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Sean McNamara (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Rating: AUS: PG (low level violence) (all films)
Each year, three brothers, Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael Douglas visit their grandfather, Mori Tanaka, for the summer. Mori is highly skilled in ninjutsu, and for years he has trained the boys in his techniques. After an organized crime ring proves to be too much for the F.B.I., it's time for the three ninja brothers! Using their martial artistry, they team up to battle the crime ring and outwit some very persistent kidnappers! (3 Ninjas)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio) (3 Ninjas) / 1080p (1.78:1 aspect ratio) (3 Ninjas Kick Back, 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up, 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Sound: English LPCM 2.0 (all films)
Subtitles: No
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power (3 Ninjas) / Victor Wong, Max Elliott Slade, Sean Fox, Evan Bonifant, Dustin Nguyen, Sab Shimono (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Victor Wong, Charles Napier, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power, Vincent Schiavelli (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Hulk Hogan, Loni Anderson, Victor Wong, Mathew Botuchis, Michael J. O'Laskey II, James Paul Roeske ll, Jim Varney (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Written by Kenny Kim, Edward Emanuel (3 Ninjas) / Sang-ok Shin, Mark Saltzman (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Alex S. Kim (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Sean McNamara, Jeff Phillips (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub (3 Ninjas) / Charles T. Kanganis (3 Ninjas Kick Back) / Shin Sang-ok (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up) / Sean McNamara (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
Rating: AUS: PG (low level violence) (all films)
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What's It About?
During a championship baseball match, the three brothers hear that their grandfather in Japan is in trouble, and head out to help him, conceding the match. When they arrive in Japan, they must use all their powers to defend him against his ancient enemy, who has returned to exact revenge. (3 Ninjas Kick Back)
In this movie Rocky, Colt and TumTum must battle an evil wealthy toxic waste dumper in order to save a local Indian tribe and their friend Jo. The 3 Ninjas must help find Jo's father and find a secret disk that contains evidence that could stop the toxic landfill that is destroying the Indian community. However the town is owned by the rich man and he controls the police and even the mayor. They must fight a motorcycle gang and renegade cowboys in this non-stop ninja adventure. (3 Ninjas Knuckle Up)
Three young boys, Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum together with their neighbor girl, computer whiz Amanda are visiting Mega Mountain amusement park when it is invaded by an army of ninjas led by evil Medusa, who wants to take over the park and hold the owners for ransom. Kids and retired TV star Dave Dragon, who made his farewell appearance at the park at the time the ninjas appeared, have to break Medusa's vicious plans. (3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain)
The third film is actually the best film in the series. One of the big problems I had with the first film was the fight scenes were really bad. This problem has been worked on greatly here with some of the fight scenes being very exciting (the one in the recycling place). The older kid who plays Rocky has some great moves and he works very well with the stuntmen. He could have had a career in action films. The other kids are a bit slower but they hold their own. I also liked the storyline with the Native Americans. There was some true emotion in some of those scenes.
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Video/Audio
The picture quality is exactly what you would expect from a budget release like this one. Each transfer has its pluses and minuses. The first film has strong colors and has a filmic look but it is a dated transfer probably from back when Disney was doing HD transfers of their films, so it doesn't benefit from the advances in technology since then. The rest of the films also have strong colors and deep blacks. They have that Sony HD look that films had back in the mid 2000's into the 2010s. I liked the way each film looked and i think most people will too.
The audio is also fine. I didn't find any problems with any of the tracks.
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Extras/Packaging
Disc 1: 3 Ninjas (1992) and 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994)
- 3 Ninjas Theatrical Trailer (1m 51s, SD, 1.33:1)
Disc 2: 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995) and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)
- Nothing
Outside of the trailer for the first film, we get no special features. I wasn't expecting any, to be honest, but it would have been nice to get each film's trailer. I think that trailers should be included in all releases but I am going to chalk it up to Via Vision not being able to get said trailers from Sony.
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Overall
I had only ever seen the first film in the 3 NINJAS saga and was looking forward to watching the sequels. The first film is fine for kids but watching it as an adult revealed that this is not a good film for adults. The film really plays into the fact that this is a kids film. The humor is very lowbrow and they add in comedy sounds into the fight scenes. The sequels double down on the kiddie humor. I remember the first film being a little more teenager humor but I was very, very wrong. The first film is a decent time.
The sequels are a very weird trip. The second film was actually shot after the third one was already complete and was also released before the third film. This means that the original three kid actors appear in the third one, NOT the second one. Why would these actors come back for the third film after skipping the second one. The actors in the second film are fine (the kid playing Colt returns for the first three films) but the film is kind of lame.
The third film is actually the best film in the series. One of the big problems I had with the first film was the fight scenes were really bad. This problem has been worked on greatly here with some of the fight scenes being very exciting (the one in the recycling place). The older kid who plays Rocky has some great moves and he works very well with the stuntmen. He could have had a career in action films. The other kids are a bit slower but they hold their own. I also liked the storyline with the Native Americans. There was some true emotion in some of those scenes.
The fourth film is it's own thing. They bring in the worst three kids they could find to play our titular characters with these kids having zero chemistry. We also get Jim Varney as our antagonist's right hand man. He is great in all his scenes and should have been the main baddie. Loni Anderson is one of the worst main baddies I have ever seen. She is truly terrible. The film is terrible but it is a fun time.
This blu-ray release from Via Vision is good. Picture and sound quality are exactly what you think they would be and we don't get any special features outside of a trailer for the first film. This is a nice budget title and would be a great addition to a 90s kid's blu-ray collection.
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Extras/Menus
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Film
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.webp&description=Import Corner: 3 Ninjas: 4 Film Collection (Via Vision) Blu-ray Review + Screenshots){kind=link}
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