The Black Ninja
Encyclopedia
The Black Ninja is a 2003 American martial arts
action film
written, directed and starring Clayton Prince, and featuring Carla Brothers, Nicky DeMatteo, Yuki Matsuzaki
, Heather Hunter
, John Canada Terrell and Michael Chance
. The film has been called a modern-day blaxploitation film, however, it received very poor reviews from critics. After a limited theatrical release, it went straight-to-DVD and distributed worldwide in January 2003.
vigilante
who stalks these same criminals at night. After refusing to defend Tony Fanelli (Nicky DeMatteo), a small-time mobster accused of murder, he finds himself involved in protecting the only witness, Tracey Allen (Carla Brothers), from Fanelli's hired thugs. While protecting this young woman, he is confronted by The Red Ninja (Yuki Matsuzaki
), a Japanese assassin, who years before killed his family rather than pay Ali for defending him.
and ended after two weeks. Critics noted that the rush to finish the film drastically affected its overall quality, much of which could have been cleaned up post-production editing, leaving it looking "unfinished and more like an amateur, student film". An hour-long "Making of" documentary was produced and included on the DVD following its release. It gave a "behind the scenes" look on the set of a low budget film and featured many of the cast and crew voicing their opinions on the lack of opportunity in the film industry in regards to race.
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
written, directed and starring Clayton Prince, and featuring Carla Brothers, Nicky DeMatteo, Yuki Matsuzaki
Yuki Matsuzaki
is a Japanese actor who has appeared in movies and on television.Matsuzaki appeared in Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and in The Pink Panther 2 where he portrayed Kenji Mazuto, a technology "wiz-kid". He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as a character named...
, Heather Hunter
Heather Hunter
Heather Keisha Hunter is a former pornographic actress, who is now a rap artist, painter, and author.-Film and television:...
, John Canada Terrell and Michael Chance
Michael Chance
Michael Chance CBE is an English countertenor.Chance was born in Penn, Buckinghamshire, into a musical family. After growing up as a chorister he attended Eton College, Berkshire, and later King's College, Cambridge...
. The film has been called a modern-day blaxploitation film, however, it received very poor reviews from critics. After a limited theatrical release, it went straight-to-DVD and distributed worldwide in January 2003.
Plot
Maliq Ali (Clayton Prince) is a defense attorney whose guilt over freeing guilty criminals, and the death of his family, leads him to become a costumed ninjaNinja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
who stalks these same criminals at night. After refusing to defend Tony Fanelli (Nicky DeMatteo), a small-time mobster accused of murder, he finds himself involved in protecting the only witness, Tracey Allen (Carla Brothers), from Fanelli's hired thugs. While protecting this young woman, he is confronted by The Red Ninja (Yuki Matsuzaki
Yuki Matsuzaki
is a Japanese actor who has appeared in movies and on television.Matsuzaki appeared in Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and in The Pink Panther 2 where he portrayed Kenji Mazuto, a technology "wiz-kid". He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as a character named...
), a Japanese assassin, who years before killed his family rather than pay Ali for defending him.
Cast
- Clayton Prince as Maliq Ali and The Black Ninja
- Carla Brothers as Tracey Allen
- Nicky DeMatteo as Tony Fanelli
- Yuki MatsuzakiYuki Matsuzakiis a Japanese actor who has appeared in movies and on television.Matsuzaki appeared in Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and in The Pink Panther 2 where he portrayed Kenji Mazuto, a technology "wiz-kid". He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as a character named...
as Shinji Hagiwara and The Red Ninja - Heather HunterHeather HunterHeather Keisha Hunter is a former pornographic actress, who is now a rap artist, painter, and author.-Film and television:...
as Patty Ali - John Canada Terrell as Mr. Fanelli's Lawyer
- Michael ChanceMichael ChanceMichael Chance CBE is an English countertenor.Chance was born in Penn, Buckinghamshire, into a musical family. After growing up as a chorister he attended Eton College, Berkshire, and later King's College, Cambridge...
as Detective Howell
Production
Primarily financed by Clayton Prince, filming began in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and ended after two weeks. Critics noted that the rush to finish the film drastically affected its overall quality, much of which could have been cleaned up post-production editing, leaving it looking "unfinished and more like an amateur, student film". An hour-long "Making of" documentary was produced and included on the DVD following its release. It gave a "behind the scenes" look on the set of a low budget film and featured many of the cast and crew voicing their opinions on the lack of opportunity in the film industry in regards to race.