James McTeigue's mind-blowing 2009 action film Ninja Assassin is a high-octane reminder that sometimes cinema's best superheroes don't need capes or slogans, just stealth and steel.
Razor-sharp martial arts, brutal brawls and CGI-enhanced mayhem abound in this superlative ninja fantasy adventure.
Newcomer Rain impresses mightily in the role of silent assassin Raizo, portraying the reactions of a split-second killer with raw physicality.
Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre covers every scene in sepulchral shadows that immerse us in Raizo's nocturnal world.
The production design creates a neon world in which ninjas move like smoke.
Co-writer Matthew Sand's tight script combines personal drama with imaginative assassin confrontations.
When Raizo turns on his former clan, the film reaches John Woo heights of cynicism.
Though some scoffed at the simplicity of the plot, Ninja Assassin is all about delivering retina-splitting kicks where it counts.
A sublime feast of brutally stylish action cinema, it remains a must-see for martial arts fans and adrenaline junkies alike.
An exquisitely executed ninja epic treated with the panache it deserves, Ninja Assassin proves that superheroes often don't need names, just precision weapons and lightning moves. A modern classic of the genre.
At the box office, it found fervent supporters on its opening weekend, grossing $13 million on a $40 million budget.