Media Meditation #6: Ninjas really do exist…you just can’t see them.

I think this was just about the most gruesome and intense ninja movie I have ever seen in my life, Ninja Assassin. It is about a ninja who turns on the “orphanage” (a clan of trained ninjas sold to governments to kill anyone and everything in their way) that turned him into a killing machine. If you're into action movies and don’t mind a little blood (correction: lots of blood), then I recommend you watch it.





TRIUNE BRAIN:

Neocortex – Not much to see here, this movie is pure entertainment.

Limbic – The music makes it feel like older ninja themed movies, plus the violence makes you feel afraid that a ninja is going to pop into the room while you’re watching the movie.

Reptilian – A lot of fight or flight, but mostly fight. The main characters instinct is to always fight and get the job done.

WARNING: The video below is very gruesome



8 TRENDS:

Political/Economic Shift: Governments are paying top dollar to hire these assassins to do their dirty work.

Technological Shift – Video spoofs and clips can be found on YouTube, and some people have created flash games in dedication to the movie.



7 PRINCIPLES:

Production Techniques: Instead of it being just a really gory movie, they made the blood a little cartoonish with CGI, which added to its appeal.

Value Messages – Don’t mess with ninjas. You can’t kill what you can’t see, and forget about carrying a gun, it won’t do you much good.

Pacing - It is a very fast paced movie, keeping you at the edge of your seat wondering what painful thing is going to happen next, and who has to deal with the ninjas.



PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES:

Repetition – A lot of the attacks and fighting in the movie is the same kind of style throughout, such as swords and ninja throwing stars.

Either/or – There are good ninjas and bad ones, but it can be very hard to tell since they dress alike.

Strength – The main character makes it his mission to get back at his ninja counterparts throughout the movie, even if that means he has to risk his own life.

Timing – the ninjas come from the shadows and wreak havoc at the most opportune time. The minute someone thought ninjas would be coming, sure enough they were already there.