{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast","title":"American Ninja (1985)","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":6348,"description":"The American Ninja 1985 Review is finally here, and this one might be the ultimate test of childhood nostalgia versus cold, hard reality. Back in the day, ninja movies were everything. You'd watch them with your mates, then head outside, convinced you could take on an entire army with nothing but a headband and a questionable understanding of martial arts. But does American Ninja actually hold up, or is it another victim of the \"we loved it as kids… but it's actually rubbish\" category?\nThis week, Whitey, Damo, and Gow step into the dojo to break down one of the most iconic and unintentionally hilarious action films of the 80s. From the opening scenes featuring hacky sacks and butterfly knives to the absolutely chaotic convoy ambush, the boys waste no time calling out just how ridiculous this movie really is. And somehow, it only gets better, or worse, depending on how you look at it, from there.\nWe're introduced to Joe, an amnesiac army private who just happens to possess elite ninja skills. No explanation, no logic, just vibes. Throw him into the Philippines, add a dodgy arms deal, a kidnapped colonel's daughter, and a bunch of ninjas who appear out of nowhere, and you've got yourself a movie that barely makes sense… but is impossible to look away from.\nGow, our resident martial arts expert and self-proclaimed dojo graduate, brings his unique perspective to the table, breaking down the \"authenticity\" of the ninja action, or lack thereof. Meanwhile, Damo questions everything from the acting to the storyline, and especially that unforgettable line about \"witness testimony\" confirming ninja involvement. Yes, that actually happens.\nWhitey leads the charge as always, trying to figure out where this movie sits in the grand scheme of action cinema. Is it so bad it's good? Or just plain bad? The answer might surprise you… Or it might not.There's plenty of laughs along the way, especially as the boys revisit scenes they hadn't seen since the early 90s. From over-the-top...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/UW701-GqukZr-1D14eBt8sR44lYKfmwl9ME2kRN8CZI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzI5NzkzLzE2NTQ0/ODExODMtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}