#3 Ninjas

[theactioneer]

Hulk Hogan, 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[retrogamelovers]

What are your top 3 picks from this batch of Sega Genesis games?

[sentai-cafe]

Star Force 5 from 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain

[raging-violets]

Or, send in a ⭐star⭐  to have the author select a section they’ve been dying to talk about!

Literally no one other than us two (and maybe a few others) cares about the 3 Ninjas movies/fandom but this is something I've wanted to talk about after having talked about it/realized it with Rhuben and is something that I'm going to bring up in the Between A Rock and Hard Place fic series that focuses on Rocky to explain the highs and lows of being the eldest child and being his father's namesake as well as a well knonw ninja.

Ahem.

The boys' ninja names are obviously important. Rocky = cool and solid as granite rock. Colt = wild and free as the spirit of a young horse. Tum-Tum = energy begins and ends with his stomach. We know that.

BUT!

Their actual names are really important as well.

Rocky aka Samuel Jr. off their father, Samuel Sr. Rocky being the first born was named after their father. If he was a girl, his name would've more than likely been Samantha to keep the 'Sam' part of their names. He still would've been a Jr. You can tell in some instances that there's a very good chance he was parentified in some ways. You can kind of see it in Kick Back when he immediately speaks like a parent to tell Colt and Tum-Tum to go into the house when Darren and the rest of the Mustangs are antagonizing them. But in all movies it's clear he takes his responsibility as the eldest seriously and despite not being especially close to the adults in the films, you could bet that he's closest to their father because of his namesake.

Colt aka Jeffrey off their mother, Jessica. If Colt were born a girl, chances are he would be Jessica Jr but since he was a boy, he's named Jeffrey, which is the male version of 'Jessica' with the same number of letters compared to being called 'Jesse'. He is also shown to have a close relationship with their mother because she immediately comes to his defense anytime something is antagonizing him (re: Samuel Sr.) and also works hard to reassure him when he gets his new ninja name and when it's clear the boys are effected with their dad's absence/workaholic tendencies.

Tum-Tum aka Michael off of their grandpa Mori. In every 3 Ninjas movie you see that Tum-Tum is the closest to their grandpa. He's the only one of the boys that has a nickname from Mori other than their ninja name, as he's called 'Little One' once in every movie (I believe). Being the youngest, he tends to be sidelined by his brothers and not listened to but Mori is clearly very fond of Tum-Tum and believes in him considering he trains the young boy in ninja and doesn't get too upset or annoyed by Tum-Tum's preoccupation with food. Especially as I feel his food preoccupation is filling an emotional hole left behind by his father consistently being gone.

The boys were named after the three most important adults in their lives and it wasn't a coincidence.

[retrokid616]

OH SORRY BUT DID TRAVIS REFREACE 3 NINJAS!

[thecreativemillennial]

Then and now: the og 3 Ninjas

[philjoeo]

Good advice

[swiftsmash]

Master ninja skills, battle adversaries, and conquer challenges in this thrilling platformer video game for the classic SNES gaming console! 🎮

[laciebuncat]

I had a dream where I was on top of a roof on a building joining my favorite characters from 3 Ninjas Rocky (green), Colt (blue) and Tum Tum (yellow orange). I was named Kai (Purple).

[adamwatchesmovies]

3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

3 Ninjas Kick Back is the Home Alone 2 to 3 Ninjas. It’s an inferior sequel - which is saying something considering how insufferable the first was - that does little more than regurgitate what was “successful” about the first, but in a different country. There isn’t an ounce of inspiration in its dreadful 93-minute running time.

Years ago, Grandpa (Victor Wong) defeated Koga (Sab Shimono) in a martial arts tournament. Ever since, the boy-turned-Japanese-crimelord has wanted the tournament’s prize - a dagger that doubles as a key to a cave full of riches - back. When their grandfather is hospitalized while in Japan, the three ninjas - Rocky (Sean Fox), Colt (Max Elliott Slade) and Tum-Tum (J. Evan Bonifant) accidentally play into Koga’s hands by visiting their sensei and bringing the dagger along with them.

The one good thing I will say about 3 Ninjas Kick Back is that it doesn’t waste any time pretending to be a good movie. One of the first scenes is a baseball game (a game with no age restrictions apparently) in which all sorts of dirty tricks are employed to win, including eating large amounts of beans and farting to knock out players. For a brief moment, I found myself in an out-of-body experience, forced to examine the circumstances that brought me to this moment. Sanity vanished. Only madness remained and I laughed hysterically. Not at the movie; at myself. Soon after, I was pulled back into my body and forced to confront this horrible excuse for children’s entertainment.

As before, the stunts and fights are unconvincing and badly choreographed. I know martial arts are supposed to empower you, but not to this extent. Colt, Rocky, Tum-Tum and their Japanese friend Miyo (Caroline Junko King) single-handedly defeat Koga’s minions like they’re made of wet paper. They don’t merely beat them, they humiliate them by pantsing the shadow warriors, knocking them over with Home Alone-style traps, or fighting while taking a phone call. I’m shocked no one disemboweled themselves out of shame. I’m talking about the characters and the actors.

It’s a movie without stakes since the three bumbling goons Koga initially sends after the three ninjas are so awful and so unfunny the crime lord’s credibility disappears like tears falling into the ocean. I don’t just mean the physical stakes; the emotional stakes are also nonexistent. The closest thing to a character arc the boys receive goes something like this: Colt has a temper so he… learns to focus and hit a baseball? Rocky can’t pitch because he doesn’t want to wear his glasses… until Miyo convinces him to? Tum-Tum… eats? Oh, and he wants to go to Japan with his grandfather, or something.

3 Ninjas Kick Back is aggressively juvenile and unfunny. From it emanates the distinct stink of a project no one cared about, that was squeezed out because the first was moderately successful and because the studio could keep ripping off “Home Alone” via the current popularity of martial arts films (This was released the same year as The Next Karate Kid and a year after Teenage Mutant Ninjas Turtles III). It doesn’t even try to check off any storytelling basics. You watch it in embarrassment. Knowing that there are still two more pictures in this series makes me wonder whether I’ll make it to High Noon at Mega Mountain, or die trying. (September 24, 2021)

[terrence-silver]

Funny how nearly every late 80′s early 90′s martial arts movie featured at least one dark haired (often blue eyed?) ponytail guy.

---

In order of appearance:

1. Best of the Best (1989) Eric Roberts as Alex Grady

2. 3 Ninjas (1993) Rand Kingsley as Hugo Snyder

3. Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993) Robert Bernardo as Nick Walker

4. Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993) Edward Albert as Mr. C

5. The Karate Kid: Part III (1989) Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver

6. Firepower (1993) Gary Daniels as Nick Sledge

-

And I’m certain there’s way more but I didn’t bother researching.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Յ 𝔑𝔦𝔫𝔧𝔞𝔰 (յգգշ) 𝔡𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶 𝔍𝔬𝔫 𝔗𝔲𝔯𝔱𝔢𝔩𝔱𝔞𝔲𝔟

[halliescomut]

I just....I know it wasn't on purpose, but I think he accidentally listed all the reasons why Mori Tanaka qualifies for status as a Tumblr BabyGirl (TM).

I did attempt to search up a picture of Victor Wong as a young man to see the hotness level....and learned some interesting stuff. He didn't actively pursue acting as a career until he was almost 50. He studied Journalism and Theology at UC Berkeley and the University of Chicago respectively, but eventually earned a Masters in art from the San Francisco Art Institute. During his college years he did frequently perform in several stage plays, and also was a member of The Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. He worked as an artist for several years then worked at KQED as an onscreen reporter, one of the first Chinese Americans to do so. In 1974, a bout with Bell's Palsy would cause him to lose his onscreen role, and while he worked off screen for a while he eventually returned to acting. He starred in multiple stage productions in San Francisco, eventually moving to NYC in the 80's. His film career started in 1984 at age 57, and he would continue to have steady work until 1999, when he suffered two strokes. He returned to art for the two remaining years of his life, passing late in 2001 at 74.

Victor's Wikipedia page for more detail

Link to his Asian Week obituary (it was the most detailed)

[spacecadetstef]

I loved the 3ninja movies, who was your fav of the brothers?

so EVERYONE called me tumtum cause i was a chubby kid but my heart belonged to colt!

[myfancastings-blog]

Pitching a dark gritty reboot of 3 Ninjas. 😂

A Yakuza member Falls in love with a white girl, but due to his culture and status in the Yakuza, their romance is deemed forbid. Out of defiance, They

escape to America. With the help of a great uncle, already living there. They are able to disappear and start new lives within the sunny suburbs of San Diego. Eventually they get married and have kids, three boys to be precise.

At a early age the three brothers were trained in the art of Ninjutsu by their father and great uncle. Training the boys for something that they hope will never come.

Each brother possesses a natural talent within Ninjutsu. The big brother is excellent in hand to hand combat. Easily can take down five Man twice his size. Second brother is a master in weapons. He can turn any object into a deadly weapon. The third brother, who is the youngest and smaller than the others, uses his size to his advantage. As a master in stealth combat.

Unfortunately their fathers past has finally caught up. The Yakuza want retribution for The traitor who left the ranks. Witnessing the murder of their mother and father by the hands of the Yakuza. The three brothers escaped at the last minute with the help of their great uncle.

Now would only each other to rely on. The three Brothers vow to take the heads of everyone responsible. Cutting a swathe of destruction amongst the Yakuza ranks, making their way up the chain of command.

Plot twist one:

It’s revealed that the head of the Yakuza is their grandfather. After witnessing his grandchildren’s thirst for blood. He offers them a chance to join the Yakuza. To finally be part of their real family. To fulfill the promise that their father never could.

Plot twist two:

Second brother accepts he’s offer. Surprising his brothers, drawing a divide amongst each other. As well as ending the first chapter of a three part movie trilogy.

That’s all I got so far.