Five Elements Ninjas

"Five Elements Ninjas," lauded as one of the best movies about ninjas, is a classic martial arts film directed by Chang Cheh. The film starts with a rivalry between Chief Hong and his rival, Yuan Zeng, for the title of martial arts master. When their students face off in a showdown, the unexpected arrival of a skilled samurai adds a new twist to the conflict.

Liang Zhi Sheng, one of Zeng's students, manages to defeat the samurai, but this victory comes at a price. The samurai's ominous warning about an allied ninja clan seeking revenge sets the stage for a battle between the Five-Element Ninjas and Zeng's school.

While "Five Elements Ninjas" offers great action and martial arts prowess, it doesn't shy away from the emotional toll that violence can take. The deaths of beloved characters and the sacrifices made throughout the story to serve as a poignant reminder of life fragilitiy, aided by in-depth explorations of the clash between cultures.

Release: 1982

Stars: Tien-Chi Cheng, Tien-Hsiang Lung, Meng Lo

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%