Customer Reviews

3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The original brothers return in this, the third installment in the 3 Ninjas Trilogy. Like a lot of fans of the series, I really enjoyed the first film a lot. It just had the perfect blend of humor, action and drama to make for a great adventure. Michael Treanor as Rocky, Max Elliot Slade as Colt, & Chad Power as Tum Tum really had some great chemistry together. Rocky was more of the sensitive thinker, while Colt was more of the aggressive type. And Tum Tum? Well, he was more a combination of comic relief as well as a way of letting smaller kids feel like they could be a ninja too. But like many fans, I was very disappointed with the 2nd installment, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, because Michael Treanor & Chad Power were replaced by two other actors. This was the biggest mistake in the world and it crippled the franchise as a result. Kids aren't stupid. They will notice when you change actors on them in a movie. Thankfully, Treanor & Power returned for the third installment, 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up.

Directed by Simon S. Sheen, "Knuckle Up" is a story about an indian community being mistreated by a cruel and sadistic landowner (played nicely by Charles Napier) and it's up to the 3 Ninjas to take him down, with the help of a pretty indian girl named Jo (played by Crystle Lightning). The Kevin Costner movie, Dances With Wolves, brought about a huge interest in Indian culture, and "Knuckle Up" is one of the many films about Indians that was made as a result. There is a true mysticism about their ways that the brothers discover and make their own. But then you gotta love the 3 Ninjas Dance!!

This film may not be as clever or humorous as the original, but it still is great fun. Colt fighting a bunch of guys while holding a pizza in one hand is just an example of the cool choreography. And those who scoff at the cuts of Victor Wong (Grandpa) with his stunt double, which were handled more effectively in the first film, should know that this film was made on a very low budget, much lower than the first two films, and they just didn't have the money to make it more realistic. But what's really great about the film is its heart. There's a great moment where Rocky (the thinker) understands the meaning of the flowers and why he and his brothers need to be more like them. Great scene!

The DVD doesn't have much as far as special features. You get both the Widescreen & Full Screen Presentations (I recommend the Widescreen version) as well as some bonus trailers of other films like: Roughnecks, Buddy, Beverly Hills Ninja, The Karate Kid & Jumanji. The front cover of the case is odd because the 3 Ninjas are all dressed up in white karate outfits, which they never wore in the film at all.

This film has a good message and plenty of fun humor, action and heart to entertain just about anyone. I recommend it and the first film highly. It's too bad these guys didn't do the fourth installment (perhaps they were just too old by then?). This would've also made a great TV show for kids too.

3 Ninjas Knuckle Up - Add it to your collection!

"Colt's gonna kiss Jo! Colt's gonna kiss Jo!"
"Come on, Guys! Okay...Maybe I will."
"WHAT??!!" -Michael Treanor, Max Elliot Slade, & Chad Power as Rocky, Colt & Tum Tum - the 3 Ninjas

This movie was not as good as the first one but was better than any of the other ones, especially the one made in '98. Michael Treanor and Max Elliott Slade and Chad Power are the best ninjas, especially the first two. (I like Rocky.) The karate stuff that they do is really cool. The dance scene they did was interesting. In a good way.

My godson started watching this movie, which we bought when my 14 year old daughter was much younger. He loves this movie and is driving his parents crazy with it, so I have now ordered the other two so there will be a little variety. He is almost 4 and sometimes watches this 4 or 5 times a day (if he can get by with it). A great movie for your children!!

I only gave it two stars because I understand this was a kid's movie, but I frankly thought it sucked. As I stated, I know it's a movie for kids but do they really have to say "I-ya!" during every attack? And, as in most kid's movies, the goons are either mentally retarded or they were on sale at the Henchmart. They rush in groups of two and are easily defeated by our "Ninja" heros and soon get up to repeat the cycle. The main badguy is, as usual a businessman who wants to either opress something or someone or rule the wolrd, and in this case he wants to opress the Indians. I found the acting overall to be terrible and that of an elementary school play. The humor was the same as the acting offering this as the funniest joke, (according to the people in the movie).
Fat Boy: I thought ninjas were bad guys.
Rocky(?): No. There are good ninjas and bad ninjas. Just like dentists!
Crowd: Hah ha ha ha ha!
But although this sort of movie shouldn't be reviewed by the likes of me, I would recommend this movie for children because it sports the classic ingredients for a good kid's movie. To anyone else who doesn't like kid's humor or cute movies, just stay away.

How could any movie be this action packed? I couldn't believe how awesome this movie was until I put it in for the third time in a row! Holy poop! This movie is so much fun! remember the part where Colt says, "hi-yaa!" and then the juke box played the song, and then the part where they drive the car through the field, and then Rocky says, "who taught you how to walk?" (that's my favorite line) and then they rescue the Indian dude and the dog chases them into the sewers and they meet Rambo and steal Wonka Bars from the peddler and then they build their own sling shots and the dudes run away from the wooden snake trick digital unicorn? wasn't that part just the best? SAM DOUGLAS STILL RULES! No one messes with Sam Douglas!

This movie sucked. I enjoyed Three Ninjas Kick Back, and the first one, but i couldn't stand this one. The music in this movie was possibly the worst in history and the plot is too slow for anyone to stay interested. I would suggest anyone thinking of seeing this, find something more interesting to do with your time. The Jokes were horrible...... F-

It was an exellent movie.I liked it just as much as the first one.I have watched 3 Ninjas about 600 times(I'm not joking)and 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up about 135 times and I still watch them regularly.The other 2 just twice each.I am crazy about MICHAEL TREANOR and i would like it if you could send me all the information you can find on him.

This movie is the best one i've ever seen.Rocky , tum-tum and
Colt were so cool . I like rocky the best . He is the best in
the team.I liked Victor Wong's acting too. I like Rocky the best
and my brother likes tum-tum.I call him tum because he looks like tum-tum.Colt gave a very amazing performance.I am also learning KARATE.COLT LOOKED SO COOL with his flying drop kick.

I LOVE NINJAS.

Its a good movie that kids and adults can enjoy. The movie is about three brothers, ( Samuel aka rocky. Jeffery aka colt and Michael aka tum tum) whose grandfather is teaching them martial arts during the summer when they go to stay with him. durring the summer colt gets into a fight saving a girl who has bigger problems than they ever dreamed of.

It was a very good movie But what ever you do DO NOT SEE HIGH NOON AT MEGA MOUNTAIN it stunk