Ninjavember: Enter the Ninja (1981)

 Enter the Ninja (1981), dir. Menahem Golan, Golan-Globus Productions 

Moving into the Golan-Globus side of things, and for better or worse this work defined ninjas for the 80's.

Cole (Franco Nero) is a former mercenary and current ninja. He just earned the rank, and no sooner has he doffed his white ninja uniform than he gets a call from his old war buddy Frank (Alex Courtney). Frank has a problem, and it's the kind of problem that can only be solved by a  ninja. 

Frank and his wife Mary-Ann (Susan George) have relocated to the Philippines to run a plantation. This irks Charles Venarius (Christopher George), who wants the land and the oil under it. His tactic of sending increasing numbers of goons to attack the plantation works until Cole gets into his groove.

Finding his goon stock rapidly depleted, Charles decides the only thing that can destroy a ninja is another ninja. The word is sent out, and Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi) answers; and wouldn't you know it, Hasegawa and Cole used to be rivals in ninja school?

Franks bites it thanks to Hasegawa and kidnaps Mary-Ann. Can Cole avenge his friend?

Not terrible, but from a 21st Century perspective it is a bit cliche. Cole barely breaks a sweat and Hasegawa and more importantly Kosugi is largely wasted in his role. Nice from a historical perspetive though.