Wachowskis' Ninja Feature Smells of Terrorist Influence

The cast is rounding out for the ninja feature

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, May 2nd 2008 at 10:55 AM

I can't help but get the feeling that the Wachowski Brothers' next film Ninja Assassin sounds a lot like a film modeled after training camps for terrorists. I mean, I have no problem if the Wachowskis managed to find a way to twist the ways of terrorist organizations into some sort of entertainment vehicle, but listen to this synopsis breakdown from The Hollywood Reporter and tell me if you get the same vibe:

The martial arts extravaganza stars Korean actor-singer Rain as a man brought up in an orphanage functioning as a ninja farm. The man turns his back on his tradition to make his way in the modern world, which brings him into conflict with a ninja (Rick Yune) from the clan.

I mean, what the hell is a ninja farm for other than to pull off assassinations or acts of violence? And if one of the members bolts from the organization that is a problem? Sounds a bit like a hostile environment to me.

The news surfaces as Rick Yune joins alongside Rain, Naomie Harris and Ben Miles. The Wachowskis penned the feature and V for Vendetta helmer James McTeigue is directing for Warner Bros.

Yune gives a quote that really leads me to believe terrorist organizations really may have actually had a strong influence on this flick. However, if it is the case, and parallels are drawn, the film may actually double as a political piece questioning the morality of it all; ninjas acting as assassins vs. terrorists acting as… well… terrorists.

"Not to give too much away, (but) my character stays within what he was brought up with, and they go up against each other," Yune said. "I'm not a heavy. The characters are ninjas, they are assassins, and there's this mix of morality the Wachowskis are exploring."

I am a Wachowski fan so I am down, but I just wonder if more politically correct folk get the same vibe from the description if they will have a problem with it. I am probably reading too much into it, but it's more interesting than me just copying what The Hollywood Reporter wrote and passing it off as my own. Isn't it?