The Warrior's Way

I came at this movie with a genuine desire to see it after watching the trailers. Ninjas and cowboys—a novel idea! Unfortunately, that is where the good stops. “The Warrior’s Way” tells the story of a ninja that is sent to assassinate a clan. He does this, stopping short, however, when he finds that a member of the clan is but an infant. Knowing he will be hunted by his own clan, if he does not kill the baby, he takes the baby, burns his past (literally), and goes to live amongst cowboys in a Western town.

While this may present an interesting premise, it doesn’t deliver. From a misty, supernatural aura about the entire movie, to ludicrous battle scenes, and injected sexuality, and a love interest for the main character, the film attempts to cram too much into its short hour and forty minutes.

“The Warrior’s Way” is rated R for strong bloody violence. Take the rating seriously. There are bloody ninja fights, a character using hot food to scald another character, brutal murder of a girl and her family (except a baby that survives), a couple other graphic murders, attempted rape, attempted revenge, scores of bloody dead bodies, ludicrous and graphic full-on battle scenes.

Language includes around half a dozen uses of God’s name paired with “d-mn.” Also used are “sh-t,” “d-mn,” “h-ll,” “a--,” and God’s name without “d-mn”—altogether about 14 curse words. Other crude language includes “dang,” “crap,” “tarnation,” and some minor name-calling.

Other negative content includes gambling (in the form of poker), bullying, a character being lassoed and dragged, other forms of torture, a supernatural overtone, and a bearded woman. Sexual content includes partial male rear nudity, a man seen shirtless, a non-sexualized butt pat, kissing, and an attempted rape.

“The Warriors Way” had so much going for it: the mix of ninjas and cowboys, the ensemble cast, the hundred minute length. But it falls short in every area. The action was ludicrous, the sex was unnecessary, the plot was cobbled together, and the acting was wooden from everyone except Geoffrey Rush and Kate Bosworth, who bring a welcome life to the otherwise dead film.

In the end, it just wasn’t good.

Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Heavy