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Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Beulah Bram A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Scott LeBrun Amiable sequel to the popular Cannon Group martial arts potboiler reunites Michael Dudikoff and Steve James as Army Rangers Armstrong and Jackson. They're recruited for a mission on a Caribbean island: find out who has been abducting various Marines. The trail leads to a nefarious drug kingpin (Gary Conway), his chief henchman (Mike Stone), and his army of genetically engineered ninjas.The genetic tampering is an amusing hook, along with a tone that heavily stresses the tongue in cheek. If one were to take this seriously, it would indeed come off as a pretty bad action flick. But there's so much silliness - especially in terms of script and performance - on display that it's hard to believe that Cannon Group ninja movie specialist Sam Firstenberg, and screenwriters Conway and James Booth, didn't intend the movie to be at least partly comedic. That makes it pretty agreeable, if also largely forgettable.Certainly one of the most entertaining elements is the chemistry between studs Dudikoff and James. The former is of course decidedly low key, the latter much more extroverted, and they do get along quite nicely. The supporting cast features a fair amount of nondescript players, but Conway (known for 'Burke's Law', 'Land of the Giants', and for being the original Teenage Frankenstein) seems to be having some fun. Michelle Botes adds some enjoyable female eye candy, in the only substantial female role, and MA expert Stone is a reasonably striking villain, complete with facial scar.Good fun overall, even if it won't be quite violent enough to suit some tastes.Six out of 10.

Robert W. If you read my review on the first American Ninja, most of that can be applied again to this. American Ninja is horrible cheese at its best and American Ninja 2 only continues this and actually ups the cheese ante. I think the budget got even lower which means the special effects, action, actors, story and locations are all more cheesy than the original. And yet somehow just like the first one it is watchable and fun and has this bizarre likable quality to the stars who try so hard and act so serious in such a cheesy movie. The plot is even more cheesy and fun than the first film and adds in a "beach" quality to the story as Joe and Curtis are brought to a Caribbean Island where marines are disappearing. As if we needed more reason to be a cheese-fest, an evil villain is building an army of super-ninjas (who really aren't that super at all and Joe Armstrong still manages to beat up bunches of them.) Its dumb, brainless, takes itself way too seriously and is fun and simple and you'll laugh and cheer despite yourself at the sheer 80's silliness. It is as bad as the first one which makes this sequel as good as the first one too.Michael Dudikoff returns to do what he does best...or worst. The guy has terrible chemistry on screen and is trying to be a superstar in the worst possible way. He is even more drab than he was in the first one and yet he is the star and somehow he makes it work even if his martial arts are a downright joke. Steve James is awesome in all the worst ways. He is so serious in his role, and he has this B-Movie quality that just works for him. He probably should have been the star but he definitely gets plenty of screen time and somehow he and Dudikoff work as a team, better than the first film actually. The film this time gets a definitive evil villain in the form of Gary Conway as "The Lion." He is appropriate bad and Bond-villain like and ridiculous all at once. He works for the movie. Larry Poindexter, Jeff Celentano and Michelle Botes are supporting cast members and they are decent but certainly don't stand out.Sam Firstenberg is really a B-Movie king when you look at his credits. He did the first film and he's obviously passionate at making bad...fun. The fight scenes are hilarious and not exactly choreographed with any great style or noticeable talent. Most of the punches are wide and the martial arts are loosely realistic at best. Still some people live for this kind of cheese. 80's Cheese buries the so called cheese they make nowadays because its movies like this that were inadvertently bad. They honestly believed they were making a great action flick and its anything but. However, turn your brain off, sit back, relax and enjoy the fun and you'll enjoy this just fine. 7/10

disdressed12 to me,this sequel had a more developed plot line than the first movie.it a fairly preposterous one,but it is semblance of a story nonetheless.and besides,reality doesn't necessarily factor into these movies in a big way,so that's not surprising.there are many more fight sequences in this one as well.and to me,the fight scenes seemed better executed,much more exciting.the acting is no better or worse than in the first one.i actually think as a whole the movie is slightly better due to the improved fight sequences.again you just have to remember that it's not high art you're in for when you sit down to view this film,or it's prequel/sequels.it basically a disposable(but enjoyable)ninety +/-minutes.for me,American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is an 8/10

Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) Here's another great martial arts action film. Prior to the first AN, American Ninja 2, provide lots of action and suspense just like the first one. This time taking on "superninjas" they weren't so super to me there. Both Armstrong and Jackson(Michael Dudikoff and Steve James) were always on top of things. The Marines weren't so warm to the Army Rangers at first, but when it was getting the job done Armstrong and Jackson don't play around. Armstrong was all techniques, Jackson was all power, that's why he is later named "Powerhouse" Jackson. He was the martial artist with attitude. Especially when he stomped on the ninja and he said, "STAY DOWN!" You don't play with Powerhouse Jackson. The outside fight scene with Joe and the ninjas were memorable as well. I liked the part where Joe catches the dart with his hand and took out that ninja with the shuriken(throwing star). These characters were outrageous, they'll make any brawler run home to mama. This movie is just as good as first, however it does have more action though, which I like the best. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.