20 Reasons Why You Rock: American Ninja 2

Michael Dudikoff probably didn’t envision himself as a future action star when as a young actor he landed a spot in a Coppertone commercial. From there Dudikoff appeared as a guest star in various TV sitcoms including Happy Days. His TV work turned into supporting roles in feature films including the 1981 horror movie, Bloody Birthday, and the 1984 comedy, Bachelor Party.

But in 1985, Michael Dudikoff’s career trajectory would change forever when he joined the likes of Charles Bronson and Chuck Norris in Cannon’s stable of stars and just like that… Dudi was doing action!

Now in honor of Michael Dudikoff’s birthday (He was born on October 8, 1954 in Redondo Beach, California), I am going to spotlight my favorite of the many Dudikoff/Cannon collaborations… 1987’s American Ninja 2: The Confrontation. Why is it my favorite? Because it ROCKS…

#1. The first thing that grabs your attention in American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is George S. Clinton’s score. Clinton’s high octane music is the perfect way to open the film and later his score helps set the mood that the film is taking place on an island and not South Africa where the movie was shot.

#2. Director Sam Firstenberg and Cannon Films were a proven winning combination by the time American Ninja 2 hit theaters. An argument could be made that this was Firstenberg’s best work. But there’s no arguing that Sam Firstenberg knew how to make the kind of picture the Cannon brass and Cannon fanbase loved.

#3. The chemistry between Michael Dudikoff and Steve James was undeniable. Dudikoff’s Joe Armstrong and James’ Curtis Jackson were a Hall of Fame tag team and made you believe they were best friends forever.

#4. In American Ninja 2, Armstrong and Jackson are sent to a Caribbean island to help investigate the disappearance of some United States Marines. The commanding officer they are to report to is known as Wild Bill. Jeff Weston (aka Jeff Celentano) did a great job as Wild Bill, the same name as G.I. Joe’s Dragonfly Helicopter pilot. As a huge G.I. Joe fan from way back, anything or anyone that reminds me of that toy line, cartoon series and comic book rocks in my book!

#5. Child actors have been known to ruin their fair share of action movies, but fortunately for American Ninja 2 the Toto character actually brought something to the table. Toto becomes a great ally to Joe Armstrong and you have to admire his entrepreneurial spirit.

#6. One of the great mysteries of American Ninja 2 is how Michael Dudikoff did not get an endorsement deal with Body Glove after wearing a Body Glove wetsuit in the film. If Figures Toy Company ever makes some American Ninja figures, there has to be a Joe Armstrong figure in his iconic Body Glove wet suit.

#7. During the same scene where Dudi is rocking his Body Glove wetsuit, Steve James got to appear shirtless… one of his favorite things to do on film. Props go out out to the creative forces behind the movie for making sure there was a scene where the Curtis Jackson character could be sans shirt, because if Avenging Force taught us anything it is that Steve James would have popped his shirt off anyway.

#8. With my fashion report out of the way, let me get to the best part of Armstrong and Jackson’s waterskiing trip to Mangrove Island… our first opportunity to see our heroes battle the evil ninjas in an awesome beach brawl.

#9. The beach brawl is where we get our first look at Tojo Ken, who was played by Mike Stone. Tojo Ken is the right hand man to the movie’s main villain, Leo the Lion. For those of you who don’t know your Cannon history, Mike Stone was originally cast in the Cole from Texas role in Enter the Ninja… but as they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try try again… I am glad Stone finally got to have an onscreen role in a Cannon ninja film.

#10. I need to give Len Sparrowhawk his props… Len played the cantankerous Sgt. McCarthy who barks orders whenever he can and is clearly not a fan of two Army Rangers like Armstrong and Jackson posing as Marines. McCarthy’s best line is when he tells Armstrong not to get drunk and go “puking on the pavements” when they attend a cocktail party at the governor’s mansion.

#11. Steve James was the real deal both as an action hero and a ladies’ man and American Ninja 2 proved both. The woman that Curtis Jackson hits on at the party, is a woman that Steve James hit on in real life (when she was an extra on The Delta Force). The two were dating by the time American Ninja 2 was shot and were married shortly after the film wrapped.

#12. The party at the governor’s mansion is also where we are introduced to the character of Alicia Sanborn. She has an issue with the governor’s honored guest Leo the Lion and she is not quiet about expressing her displeasure… first by calling him a bastard multiple times and then smacking him in the face. This was a great way to introduce her character and it also set up my absolute favorite scene in the entire movie… The Blind Beggar Bar Fight!

#13. The Blind Beggar Bar Fight is not only my absolute favorite scene in the movie, it may well be my favorite bar fight scene in any movie ever. The action, the music, the bowling pins sound effect and the humor are all on point. Steve James looks like he is having the time of his life in this scene too.

#14. This is a great spot to talk about how Larry Poindexter’s Charlie made a great third wheel for Jackson and Armstrong in the movie. When the going got tough, Charlie stepped up!

#15. Has Michael Dudikoff ever looked cooler than he did in American Ninja 2 riding that red and white motorcycle?

#16. Any movie that features shuriken instantly has a leg up on movies that do not feature shuriken. But when that movie also features an evil ninja taking a shuriken to the head courtesy of Joe Armstrong, you know you have something special

#17. But the best evil ninja death in the entire movie is when Joe, Alicia and Toto hop in a pick up truck to escape a ninja attack and one of the ninjas uses a grappling hook to hitch a ride… the visual of the ninja being dragged behind the truck and then making his way onto the moving vehicle only to be stuck on the truck after our heroes abandon ship and the truck goes careening into some barrels, flipping on its side and blowing up.

#18. Gary Conway, who played Leo the Lion, also came up with the story of Amercian Ninja 2 and co-wrote the screenplay along with James Booth. Leo’s best scene is when he brings together all the dirty officials and members of his drug empire and gives a rousing speech before unveiling his army of genetically enhanced super ninjas.

#19. When Joe and Alicia make their way to Leo the Lion’s compound on Blackbeard Island (where Alicia’s father is being force to create the super ninjas), Jackson knows that they are going to need some serious back up. And we eventually get the “Send in the Marines” moment when Jackson is able to convince Wild Bill that they need to storm Blackbeard Island!

#20. There was really only one way American Ninja 2 could end and that is with a ninja battle between Joe Armstrong and Tojo Ken and the final fight did not disappoint.