This 1990 feature from anime legend Go Nagai, creator of Devilman and Cutey Honey among other animated series, is a spirited if uninspired mix of Ninja warrior swordplay, modern yakuza gangster gunplay, and anime-style demons. The mysterious Ninja Dragon is a vaguely supernatural warrior sworn to defend the Nindo clan. He dedicates his sword to Shinobu, the schoolgirl daughter of a yakuza lord, and just in time. Upstart gangster Ranjuji, a hulking thug with demonic eyes, massacres the heads of rival criminal families and kidnaps young Shinobu for his bride. There's plenty of flashy swordplay and bloody violence (blood spurting from wounds like a waterfall, limbs ripped from bodies, and a man's face ripped from his head like a banana peel), and the massive battle between the Ninja Dragon's trio and Shinobu's army makes up for sloppy technique with vigorous choreography and a rush of activity. Apart from a few sidelines for unnecessary exposition and a ridiculous contest that turns Ninja warriors into World Wrestling Federation wrasslin' chicks, Nagai keeps this silly, simplistic Japanese comic book B movie zipping along with gusto. It won't leave much of an impression, but it's a fun 70 minutes of brainless action. -Sean Axmaker.

In between the Hollywood productions Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon, Hong Kong's most popular export, Jackie Chan, returned home to indulge his romantic side in this modern fairy tale. He plays a modern Prince Charming, a big business mogul and notoriously eligible big-city bachelor to dreamy teenager Shu Qi, a girl from a Taiwan fishing village. When a heartbreaking message in a bottle washes ashore, she traces it back to Hong Kong, where she meets Jackie in the midst of a mid-ocean brawl on a luxury yacht. Hong Kong heartthrob Tony Leung has a grand time spoofing his image, playing a gay fashion photographer who "adopts" Shu Qi and helps her woo her handsome dream lover. It's a pleasant change to see 40-plus Jackie discard his usual goofy lovesick fool to play a suave swinger, but next to giggly teen Shu Qi, who proves to be a spunky and winning actress, he seems a little too mature. There are still plenty of opportunities to see Jackie in acrobatic action with a subplot involving a boyhood friend turned shady business rival, but at heart it's a sweet, silly little love song full of unabashed romantic imagery, elegant art design, snazzy fashions, and a gooey happy ending. Jackie doesn't provide his own voice in the English dubbed edition, which makes a minor dent in his charm but does little to affect the film as a whole. -Sean Axmaker.