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Ninja in the Claws of the CIA

4.4
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 Stars (387 Reviews)
Regular price  $29.99
Sale price  $29.99 Regular price  $44.98
Edition Type: Numbered Slipcase Edition
Out of stock

NINJA IN THE CLAWS OF THE CIA is part of our Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, celebrating forgotten cinematic oddities from the video store era. This collection was inspired by our own brick & mortar video stores.

Unique to this line, each hand numbered limited edition release will come fitted in a specially designed, bottom loading VHS inspired slipcase, while also including a double-sided poster.

These releases will ONLY be available on our website and at participating indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. This slipcase edition is strictly limited to 5,000 units and may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.

Description

John Liu is a world renowned martial arts expert who is recruited by the C.I.A. after his twin brother James Liu is injured. John's mission is to turn a ragtag bunch of soldiers into fierce fighters by teaching them the ways of martial arts. Unhappy by John's presence, a rogue military officer uses an emotionally unstable soldier named Wong to challenge John's physical abilities (as well as a sexy female soldier to challenge his mental focus!). Unbeknownst to John, the C.I.A. is conducting secret experiments on the soldiers by using hypnosis as a form of mind control. With the help of a data analyst named Caroline, John soon uncovers the truth behind the secret experiments, and together he and his new love interest flee with classified documents. Now on the run, John and Caroline are hunted throughout the world as danger lurks around every corner and no one can be trusted. Their only hope to survive is for John to use his martial arts skills as well as his cunning in order to stay one step ahead of their dangerous pursuers.

Written, directed, and starring martial artist John Liu (New York Ninja, Secret Rivals) in one of his many vanity projects, NINJA IN THE CLAWS OF THE C.I.A. (aka MADE IN CHINA) is a truly mind bending experience that defies logic as well as categorization. Shot primarily in Spain, NINJA IN THE CLAWS OF THE C.I.A. is an unusual martial arts film, not only due to its outrageous plot, but due to the fact that it feels more like a Eurocentric cult film thanks in part to its many filming locations as well as numerous international genre actors. Featuring "The Human Tornado" himself, Ho Wang (Warriors Two), as well as Mirta Miller (Santo vs. Doctor Death), Roger Paschy (Dragon Blood), Chrisitan Anders (Roots of Evil), Raquel Evans (Emmanuelle y Carol), and Spanish character actor Victor Israel (Horror Express). Vinegar Syndrome Archive is proud to present this one of a kind martial arts film for the first time on Blu ray, newly restored from original film elements, and featuring additional scenes only present in the Spanish release, including an extended version of the now infamous training sequence where John Liu has to fight while trying to avoid being seduced!

Details

Director(s): John Liu

Starring: John Liu, Mirta Miller, Ho Wang, Roger Paschy, Christian Anders, Raquel Evans, Victor Israel

Release Year: 1981

Runtime: 88 min

Aspect Ratio(s): 1.85:1

Language(s): ENG- English, SPA- Spanish

Sound: Mono

Subtitles: English SDH

Format: Blu-ray

Disc Info: Region A Blu-ray

Restoration: Newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm internegative

Packaging Artist(s): Robert Sammelin

Genre: Action

SKU: VSA-034

Bonus Content
  • Brand new commentary track with film historian Chris Poggiali
  • Introduction by filmmaker Kurtis Spieler (re-director of New York Ninja)
  • "The Wonder of Vanity Action Films" (11 min) - a video essay by Justin Decloux
  • Original trailer
  • Promotional still gallery
  • Alternate ‘Made in China’ title card
  • Reversible sleeve artwork
Trailers / Videos
Label Bio

The Vinegar Syndrome Archive sub-label celebrates forgotten cinematic oddities from the video store era. This collection was inspired by our own brick & mortar video stores, with locations in Bridgeport, CT, Denver, CO, Pittsburgh, PA, Minneapolis, MN, and Toronto, ON!

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Customer Reviews
4.4
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
Based on 387 reviews
83%would recommend this product
387 reviews
  • JS
    Jaskaran S.
    Flag of United States
    Verified Buyer
    2 weeks ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Absolutely bonkers martial arts fun 😁

    Ninja in the Claws of the CIA is the kind of movie where logic barely matters because John Liu is too busy kicking the **** out of people across Europe 😂 The CIA-training setup is already ridiculous, then the movie keeps piling on martial arts, espionage, international locations, and some wonderfully strange training sequences.

    John Liu basically made this as a full-on vanity project — writing, directing, and starring — and honestly that makes it even more fun. His kicking ability is insane, Ho **** brings plenty of energy too, and the whole thing has this weird Euro-cult flavor that makes it feel different from a more traditional Hong Kong kung-fu movie.

    The Blu-ray presentation is way better than I expected for something this obscure. Vinegar Syndrome restored it in 4K from the 35mm internegative, and the commentary, video essay, trailer, still gallery, and alternate material make the release feel properly loaded.

    Completely ridiculous? Yep. Entertaining as ****? Absolutely. Easy 5/5 for me. 😁

    Quality / PackagingRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Shopping ExperienceRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • MT
    Mathew T.
    Flag of Australia
    Verified Buyer
    1 month ago
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Lots of Fun

    Nice to see the New York Ninja branch out a bit

    Quality / PackagingRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Shopping ExperienceRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • NC
    Nick C.
    Flag of United States
    Verified Buyer
    4 months ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great WTF cinema

    Fun hangout flick to turn on while having a few beers.

    Quality / PackagingRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Shopping ExperienceRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • BH
    Ben H.
    Flag of United States
    Verified Buyer
    5 months ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Always fun to watch an

    Always fun to watch an ego-driven action film. In this case, it has a bit of everything: action, fighting, sexual politics, questionable dubbing, and great locations. The commentary is really good and the print looks great. Slipcase was great.

    Quality / PackagingRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Shopping ExperienceRated 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • NS
    Niels S.
    Flag of Norway
    Verified Buyer
    6 months ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    fun

    ninja b cinema

    Quality / PackagingRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Shopping ExperienceRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5

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