Surf Ninjas MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -1

Just when you thought movies were improving, along comes SURF NINJAS. Aimed at the same audience that loves the Ninja Turtles, SURF NINJAS has real people in the same ludicrous situations. Johnny McQuinn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.) is a fast-talking surfer dude from California who doesn't like to do his homework and goes surfing every chance he gets. One day a cloaked stranger arrives in town and saves Johnny and his brother from some mysterious Ninjas out to kill them. The stranger is Zatch (Ernie Reyes, Sr.) from a small, peaceful island off the Chinese coast. Johnny and his brother are the only remaining princes of the kingdom which was taken over by the ruthless Colonel Chi (Leslie Nielson). On their journey back to the island, Johnny discovers his warrior spirit and Ninja fighting capabilities. Pounding guitar music tries to invigorate the already frenetic fighting scenes that contain more karate than substance. NINJA TURTLE fans will probably flock to see SURF NINJAS.

The problem comes with the increasing violence these movies portray, knowing that young children will see it. While there is no blood, the "bad" guys use guns and the "good" guys use dynamite to attack their enemies. Several people are shown quickly being stabbed or even blown up (they just disappear). This does not even count the violence in the hand-to-hand fight scenes. Many people are kicked and punched in the face and stomach in the five fight scenes that take up the bulk of the movie. Two soldiers are run over and one is pushed upon a hot grill. Another soldier is shown falling down an extensive flight of stairs three different times. The whole point of these scenes is to find the cleverest way to hurt someone else. Though there is very little offensive language, the boys are portrayed as insolent but good-natured and ready to break laws for fun. Another example of using violence to entertain children, SURF NINJAS rates a minus acceptability rating

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: New Line Cinema, 888 7th Ave., 20th Floor, NY, NY 10106