Ninja Assassin

Martial arts and CGI carnage combine when rival ninjas clash in this underwhelming action flick from V for Vendetta director James McTeigue. Naomie Harris (British actor in a thankless role, number one) stars as the Berlin-based police researcher who twigs from the archives that ninjas have been involved in a string of assassinations and may still be putting their stealthy, death-dealing services up for hire. Ben Miles (British actor in a thankless role, number two) plays her initially sceptical boss, but as mayhem erupts around the German capital, fugitive ninja Raizo (played by South Korean pop sensation Rain) decides to turn against his clan's doctrine of ruthless obedience. Since nobody will be watching this for the nonsensical plot, the combat sequences are the centre of interest, but though Rain puts himself about with gusto, he proves no Jet Li when it comes to fist-pumping destructiveness. Moreover, since the fights are all digitally conjured up anyway, genuine thrills are at a minimum and the copious sprays of pixelated blood quickly pall.