After his partner is killed while uncovering a drug smuggling operation, special agent Tanaka (Sho Kosugi) travels to Buenos Aires to seek justice as corrupt agents in his own organization plan to eliminate him.

While Hong Kong studios were about to unleash a flurry of top-rated martial arts film classics at the end of the ’80s, Hollywood studios were still obsessed with the muscled-bound heroics of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Lurking just beneath these box office heavy weights was Sho Kosugi, who originally cemented his notoriety in America and began a fascination with all things ninja with the release of Enter the Ninja in 1981. Rage of Honor falls in towards the end of his American movie career and sadly there is nothing honorable about it. Low budget in every sense, this tale of a drug-busting ninjitsu expert features a script only an immature child could swallow, clunky action, and a second half that wanders off aimlessly.

The film begins in Buenos Aires with U.S. agent Tanaka (Sho Kosugi) and his partner breaking up a boat party where drugs are stashed. A speedboat chase ends in a poorly staged explosion. The boat zips behind an outcrop of trees, far behind mind you, and the trees amazingly erupt into flames. Back in the States, Tanaka’s third partner gets the great idea of breaking into a suspected drug trafficking facility. He may be a square-jawed hit with the ladies, but he’s not too bright. Tanaka comes to save his butt, but only gets there in time to barely escape another big explosion. Now it’s Tanaka’s turn for bright ideas. He drags his girl down to Buenos Aires for a little vacation, when in actuality he’s plotting to find his partner’s killer. Shortly after arriving, she’s left hanging from a third-story railing as Tanaka races to save her. Realizing his mistake, Tanaka ships her back to the States with Ray… in a private plane piloted by another drug trafficker. But he’s got bigger things to worry about, like infiltrating a local drug facility, cracking a few skulls, and getting himself thrown in jail.

Finally, some “real” ninja action happens when two of the little devils infiltrate the jail and Tanaka steps up to plate. Interestingly, cops in Buenos Aires do not bother to search anyone prior to putting them in jail for Tanaka simply pulls out a knife to pick the lock. Although this was a rogue mission, Tanaka’s superiors catch up with him and he’s recruited to find his partner and his girl who are now roaming about free in the jungle, near the villains’ camp. Dropped several miles from the camp, Tanaka travels over dangerous terrain, up steep cliffs, and across raging rivers, all while being chased by bloodthirsty natives who have nothing to do with the plot. Tanaka finally dukes it out with the lead villain who has captured his friends, but from here on things just fall apart. Someone in Tanaka’s own organization is in league with the drug traffickers and wants him dead. In no time, ninjas clad in camouflage fly up in a chopper while blasting away with rockets, before landing for some hand-to-claw combat with Tanaka. This all leads to more classic ’80s gunplay and martial arts action, Hollywood style. Did I mention there are more explosions?

There really isn’t anything to recommend in Rage of Honor (not to be confused with Cynthia Rothrock’s Rage and Honor). I have seen worse low budget Hollywood action films, but that’s no excuse for this tripe. Excluding the lame Western-style action excess, I still expect Kosugi to be a badass ninja. In all fairness, he knocks out a few good moves. But he goes overboard with the trampolines and cartoon weapons like the exploding throwing stars. The violence is miserably toned down, apart from a few shurikens to the neck. Also, his opponents are all weak. Listen to your friend Mark Pollard, don’t waste your time on this film. If the crummy action doesn’t make you sick, then the ’80s hairdos will.

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