Arashi wanted to produce a second film because of its fortieth anniversary. The first one, the twenty-minute film Campus Ninja, love at first fight, was received enthusiastically by Arashi members earlier this year. The premiere of the sequel, Way of the exploding fist', was the highlight of Arashi's anniversary week.
The film was shot during the summer holidays, featuring Arashi members as actors. Like in the first movie, Sebo Uithol plays the Campus Ninja. This time, he is assisted by his partner Ruben Sharpe, who always finishes a fight with cheesy disco moves. The details of the scenes were worked out on set.
Post-processing the film took longer than recording it. UT student Tiemen Strijk spent every night for three months editing the film on his Apple computer. The typical ninja effects were added to each punch and kick. Also, the Dutch dialogue was replaced by a low growling Japanese, with English subtitles.
The result is worth seeing. The opening scene is memorable: Checkpoint Charlie is presented as a security station. A completely different atmosphere is created using a color filter. A uniformed soldier stands in front of the building. When the text `Campus Nuclear Facility' appears in X-files style, the public bursts out in laughter and the film gets its first applause. The camera zooms down past the soldier's legs and two black feet appear behind the army boots. A gurgling sound, a cigarette falls to the floor. When the ninja intruder steals a nuclear container and transforms it into a bomb, there is obviously only one person who can help: Campus Ninja!
DVDs of the new film will be published through Arash.
Bart van der Wal
Trans. Jeroen Latour
