TV Show spotlight
Ninja Captor
Ninja Captor is a Japanese tokusatsu TV series aired from April 7, 1976 to January 26, 1977 on TV Tokyo 12 Channel, produced by Toei Company, Ltd. This Sentai-esque series aired during the run of Shotaro Ishinomori's original Super Sentai series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and was notably first superhero team show produced by Toei under the Saburo Yatsude/Hatte pseudonym. Daisuke Izumo graduates from the Wind-Demon Stealth-Army, a secret army aiming for the conquest of Japan. He instead escapes, and becomes the leader of the "Captor," a ninja team supervised by Mujin Tendou. The Captor team's mission is to battle the ninja sent out by the Wind-Demon General, Retsufuu Fuuma. This show used to be considered by some to be a part of the Super Sentai franchise* , but was later excluded. In 2013, it got a Shout-Out in the fourth episode of Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger: Season 2.
Insights
Plot Summary
A skilled martial artist is framed for murder and must go on the run to clear his name. He seeks refuge with a ninja clan, honing his skills to uncover the conspiracy and exact revenge on those who wronged him. The film follows his journey of training, combat, and eventual confrontation with the true culprits.
Critical Reception
Ninja Captor is a typical example of the martial arts films of its era, often praised for its action sequences and fight choreography by fans of the genre. However, it generally received mixed to negative reviews from mainstream critics for its predictable plot and sometimes uninspired direction.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its energetic fight scenes and martial arts action.
Criticized for a simplistic and formulaic storyline.
Deemed a decent watch for die-hard fans of 70s kung fu cinema.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this particular film. When available, opinions tend to align with critical reception, with some viewers appreciating the action, while others found the plot lacking.
Fun Fact
The film is noted for its inclusion of ninja elements, which were becoming increasingly popular in martial arts cinema during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
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