Episode 302 - American Ninja vs The Hunted (Movie Matchup Edition)
For the entire month of March, the guys at Not A Bomb are throwing it back to their old Movie Matchup format, pitting notorious box office bombs against each other in a battle for redemption. Two flops enter… only one survives. There can only be one!
This week, Troy and Brad are strapping on their headbands, polishing their katana, and diving into a matchup that blends ‘80s martial‑arts mayhem with ‘90s neo‑samurai intensity. It’s a clash of cultures, a duel of destinies, and—let’s be honest, a celebration of that timeless cinematic art form: white‑guy karate. That’s right, it’s American Ninja vs. The Hunted, and the dojo has never been more chaotic.
American Ninja (1985)
Directed by Sam Firstenberg and starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson, and Tadashi Yamashita, this Cannon Films classic is the apex of Reagan‑era martial‑arts absurdity. It’s a movie where ninjas fall from trees like confetti, the U.S. Army apparently has no HR department, and the choreography proudly screams, “We taught this guy karate last week.” A cult favorite for anyone who believes the greatest martial art is confidence.
The Hunted (1995)
Directed by J.F. Lawton and starring Christopher Lambert, John Lone, Joan Chen, and Yoshio Harada, this sleek, bloody thriller drops a confused American businessman into a centuries‑old samurai feud. Lambert, armed with nothing but bewilderment and the fighting instincts of a man who once took a weekend aikido class. It’s stylish, atmospheric, and surprisingly intense, proving that even in the ‘90s, Hollywood couldn’t resist the allure of “What if a regular white guy accidentally became part of a ninja war?”
The Matchup
This isn’t just a duel—it’s a full‑blown martial‑arts heavyweight fight. Cannon‑era ninja chaos vs. moody samurai noir. Dudikoff’s “I guess I’m a ninja now” energy vs. Lambert’s “I definitely did not sign up for this” panic. Troy and Brad break down which film kicks harder, which one stumbles, and which earns the coveted weekly crown. Expect shurikens, sword fights, questionable accents, and enough white‑guy karate to power a VHS dojo.
We Want to Hear From You
Got a cinematic flop you want us to tackle? Drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or reach out through our contact page. Reviews on Apple Podcasts or Spotify help us grow and keep the chaos coming.
Cast: Brad, Troy
For the entire month of March, the guys at Not A Bomb are throwing it back to their old Movie Matchup format, pitting notorious box office bombs against each other in a battle for redemption. Two flops enter… only one survives. There can only be one!
This week, Troy and Brad are strapping on their headbands, polishing their katana, and diving into a matchup that blends ‘80s martial‑arts mayhem with ‘90s neo‑samurai intensity. It’s a clash of cultures, a duel of destinies, and—let’s be honest, a celebration of that timeless cinematic art form: white‑guy karate. That’s right, it’s American Ninja vs. The Hunted, and the dojo has never been more chaotic.
American Ninja (1985)
Directed by Sam Firstenberg and starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson, and Tadashi Yamashita, this Cannon Films classic is the apex of Reagan‑era martial‑arts absurdity. It’s a movie where ninjas fall from trees like confetti, the U.S. Army apparently has no HR department, and the choreography proudly screams, “We taught this guy karate last week.” A cult favorite for anyone who believes the greatest martial art is confidence.
The Hunted (1995)
Directed by J.F. Lawton and starring Christopher Lambert, John Lone, Joan Chen, and Yoshio Harada, this sleek, bloody thriller drops a confused American businessman into a centuries‑old samurai feud. Lambert, armed with nothing but bewilderment and the fighting instincts of a man who once took a weekend aikido class. It’s stylish, atmospheric, and surprisingly intense, proving that even in the ‘90s, Hollywood couldn’t resist the allure of “What if a regular white guy accidentally became part of a ninja war?”
The Matchup
This isn’t just a duel—it’s a full‑blown martial‑arts heavyweight fight. Cannon‑era ninja chaos vs. moody samurai noir. Dudikoff’s “I guess I’m a ninja now” energy vs. Lambert’s “I definitely did not sign up for this” panic. Troy and Brad break down which film kicks harder, which one stumbles, and which earns the coveted weekly crown. Expect shurikens, sword fights, questionable accents, and enough white‑guy karate to power a VHS dojo.
We Want to Hear From You
Got a cinematic flop you want us to tackle? Drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or reach out through our contact page. Reviews on Apple Podcasts or Spotify help us grow and keep the chaos coming.
Cast: Brad, Troy
Episode 111 - Chuck Norris Double Feature (Sidekicks & Top Dog)
Did you know Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because Chuck Norris only recognizes the element of surprise? Or how about this. Did you know Chuck Norris can drown a fish?
That’s right! Chuck Norris makes his debut on Not a Bomb, the podcast that reexamines some of cinema’s biggest bombs. This week, we discuss two of the most unique Norris films - 1992/1993’s Sidekicks and 1995’s Top Dog. Not A Bomb welcomes back fan favorite - Jose! Chuck Norris, like many 80’s icons, had a difficult transition into the 90’s which makes discussing these two films so fascinating. Listen as the guys discuss Mattress Mac, Gi Sniffers, pornography, and dog pronouns.
And never forget, Walker told me I have AIDS.
Timestamps:
Intro - (0:48)
Chuck Norris Talk - (3:00)
Sidekicks
Box Office Results and Critical Response - (31:06), Movie Guide - (33:30), Behind the Camera - (37:20), In Front of the Camera - (47:16), Discussion - (55:48) and Is it a Bomb? - (80:10)
Top Dog
Box Office Results and Critical Response - (82:06), Movie Guide - (86:00), Behind the Camera - (89:06), In Front of the Camera - (92:00), Discussion - (96:20) and Is it a Bomb? - (118:39)
Listener Feedback - (120:18)
Corrections! - (129:59)
Outro - (135:20)
Did you know Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because Chuck Norris only recognizes the element of surprise? Or how about this. Did you know Chuck Norris can drown a fish?
That’s right! Chuck Norris makes his debut on Not a Bomb, the podcast that reexamines some of cinema’s biggest bombs. This week, we discuss two of the most unique Norris films - 1992/1993’s Sidekicks and 1995’s Top Dog. Not A Bomb welcomes back fan favorite - Jose! Chuck Norris, like many 80’s icons, had a difficult transition into the 90’s which makes discussing these two films so fascinating. Listen as the guys discuss Mattress Mac, Gi Sniffers, pornography, and dog pronouns.
And never forget, Walker told me I have AIDS.
Timestamps:
Intro - (0:48)
Chuck Norris Talk - (3:00)
Sidekicks
Box Office Results and Critical Response - (31:06), Movie Guide - (33:30), Behind the Camera - (37:20), In Front of the Camera - (47:16), Discussion - (55:48) and Is it a Bomb? - (80:10)
Top Dog
Box Office Results and Critical Response - (82:06), Movie Guide - (86:00), Behind the Camera - (89:06), In Front of the Camera - (92:00), Discussion - (96:20) and Is it a Bomb? - (118:39)
Listener Feedback - (120:18)
Corrections! - (129:59)
Outro - (135:20)