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"Ninja Assassin" is one of the best action films this decade with each fight outdoing the last as it builds to an exciting climax that will have audiences spellbound ... if they can handle the sight of a lot of blood.

The script, penned by J. Michael Straczynski ("Changeling") is serviceable in bridging the gaps between the next spectacular fighting sequence, but anyone looking for a gripping plot knows to avoid ninja films in the first place.

Europol investigator Mika (Naomie Harris, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End") is looking into mysterious assassinations and her research has her convinced that the notorious Ozunu clan is taking in orphans and training them to be ninjas — emotionless, deadly silent killing machines — ready to be utilized for anyone willing to pay their price for protection or assassinations.

Ozunu (Sho Kosugi, "Kabuto"), reinforces failure to follow his implicit orders completely with vicious beatings.

Ozunu's prized student Raizo (Korean pop singer Rain, "Speed Racer") turned his back on the clan after Ozunu ordered the senseless killing of Raizo's one friend after she tried to escape the clan and has vowed revenge the old fashion way — by killing every one of his former associates.

Straczynski primarily uses flashbacks to detail Raizo's ninja training, which help explain his deadly proficiency in killing and his torment in trying to gain revenge on Ozunu. Rain plays the brooding loner expertly and displays the type of charisma that could make him a major star in the U.S. if he chooses to continue crossing over to the film world.

Realizing that even with his skills he cannot defeat the entire clan by himself, Raizo partners with Mika in the hopes of bringing down Ozunu once and for all.

Director James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta") stages some amazing fighting scenes, from a rainy battle on a rooftop with raindrops being sliced through with ninja stars and flashing swords to a final battle waged amid a burning dojo. McTeigue smartly paces the battles in a manner to keep raising the stakes and intensity.

McTeigue knows a thing or two about directing blockbuster action sequences as he's worked as an assistant director on the "Matrix" trilogy, and that experience shows. Playing up on the ninja aspect of the film, McTeigue keeps the ninjas to the shadows, moving across the screen as if they were ghosts.

The action is not for the faint of heart as the violence is very graphic, with Raizo's opponents spraying out blood like geysers and getting their arms, hands, legs and even heads chopped off with relative ease.

The fights make The Bride's clash with the Crazy 88 in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" seem like a very intense game of dodge ball.

At first glance, the action is almost a bit too cartoonish and over the top, but McTeigue makes it work by making the Ozunu ninjas nearly as credible as Raizo so the only way he can keep them down is by incapacitating them.

"Ninja Assassin" is a throwback to the 1980s action movies where one highly skilled man could overcome seemingly overwhelming odds and there's no sense in explaining the logic, but just to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Ninja Assassin

R, Action, 99 minutes

Director: James McTeigue

Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Sho Kosugi, Rick Yune and Ben Miles

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars