I had low expectations for Ninja Assassin. From the trailer and title, I thought it was going to be a lame attempt at cashing in on a video game-calibre ninja film. To my surprise, what I got in viewing it was an awesome, wild and bloody ride that blew my mind and even made me a little bit giddy.

The film opens with a bunch of thugs being taken out by a deadly group of ninjas from the Ozunu Clan. These ninjas are lightning-fast brutal killers. They tear their victims apart with ninja stars and other insane ninja weapons. Arms and heads are ripped off, bodies are split in two, and more blood is splattered in the first 10 minutes than most of the horror films that were released this year (including Saw VI). This leads us to Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) who believes ninjas are behind the massacre, as well as other high profile killings. With an armful of research, Mika approaches her supervisor Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles) to start an investigation on her theory.

Switching gears we meet Raizo (Korean superstar Rain) – a young, powerful ninja who was adopted by the Ozunu Clan as a child and trained to be a ruthless killing machine. He has escaped the clan and now protects people who are hunted by them. We see his story unfold with flashbacks of his training under Ozunu (famed martial arts actor Shô Kosugi) and what led to him breaking free. When Mika and Maslow get too close to unveiling the truth and are targeted as a threat to the clan, Raizo crosses paths with them to hopefully save them from death. The rest of the film is a never-ending bloodfest of ninja after ninja being killed, decapitated or chopped into bits. It’s sick, but it’s oh so fun.

Produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers, and directed by James McTeigue, Ninja Assassin is a very stylish, slick film. Like McTeigue’s first film V For Vendetta, it’s very dark and takes the genre very seriously. Sure, the dialogue and acting could have been better, but this is a ninja film first and foremost, and a kick-ass one at that. The fight scenes are outstanding and authentic, thanks to the filmmakers not relying on wire-work and instead using stuntmen trained in Parkour, the art of climbing walls and maneuvering over obstacles in a fluid, artistic motion. Watching them is jaw-dropping bliss.

Ninja Assassin does a great job at making ninjas cool again. Hopefully another Ninja Turtle movie won’t ruin the vibe.

*** out of 5 stars

Rated R
Cast: Rain, Shô Kosugi, Ben Miles, Naomie Harris
Directed by: James McTeigue
Official Site IMDb

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Old Dogs

Top image: A scene from Ninja Assassin. Courtesy Warner Bros.

This may come as a surprise to those who live here – and Canadians who love to hate Toronto – but there are people beyond the city’s limits who think its ethnic mix and burgeoning art and food scene make it a pretty hip place.

In an article posted this week on popular U.S. news site, the Huffington Post, journalist Lauri Lyons describes the city as a vibrant, artsy hub whose residents love a festival.

“If your idea of Canada is dominated by maple syrup, hockey, flannel shirts or the G-20 Summit, it’s time to discover Toronto as the new capital of Cool,” she writes.

She points to Luminato, the Toronto International Film Festival and Nuit Blanche and compares the West Queen West, Ossington and Liberty Village neighbourhoods to Brooklyn.

And she marvels at the cultural diversity in Kensington Market, Chinatown and Little India that has become a cliché to residents.

“It is in these neighborhoods that you will see, feel and taste the vibrant mash-up of globalization and daily life coming together,” she says.

Recently, Niagara region launched an ad campaign that portrayed Toronto as a crowded, crime-ridden city covered in graffiti.

To read the Huffington Post article, click here.

Tuesday could be Toronto’s last day of summer weather for a while, weather forecasters say.

Two incoming cold fronts spell the end of warm temperatures, and they’re also bringing rain to Toronto.

There’s a 40 per cent chance of showers for Tuesday afternoon, Environment Canada cautioned, and there’s a risk they could turn into thunderstorms.

“No watches or warnings have been issued,” CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai. Around 1:30 p.m., Ramsahai said this front could go through dry with no showers through the GTA.

“Storms will likely hit eastern Ontario and Quebec,” she added.

The two cold fronts will also have a big impact on the temperature, dropping it down first to a seasonal average of 21C, and then to single-digit lows.

Tuesday’s forecasted high of 28 C is well above average – normally at this time of year, the high is around 22C.

“There’s a second cold front on Wednesday night, bringing in Arctic air,” Ramsahai said.

“By the end of the week, we’ll have single-digit lows overnight, which is much colder than average.”

There’s a chance we could have another brief warm-up later this month.

After a weekend of balmy temperatures, cold weather is on the way for GTA — and it’s going to hit quickly.

A cold front came in Tuesday night, bringing the temperature down to a seasonal average high of about 21C.

We’re due for a second one Wednesday night, CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai explained, and that cold front will bring a high of 14C to Toronto for Thursday – and single-digit lows of around 5C overnight.

These low temperatures will continue into the weekend, which is well below the seasonal average.

“It’s been four months since we’ve felt temperatures like this – it hasn’t been this cold since May 9,” Ramsahai said.

It’s small consolation when you’re donning your fall jacket this weekend, but there’s a chance we could have another brief warm-up later this month, Ramsahai said.

Monday’s cool, rainy weather is the last sign of fall we’ll see for a while: warm temperatures are set to return for the weekend.

“By the end of the week, we’ll have temperatures back in the 20s,” weather specialist Frank Ferragine said.

First, though, we’ll have to get through a cloudy day, with a 60 per cent chance of showers. There’s a high of 13C in the forecast, falling to a low of 9C overnight.

By Tuesday morning, those clouds should clear and we’ll see a high of 19C.

“We’ll warm our way up to 20C on Friday, 22C on Saturday, and it still looks like it’s going to stay dry on Sunday,” Ferragine said.

Toys “R” Us Canada is hiring a “chief play officer” — an enthusiastic child who loves toys to give parents the scoop about what’s cool.

The job is a one-year contract, which includes having the newest toys delivered to their home to play with, writing social media blogs, making TV appearances and acting as the spokesperson for Toys “R” Us in Canada.

“For our newest CPO we’re looking for a dynamic child who is enthusiastic about toys and has a vivid imagination. Through this nationwide search, we’re excited to see what our country’s talented youth have to offer,” said Liz MacDonald, vice-president of marketing and store planning at Toys”R”Us Canada.

“We created the CPO role because as Canada’s greatest toy store it is important to us to provide honest opinions, education and advice on what games and toys children will love, and who better to share those insights than a child?,” she added.

Interested applicants, with the help and consent of their parents, can apply by submitting a video explaining why they want the job. Click here for more information.

The deadline is July 6.

Summer in Toronto will inevitably bring, hot, sticky and sweaty conditions.

Are you ready to cope with the heat? We have put together a list of simple, inexpensive ways you can stay cool all summer long.

Turn on the fans

Fans circulate air around a room and can help speed up sweat evaporation, cooling you off in the process. Be sure to open windows to allow hot air to escape, and place the fan near a basement entrance to allow cool air to enter the room. At night, place the fan near an open window to pump the cool night air into the room.

Turn your fan into an air conditioner

Another simple and innovative way to use your fan to cool off your home is to allow it to spread cool air throughout a room by placing a bowl of ice or a frozen jug of liquid in front of the fan as it circulates.

Opt for cotton bedsheets

While you may have already opted for those loose-fitting pajamas, also try putting cotton sheets on your bed. Cotton is a breathable material that will allow air to circulate and help lower your body heat.

Shield your widows

Almost half of your home’s heat enters through windows. A simple way to help stop heat and sunlight from permeating through the windows is to cover them with close-fitting blinds and curtains that are a light, reflective colour.

Water, water and more water

Your body needs water—and lots of it. The more water you get into your body the better. It is essential that you drink up in order to remain hydrated and to avoid heat exhaustion. A quick way to cool off is to run your wrists under cold water for about 10 seconds. Your wrists contain a main vein which will allow you to help cool your blood. You can also spray your neck often with water to help cool off, as your neck contains many of the body’s temperature sensors.

Homemade popsicles

For a fun and tasty way to cool off, try turning your child’s favourite juice or your favourite drink into a tasty homemade treat. Just pour the liquids into a tray, place in the freezer, and voila—you’re ready to enjoy your homemade fruit punch or margarita popsicle.

Backyard activities for the kids

When it comes to beating the heat there’s nothing better than using the good old-fashioned hose and sprinkler to cool off while having fun. If you’re feeling a little more creative, take an old tarp, detergent, add some water and have your kids sliding through your homemade slip-and-slide in no time.

Ferry over to Centre Island

For only $7 (adult roundtrip) you can take a ferry over to Centre Island for the day. The cool breeze off the water as well as the beaches open for swimming are a sure way for you to remain cool while also enjoying a view of the city’s skyline.

Beaches and outdoor swimming pools

If you can’t get away this summer you can always check out some of Toronto’s 11 beaches, including Cherry Beach, Sunnyside Beach and Woodbine Beaches. For a full list of Toronto beaches click here.

Toronto also operates 64 indoor pools, 58 outdoor pools, 106 wading pools and 93 splash pads, so you should have no trouble finding somewhere to cool off in the water. For a full list of Toronto pools click here.

Ice cream and gelato

Get out and indulge a little bit this summer. Toronto has many ice cream and gelato shops for you to satisfy your cravings while still beating the heat. If you’re looking for authentic Italian gelato try Dolce Gelato, with locations on Danforth Avenue and College Street. For more traditional ice cream be sure to check out the handmade and unique flavours of Ed’s Real Scoop located in the Beaches and in South Riverdale neighbourhoods.

Go to the mall or museum

Malls and museums are air conditioned, so you can shop and take in some sites while remaining cool. Walking around the mall is also a great way to get in some exercise without working up a sweat and feeling like you are actually exercising.

Toronto is cool.

That’s according to BBC travel reporter David G Allan who says the city’s charm is found in its eclectic shops, coffee houses and arty hotels.

Allan says part of what makes the city cool is that “doesn’t feel the need to advertise the fact, most of the world doesn’t even know.”

Another part of Toronto’s charm, according to Allan, is the lack of global chains. He also praised the quality microbrews found on tap at several downtown watering holes.

He cited Kenginston Market, The Junction, Queen West and the Distillery District as specific areas where “microcosms of hipness” exist.

Why do you think Toronto is cool? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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