American Ninja (1985) - Okay, the plot is...something, but what about the fashion choices?!
Okay, so I just watched American Ninja (don't judge!) and while the storyline is, um, definitely a product of its time (and maybe a few questionable writing decisions), I couldn't help but fixate on some of the costume choices. Like, was there a theme meeting beforehand? Joe Armstrong's whole look is intriguing – that almost-mullet, the perpetually-unbuttoned army shirt... it's peak '80s drifter chic, I guess? But honestly, the real stars of the show (besides the obvious ninja stars, haha) are the villains' outfits. Those black ninja suits are classic, sure, but the sheen! They look like someone went wild with fabric protector. And what about the commander dude, Black Star Ninja? His metallic mask and overly-padded shoulders SCREAM power move. Also, did anyone else notice the random pops of neon pink on some of the bad guys' accessories? I'm trying to figure out if it's a subtle nod to like, '80s new wave, or just a complete oversight? Like, I'm genuinely curious, did the costume designer have a very specific vision, or was it more of a "grab whatever's vaguely military-ish and mildly ninja-y" kind of situation? Were they going for realistic or just purely for the aesthetic? What are your thoughts??? Am I totally overthinking this, or is there some hidden fashion genius at play here that everyone else is missing? Seriously, let me know!
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