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War
Lions Gate Films


5.5

based on 15 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R for sequences of strong bloody violence, sexuality/nudity and language

Starring Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Steph Song, Nadine Velazquez, Kane Kosugi, Andrea Roth, and Devon Aoki

After his partner is brutally murdered by the infamous assassin Rogue, FBI agent Jack Crawford vows to find the elusive killer and personally avenge his partner's death. But Rogue proves untraceable until three years later, when he resurfaces to ignite a bloody turf war between Chinese mob leader Chang and Japanese Yakuza boss Shiro. Eager to capture Rogue once and for all, Crawford leads his team of crime specialists headlong into the conflict. But Crawford's thirst for vengeance jeopardizes his professional judgment, and as the violence escalates, Crawford finally comes face-to-face with his enemy to discover that nothing about Rogue or his plan is quite what it seems. (Lions Gate)

GENRE(S):	Action \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Lee Anthony Smith Gregory J. Bradley
DIRECTED BY:	Philip G. Atwell
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: January 1, 2008 Theatrical: August 24, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	103 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Marc Bernardin

There are few cinematic crimes more heinous than making a boring action movie. Sadly, that's what the first hour of Triads-versus-Yakuza thriller War is.

Premiere Paul Semel

War is like Statham's other actioners "The Transporter" and "Crash" -- fun, but not big or dumb enough to be glorious.

TV Guide Ken Fox

It's a complicated plot, but one that leaves plenty of room for everything a fan could want: gunplay, swordfights, brutal mano a mano fisticuffs, motorcycle races, car chases, Japanese gangsters eating sushi off of topless women, and that old standby, a decapitated head in a box.

Variety Joe Leydon

Quickly devolves into a standard-issue crime drama laced with routine martial artistry.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

In spite of a late-game adrenaline surge, the hoped-for fireworks between Li and Statham never quite materialize.

Austin Chronicle Toddy Burton

The action sequences are shot in close-ups and with such rapid editing, it’s nearly impossible to find a sense of rhythm let alone follow what’s happening.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Routine crime thriller.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Lacking even the galvanizing action sequences that would have compensated for suffering through its formulaic plot, this is a thoroughly forgettable exploitationer that will not enhance its stars' resumes.

The New York Times Andy Webster

Most regrettably, War squanders the considerable merits of its leads.

Film Threat Michael Ferraro

Perhaps this movie would have been better off if it starred Steven Seagal and Tom Arnold.

Los Angeles Times Sam Adams

War ties itself in knots trying to bring something new to a stale formula. It's never painful to watch, but that's only because it provokes no feeling at all.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason McBride

A kind of dumbed-down, souped-up action thriller in a quasi-"Lethal Weapon" mode.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

If you want to see Li and Statham in an underwhelming martial arts film, rent "The One" instead. Li talks considerably more in that movie, but at least he punches a lot of people out.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Fun here is fleeting.

LA Weekly Jim Ridley

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Offering neither the enjoyably preposterous auto-heroics of the Transporter movies nor the lithe, legible athleticism of even second-tier Hong Kong thrillers.

The average user rating for this movie is 5.5 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Steve K gave it a5:
Cool idea - Yakuza vs. Triad in America with an unstoppable "rogue" operative who was working for one side then unexpectedly starts wiping out the other side. Compelling and interesting action flick that you can just turn your brain off... that is until the last 15 minutes. The movie jars you with a ridiculous and non-sensical twist that is like hitting the audience with a 2x4. The ending is so absurd that it caused my brain to switch back on and realize that this was a terrible movie. For the first 90% of the movie, I give it a 5.

Alejandro R. gave it a7:
The action in this movie was pretty good, it had swords, guns, and hand-to-hand combat. It also had some twists, which were entertaining. The ending had many people in the theater confused. I was looking forward to more fights between Jet Li and Jason Statham. The plot was pretty interesting. Either you are gonna love or hate the ending, no in betweens.

gg gave it a10:
it was a good movie

G-Rad Andrew gave it a1:
POW!!!! War is shocked with action. But that's all. Just action. You've gotta' be kiddin' me. Who would think of a stupid story like this. Jason Statham actually had a pretty good role, but the plot was terribly written. All it was was this chinese guy killed Statham's partner and wants to take revenge. Just too obvious. I think the Director of Epic Movie would do better, even though that one was still a complete mess. War, I think not. Not much of a war to me. They should have called it Revenge of the Partner, sounds kind of pathetic but still. I think it could've been better on a whole pack of other ways.

Mangopork gave it a7:
Imperfect, but fun. Jet Li's viciousness and smart character manipulation really makes the film. Some fight scenes could have been better, camerawork needed some widening, but otherwise a very enjoyable popcorn action flick - with a better than average plot for a film in this genre. Recommended.

RichardS gave it a0:
Why is Jason Statham so popular in Hollywood? This concept that he, or Vinnie Jones, can carry a movie is laughable.

James R gave it a2:
This was a by the numbers shitty boring flick. So predictable, and unlikeable. At the end of the movie the entire audience yelped a loud WHAT??? Absolutely terrible.

War Lions Gate Films

War
Lions Gate Films