X
- 2007
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 43 m
- 2007
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 43 m
Summary 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. Eag...
Directed By: Philip G. Atwell
Written By: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley
- 2007
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 43 m
- 2007
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 43 m
War
36
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary 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. Eag...
Directed By: Philip G. Atwell
Written By: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
36
20% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
47% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
33% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
36
20% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
47% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
33% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
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.
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.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 167 User Ratings
8.4
76% Positive
127 Ratings
127 Ratings
16% Mixed
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
8% Negative
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 167 User Ratings
8.4
76% Positive
127 Ratings
127 Ratings
16% Mixed
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
8% Negative
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
Statham and Li's action-thriller suffers from not fully embracing the more fun elements of it's B-movie nature. It takes almost an hour to get to the action we are waiting for. It's a little too plot heavy. Something that's really only a problem because our leads go so underdeveloped. There are also problems with the logic behind events. Like the scene where Statham is magically able to deduce who the dirty cop behind the gunning down of Yakuza thugs is. I like the different flavor the focus on Asian crime syndicates brings to the mix. It's a nice change of pace from your typical street thugs and mafia types. It kind of brings an interesting question to the table though. Why is War set in San Francisco? Bringing all of these Triad and Yakuza members stateside serves no other purpose than allow for a white actor to be marketed as the lead in order to appeal to an American audience. With so much of the architecture and locales appearing distinctly Asian, the U.S. setting feels wildly out of place. Especially since Statham is barely in the movie at all. They could have just as easily trimmed down his part, cast his character as Asian, moved the setting to Japan or China, and spent more time fleshing out Li's role as his is the one so crucial to the film as it's his increasingly questionable actions that will keep viewers interested right up to that incredibly satisfying big twist that almost makes everything worthwhile.
When the action finally ramps up things get much more entertaining. There are all the katanas, shout outs, and chases you could want. Li and Statham have managed to stand out as actions stars thanks to the remarkably fast physicality they are able to show off in fight sequences. War makes good use of both of the actor's abilities and allows them to dish out some bloody deaths. So the film has some cheap thrills that make things more entertaining in it's second-half, and overall the first-half isn't terrible. Some questionable writing and half-baked characters bring things down, but the energetic violence and stellar reveal help bring some life to the mix. It may only hover slightly above the realm of mediocrity, but War can still manage to entertain the action movie fans out there who are more concerned with star power and some decent punches thrown as opposed to genuinely fulfilling writing.
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Routine crime thriller.
Perhaps this movie would have been better off if it starred Steven Seagal and Tom Arnold.
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.
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.
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.
Reasons to see WAR
WAR kicks ass, and you should see it a lot of times, for these reasons:
Jason Statham yelling at people, and then kicking ass. In other
words, being himself.
Jet Li killing a guy by kicking him in the **** that's not his
best kill.
Random girls getting nude for no reason.
Ninjas. Just when you think this movie couldn't rock any harder, they
put Ninjas in the movie.
A twist ending that would make M. Night Shawhocares *beep* himself.
A car chase every 10 minutes. There's even one with motorcycles.
Violence. Lots of it. Guns, blades, blood, kungfu, decapitations, the
bases are covered.
-Jet Li and Jason Statham fighting each other. It's as epic as you might think.
So, in conclusion, if you, 1. Like things that are awesome. 2. Have a pair of testicles. 3. Need to see a movie that rocks for a change. 4. Are a human being.
...than WAR is for you.
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As expected, It was a solid action flick that was worth watching for Li and Statham alone. The twist at the end was a little expected but still worked out good. It was ok but not as good as I expected it to be.
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War is a film with an unintelligible plot, very basic characters and not very abundant action scenes.
In short, a disastrous film.
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War is lacklustre in many regards, with the storytelling, characterisation and acting leaving a lot to be desired. You could forgive this little B-movie for these shortcomings if it managed to entertain in other ways, but generally War just isn't enough fun. The action is all competent, and both the Li/Statham car chase and their close-quarters fight at the finale is well-handled, but the set pieces are over too briefly, and are surprisingly infrequent for a film of this type. It's also disappointing that a film that pitches Jet Li and Jason Statham, two of the most talented martial artists currently working on film, against each other and doesn't give them many opportunities to demonstrate their considerable combined talent - in most scenes they are reduced to taking pot-shots at each other rather than getting up close and personal. Aside from a couple of stand-out set-pieces, and Statham giving off his usual gravelly charm, War is a largely dull affair, with a flimsy plot, terrible acting and staggering cultural insensitivity. For a film like this to work, it needs something extra - whether it's more memorable and stylish action, a bit of humour thrown in or a better script, and it certainly cannot take itself as seriously as War does.
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Production Company
Lionsgate Films,
Mosaic,
Fierce Entertainment,
Current Entertainment,
Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit,
Rogue Films
Release Date Aug 24, 2007
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating R
Tagline One wants justice, the other wants revenge.
Awards
Teen Choice Awards
• 1 Nomination
