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Movies / On DVD / War
War

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War (2007)

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Reviews Counted:58

Fresh:8

Rotten:50

Average Rating:3.9/10

Consensus: Jet Li and Jason Statham find themselves on opposing sides in the immensely boring War, which is full of clichés but short on action.

Rated: 18

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:28-09-2007

Synopsis: Set in San Francisco amidst a feud between the Japanese yakuza and Chinese Triad criminal factions, director Philip G. Atwell's WAR stars Jet Li as the enigmatic assassin Rogue, and Jason Statham... Set in San Francisco amidst a feud between the Japanese yakuza and Chinese Triad criminal factions, director Philip G. Atwell's WAR stars Jet Li as the enigmatic assassin Rogue, and Jason Statham as Jack Crawford, an F.B.I. agent determined to track him down. As the prime suspect in the murder of Crawford's partner, the elusive Rogue uses the mayhem of gang warfare to his advantage, even as the gruff lawman closes in on his trail, leading to a dramatic showdown. Although Li and Statham have shared the screen before in THE ONE, this is the first film to give the two stars equal billing. While Li has little to say in the movie, his actions speak volumes; he plays Rogue with a sleek menace that contrasts nicely with Statham's gruff, no-nonsense presence. WAR is the debut studio film from hip-hop-video director Philip G. Atwell (best known for his work with Eminem and 50 Cent). It moves at a brisk, quick-cut pace, and benefits from fight choreography by veteran Chinese actor/director Corey Yuen. Though martial-arts fans may be slightly disappointed by the movie's focus on gunplay, one of its centerpieces, a furious swordfight that showcases Li's stunning dexterity, is sure to please aficionados of Hong Kong-style kinetics. [More]

Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Devon Aoki

Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Devon Aoki

Director: Phillip G. Atwell

Director: Phillip G. Atwell
Screenwriter: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley
Producer: Steven Chasman, Jim Thompson, Christopher Petzel
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Reviews for War

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

War is a big dumb potboiler that manages the almost impossible trick of making explosions, swordfights and car chases actually seem boring.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
09/28/07
Daily Mirror [UK]

Li and Statham (and the audience) deserve better.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/28/07
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
09/28/07
Ben Walters
Ben Walters
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Like its leading men, War’s got a few handy moves up its sleeve, but when the dust-ups clear it emerges underwritten and over-cranked.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
09/28/07
James White
James White
Total Film

Badly plotted, poorly directed action flick – it's no surprise this wasn't shown to critics before its release.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
09/29/07
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

All together now: 'War! Hurgh! What is it it good for?'

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/02/07
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/08/07
Screen International

[Jet] Li and [Jason] Statham’s characters represent respect for life and art; they’re also purifying a contaminated genre.

Full Review Source: New York Press | comment 1 Comment
08/30/07
Armond White
Armond White
New York Press

Dark in tone and almost devoid of humor, it proves that a serious, workmanlike effort can still pay off.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
08/27/07
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

This isn't great cinema, but it adequately fills a niche. Those who like their action loud and bloody won't be disappointed. There's a high body count and lots of explosions and, for some, that's what this is all about.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
08/25/07
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

It all looks pretty good, and delivers exactly what it promises.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/24/07
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Sound effects: blam! blam! blam! blam, blam! blam! blam! blam! blam!!! -- well, you get the picture.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
08/24/07
Liz Braun
Liz Braun
Jam! Movies

Just as you think to yourself, ''This flick would be way better if it had Van Damme playing twins,'' along comes a plot twist so ingenious that it almost redeems the rest of the flick.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
08/29/07
Marc Bernardin
Marc Bernardin
Entertainment Weekly

War has a ton of problems, but it manages to overcome most of them...barely.

Full Review Source: Mike Bracken's Horror Films | comment Comment
03/24/08
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken's Horror Films

All-the-way-through good, from explosive start to bloody finish, without so much as a momentary lag in the action or the story.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
08/24/07
Rob Salem
Rob Salem
Toronto Star

... more proof that bad writing and directing can overwhelm any amount of talent elsewhere.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
09/12/07
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

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

comment Comment
08/27/07
Andy Webster
Andy Webster
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

By making Corey Yuen the director instead of just the action choreographer, War could have been a far superior film that would have at least satisfied action junkies.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
08/25/07
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

The final cut of the picture looks as though someone pulled it apart in post-production and forgot how the pieces fit. It's not a total mess, but War tends to get dizzy trying to keep the plot afloat.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
08/31/07
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
eFilmCritic.com

A disappointment, failing to capitalize on the charisma of its two leads or even give them anything that interesting to do.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
08/24/07
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
UGO
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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