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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.
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
Reviews for War
War is a big dumb potboiler that manages the almost impossible trick of making explosions, swordfights and car chases actually seem boring.
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.
Badly plotted, poorly directed action flick – it's no surprise this wasn't shown to critics before its release.
... more proof that bad writing and directing can overwhelm any amount of talent elsewhere.
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.
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.
A disappointment, failing to capitalize on the charisma of its two leads or even give them anything that interesting to do.
A generic action flick made much worse by a couple of ridiculous plot twists that are disingenuous and a total rip-off, ruining what little fun it otherwise would have been.
Not so much a narrative as a barrage of violent images designed to beat the brain into abject surrender.
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