War (2007)

Easily Jet Li's worst westernized movie. I usually don't comment or review movies.. i just rate them but after watching this i have to say something, i feel i need to.

A lot of people say that this is an action movie and should be judged on the mind-blowing action and just to enjoy the ride.. I saw no mind blowing action, most of the movie was plot and if i was to ignore all of that i would be left with only a few minutes of horrible action.

The action has little to no martial arts so Jet Li didn't need to be in the movie at all. The stunts were all tame and the editing cut every half-second in the action scenes so that it could make any actor seem like they could empty a room full of thugs.

Jet Li started out great in America with movies such as Kiss of the Dragon and Romeo Must Die. Statham and Li have both worked together in The One which i thought to be a brilliant movie where the plot and the action worked perfectly together.. This movie is the evil twin of The One, the actors stay the same but everything else is screwed up.

Kiss of the Dragon was a movie that had the least amount of plot needed to drive all of the fantastic action scenes. This movie almost wanted the viewer to be taken into its plot and twists. You don't seem to care about any of the characters, some lines you can predict yourself and most of all the action was mediocre at best.

I wont even go into detail about how horrible the ending is, but it left me and my friends in the cinema looking at each other thinking "is that it?"

Jet Li can do better

Fmovies: Jet Li and Jason Stathan are two very charismatic actors (particularly in action movies) but never been able to achieve a big success in the American market. It seems the only reason (very stupid really) is they do not speak "American English" (Stathan is British and Jet Li Chinese); something never bothered Arnold .

In any case, this time are both back and together in a thriller full cruel and bloody violent scene and several unexpected twists that completely change the movie.

Those expecting over the top martial arts fights will be disappointed. Most of the action is gun based however extremely realistic (and violent) and the good guys do not hesitate on killing in cold blood.

War is about people trying to avenge killings, fights for power and honor between Japanese Yakuza, Chinese Triads and ambition. By the end of the movie, everybody has betrayed somebody else.

Compared to other action movies, WAR requires more brains, has little humor and could be consider a little slow but it is really worth your time.

Director Philip G. Atwell serves up the ultra hot action movie "War". The story is about a brutal contract killer dubbed the Rogue who knocks off an FBI Agent and his family. This sends his partner Jack down the road of revenge to settle the score. The catch is Rogue has is own scores to settle with rival Triad and Yakuza bosses who run ruthless Asian crime groups. This sparks a bloody crime war between the bitter enemies. This leads up to Jack finally being able to force a showdown with Rogue to satisfy his thirst for revenge. "War" is a well done showcase of gun play, fight scenes, gang wars, and some sexy T & A. This is a must see for action fans.

The stunts are mind blowing when you watch them. The fighting some of the best in any action DVD including The curse of the Golden Flower.

War fmovies. Jason Statham is the new electrifying action star. Statham is an amazing athlete and accomplished martial artist. However, Jet Li is still the screen's most explosive martial arts star. Be reassured that Li has not yet retired from doing action movies. Old school Li looks lean, calm, and stylish in his black Armani suits, and proves deadly with and without guns. Li is such a dichotomy. On the surface he is clean cut and mild mannered; but can unleash violence with such power and grace at any moment. Director Philip Atwell's "War" takes a while to get its bearing, but once he does so he orchestrates an amazing action movie of blood and vengeance. He along with writers Lee Anthony Smith and Gregory J. Bradley culminates with anticipated payoff: Statham and Li facing off. They also insert a shocking twist, which makes more sense in retrospect. The martial arts as choreographed by Corey Yuen ("Transporter" movies) are exquisite, and acknowledge for its variety. The Japanese katana training between Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and Kane Kosugi is classic. The kung fu sequences with Jet Li are crisp and deadly. Jason Statham uses speed and power in dispatching Chinese Triad assassins. There is an amazing sword fight scene with the Wu-shu style against the classical Japanese style. Through Atwell's lens, one has to admire the mastery and physical prowess. "War" is surprising.

Jason Statham plays FBI Agent Jack Crawford, who leads a task force against both the Chinese Triad led by Chang (cool John Lone) and the Yakuza led by Shiro (bold Ryo Ishibashi). Crawford's partner Tom Lone (Terry Chen) and his family are brutally murdered by the assassin known as Rogue. Crawford's life turns a shambles—his wife Jenny (Andrea Roth) and his son leave him during a divorce. Three years later Crawford investigates a horrific hit at a Yakuza club in San Francisco. A signature discovered at the crime scene leads Crawford to believe that Rogue (Li) is back. Consequently, Crawford (Statham) becomes consumed by vengeance. Jet Li plays Victor Shaw a deadly hit man playing both the Yakuza and Triads. Shaw apparently is the mysterious Rogue. However, as played by Li, Shaw though a stone cold killer without equal operates by a code of honor. He too seems on a mission of vengeance. Shaw is in the middle of an all out war between the Yakuza and the Triads. Nothing good can come of that. There is an interesting subplot involving priceless stolen Chinese artifacts, and the command of Yakuza operations in the States by Shiro's daughter Kira (deadly Devon Aoki). The appeal of "War" remains its singular focus: everything culminates in Crawford's mission of vengeance to kill Rogue. Writers Smith and Bradley effectively build the tension toward the finale, and final plot twist.

Atwell inspires strong performances from Jason Statham and Jet Li. Statham has a gruff charisma as Crawford. Also he demonstrates unexpected range in the character's complexity. Statham has a powerful physical presence and grace. Li is very good as Rogue. He plays to his strength which is expressing his anger and angst through his eyes and concise exchanges. He maintains a placid visage that disguises his sheer will and power. As Rogue it becomes crystal clear that one does not mess with him, less forfeit one's life. Even with some awkward dialog exchanges, Li is compelling and powerful. John Lone has a measured darkness as Chang, always under control. He is good. Ryo Ishibashi is great as the larger than life Shiro

Hey, if you're interested in seeing a mostly-violent flick with a big body count, gratuitous in nature half the time, and a lot of hostility, anger, betrayal, a big twist near the end and tons of testosterone, then this movie is for you. If you want a quiet, low-key thriller, skip this one: this is somewhat brainless blood-and-guts, slice 'n dice. In other words: know what you're going to get here.

We get many, many gunshots to head., long range to up-close-and personal, swords into mouths and through back of head and through just about any other body part, a car chase, motorcycle chases, a few bare breasts and a bunch of attention-grabbing scenes of brutality, which definitely outnumber the quieter scenes.

Jason Statham seems to be the new macho man of the day, playing this kind of role in numerous films the past few years. Jet Li.....well, you know him. Statham versus Li? Yes, but not really. The two are only in the same scene twice, once for a couple of minutes of Jason giving threats and Jet standing there passively, and then in the finale fight scene. The latter, unlike most of these action films of today, is not overdone and go on and on. It's just about the right length.

The best part of this ultra-violent movie dealing with rival Asian gangs and FBI agent (s) in the middle in the BIG twist near the end of the film. At least it makes this a little more than a brainless action movie. I think it's kind of cool, although don't try to analyze it for credibility.

While a number of reviewers here weren't happy that the two big stars weren't on the screen at the same time for long, my choice for under-played actor is Luis Guzman, who is always very interesting but didn't have many lines here. I'd like to have seen his part a lot bigger, and I would have liked to see Statham tone it tone and sound a little more intelligent in his role. In real life, FBI agents have a lot more class.

Having said that, I still enjoyed the film because I knew in advance what it was, that it wasn't Li's best effort nor Statham's but it sufficed for a 100-minute diversion. I was looking for action...and I got it! I also recommend this for those who have HDTV and a Blu-Ray disc player. This is a very slick-looking film on Blu-Ray.

Just don't bring the kiddies or grandma into the living room to watch this!

If you walk into a movie theater showing "War" and expect to be dazzled by some thought-provoking paragon of acting destined to change the way the world thinks about film and culture, you're either an idiot or an idealist. It's called "War" because that's what it is, a bullet festival with some sideshow martial arts.

"War" was designed only to be a brutal, dazzling death picture, and it delivers handsomely. There's scarcely 10 minutes at a stretch that lacks any appreciable action sequences, and the end result leaves more dead Asians than WWII. There are some truly insane displays of gunplay and a handful of inventive deaths (my favorites include a hubcap to the skull). Jason Statham delivers a pretty good performance, considering that this is really designed for pure blood-and-guts glory, and Jet Li is as impressive now as he was in "Romeo Must Die" and "Kiss of the Dragon" (thank GOD he hasn't retired). The plot's also not as simplistic as it needs to be, and it includes several plot twists (yet it never quite seems too convoluted, thankfully).

If you want to see War, be ready for it. Know that you'll go in looking for a mountain of bodies, and you'll get precisely what you ask for. My only real complaint is the relatively abrupt ending-- after the many and close-together action sequences, it downshifts pretty quickly, and leaves you wishing there was still a half hour left.