| Product: |
War (DVD) |
| Date: |
15/05/08 (121 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: A good plot and some great fights
Disadvantages: Not the sort of film you expect from the stars
War is the latest (as of late 2007/early 2008) Jason Statham film, this time he is sharing top billing with the enigmatic martial arts star Jet Li.
Statham is Crawford, an FBI agent stationed in San Francisco and tasked with the job of keeping an eye on and dealing with the big oriental crime organisations in the city... The Triads and The Yakuza.
His job is hampered by the activities of a hitman/mercenary known only as Rogue, who has appeared in the city working for Shiro the Yakuza leader.
When Rogue kills Crawford's partner he vows revenge and from that moment on he only has two purposes in his life. One to shut down both the warring factions and two to make sure that Rogue dies for murdering his partner.
War is an odd little film. It has too much plot, story and drama to be a good action film, and not enough action for that matter considering its stars, and too much action to be a good little crime thriller.
Considering the stars, very much known as action film makers it really isn't what you expect it to be. Hence it ends up being a little bit of a disappointment by not having enough of what you want to see in a Statham/Li movie.
Thinking back in retrospect now this it a little bit of an unfair opinion. War, with a different couple of stars, would be looked at in a different way, appreciated a lot more and, no doubt, actually seen by a lot more people.
War has a reasonably good plot, but it is far too complex for the audience its stars are going to attract in. I don't mean that action stars a stupid but that when you go to see an action film you have an expectation of what you are going to see. My friend and I went to see it wanting a nice action no brainer to see after a long day at work. We didn't get that and so were dissatisfied with it, something we wouldn't have been with a different style of headliners. This is its big downfall, it will not please the stars fans and it will not draw in those who will actually find it an interesting little story.
Because of this I can see that this is a film I will enjoy much more on a second viewing. Statham is a good action actor, he knows his strengths and plays to them. Here Crawford is an interesting character and you do like him. He is full of rage and anger but you know why he is so angry so you do feel sympathy with him and urge him on his quest for revenge.
Li is more of a cypher, sooo unusual for him, you never really get a grip on his character. Seeing as he is playing Rogue though and he is a mysterious assassin then his limited acting abilities make him perfect casting.
The action set pieces, though far fewer than expected are well set out and look impressive. Some of the stunts are extremely well executed and one in a car showroom is particularly impressive.
Would I recommend War? Probably not if you are a fan of the actors previous films and are expecting a mega match up between the two or something akin to their previous outings.
If you ignore the stars and think about watching it as a thriller with brief moments taken from an action film then it may just be worth it, if only for the one jaw dropping, stunning moment that just blows your mind. Without that moment War would have got 1 star from me (though it may improve on a second viewing with less action expectations) with it it gets a certain 2 and verges on a 3!
Summary: Action stars in a non out and out action film
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