Early on in War, a passable action flick starring Jason Statham and Jet
Li, one of the main characters ruminates on the issue of trust and
never knowing who’s on whose side. It’s a theme central to the film,
which starts and ends well but gets bogged down by a murky middle act.
There are two main conflicts - one between rival Asian gangs the Japanese Yakuza and the Chinese Triads, and the other between two men, FBI agent Jack Crawford (Statham) and assassin Rogue (Li). Crawford suspects the elusive Rogue killed his partner, along with his partner’s wife and child, as revenge for a previous confrontation that ended badly for the hired gun. Now he’s the one with the score to settle, and makes it his mission to hunt down Rogue and avenge his friend’s death.
As for Rogue, he has his own agenda. He doesn’t say much in the film, silent but ominous in a black suit and sunglasses, yet one line he does utter, “I have no master,” quickly becomes evident in his actions. Pitting the Yakuza and Triads against each other through a series of small deceptions, he unleashes a bloody battle between the two for reasons the audience won’t know until the finale.
The gang war, with its twisted loyalties and scene after scene of carnage, drags the movie down a bit and is far less interesting than the cat-and-mouse chase between the FBI agent and the always-one-step-ahead killer.
Directed by Philip G. Atwell, known up until now for his music videos (Eminem, N.W.A., 50 Cent), War looks slick with its fast cuts and Corey Yuen-choreographed fight sequences. And like most straight-ahead action flicks there’s not much emphasis on character development – what little there is should arguably have ended up on the cutting room floor – meaning the audience can just sit back and take in the explosions, car chases, shootouts and sword fights.
Jason Statham and Jet Li in War
The action itself was adequate with a few memorable sequences including a pursuit through a construction site and a violent exchange in a showroom of exotic cars, but generally didn’t blow me away.
Li and Statham are two of the most interesting action stars working today, and it’s a shame the plot doesn’t permit them to share much screen time. The scenes where they do spar are easily the best in the film, although I found myself wanting to see more of their martial arts capabilities. Able supporting players, including John Lone, Luis Guzman, and Saul Rubinek, are largely wasted in thankless roles.
While most of War is formulaic action fare, it’s redeemed somewhat with a genuinely surprising double plot twist at the end. Unfortunately that spark of originality comes too late in the game to elevate this film above the mediocre.
Review by Cate Jones
Agree? Disagree? Email Cate at criticizecate@gmail.com
War (** out of 5)
Rated: R
Starring: Jason Statham, Jet Li
Directed by: Philip G. Atwell
Written by: Lee Anthony Smith and Gregory J. Bradley
Related links: Official site, Apple trailer, IMDB page
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