Movie Review: War
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this violent Jet Li action movie
-- which is full of body-smashing, martial arts-style fights,
plus shooting, punching, knifing, and car crashes -- isn't for
kids. Bare-breasted, thong-clad club dancers serve as a visual
indication of the villains' corruption (one woman is given as a
"present" to Rogue, but no sexual activity is shown). Jack
smokes cigarettes, especially at the beginning of the movie,
and there's plenty of drinking, though much is in the
background. Language is frequent, usually angry, and mostly
consists of "f--k."
Families can talk about the appeal of violent action movies. Why are filmgoers so entranced by fight scenes? Does the style of fighting affect how much you enjoy watching it? Families can also discuss the concept of revenge, which the movie revolves around. What is gained by revenge? Is violent vengeance ever justified? Parents, talk with your kids about the difference between real life and fantasy -- even teens. Point out that consequences exist -- even if it makes you feel humorless. The fact that violent movies stimulate parts of the brain is worth a reminder.
Common Sense Media Review
The "high concept" of WAR is simple: Pit
Jason
Statham and
Jet
Li against each other in a series of fights, and watch the
fireworks. In his feature film debut, director Philip G. Atwell
(best known for directing music videos for
Eminem
and
50
Cent) displays a fondness for fast cuts and close-ups, with
an emphasis on big sound effects and machismo. He fleshes out
the movie's fundamental revenge story with international
jet-setting and plot points that have family members turning
into both loyal fighters and victims.
The film begins as San Francisco-based FBI agents Jack (Statham) and Tom (Terry Chen) take on two gangs at once: the Chinese Triads, led by Chang (John Lone), and the Japanese Yakuza, headed up by Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and his cold-blooded daughter, Kira ( Devon Aoki). The sheer number of large weapons and grim-looking men with tattoos is daunting, but Tom and Jack are fearless and swift, even risking the wrath of legendary assassin Rogue (Li).
When Tom (along with his whole family) is brutally murdered, Jack assumes a vendetta his wife calls "obsessive," especially when, years later, he's separated from her and not showing up at his son's sports games. Still, Jack is an action hero on a mission, and so hi own family is soon left behind as he investigates clue after clue with his task force, getting ever closer to mysterious, plastic-surgery-altered Rogue.
War's rudimentary plot doesn't go much beyond this set-up, though the fierce avengers do suffer repeated and devastating losses -- whether family members (fathers, wives, children, brothers), limbs, or self-respect.
More disappointing are the limits the film places on its two charismatic stars. Li is yet again required only to look mysterious and speak very little, which isn't exactly an acting stretch (for more range, see him in Unleashed ), and Statham is relegated to charging around and watching his young, loyal, multicultural team members picked off one by one. Though frontloaded with fights and crashes, the formula actually seems to slow down the speedy action.
Fans might prefer other Li films, including Romeo Must Die , The One, and The Contract Killer; you can check out Statham's previous action-packed work in The Transporter and Crank .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
