Dragon Wars (D-War) (PG-13)

Monsters unleash explosions, death, and more.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Freestyle Releasing , Freestyle Releasing
  • Directed By: Hyung Rae Shim
  • Cast: Robert Forster, Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks
  • Running Time: 90 minutes
  • Release Date: 09/14/2007
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 01/08/2008
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: intense sequences of violence and creature action.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this monster movie is full of explosions and lots of CGI snakes and other reptiles that roar, shoot fire, and chomp and stomp on their human victims. Combat scenes set in the past feature cannons, while current-day warfare sequences include tanks, missiles, and small arms fire. A giant snake crashes through buildings and flips cars, making many city dwellers run and scream (and burning some to ash). There's a brief kiss between the featured couple and relatively minor language (a couple of uses of "s--t," "hell," and "ass").

Families can talk about the appeal of monster movies. Why is it fun to watch crowds of people run and scream as they're chased by giant (albeit computer-generated) beasts? Is it ever hard to distinguish the fantasy of monster movies from things that could happen in real life? Families can also discuss the film's take on "fate." Can you change your future, or is some part of it set? Did you expect Ethan to accept Sarah's fate? Why or why not? How is it different from what happens in most U.S.-made films?

Message

Social Behavior:

Noble young couple's true love lasts over 500 years and through two incarnations (in Korea and the United States). Evil devotees of the bad snake destroy everything they see. Giant snakes are generally fearsome. FBI agents are underhanded and untrustworthy.

Consumerism:

Sony Vaio laptop.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

In a bar, Brandy buys beers for her and Sarah, but Sarah leaves, worried about her "bad feeling."

Violence

Lots of explosions and CGI creatures flipping and attacking, but very little blood. Most of the violence is caused by the giant "snake" pursuing Sarah: It crashes through a hospital, a multi-floored parking garage, and L.A. streets (crashing cars in the process); it writhes around a high-rise, smashing windows and knocking out helicopters; and it fights with another giant snake, wreaking havoc all around (burning many people to ash in the process). Characters jump off a cliff to avoid the snake (they die off-screen). Combat scene set in 1507 features warriors with spears, swords, and cannons, as well as reptiles that not only stomp on enemies but also spit/shoot explosive fireballs; in 2007, they battle tanks, helicopters, missiles, guns, and grenades. A brief training scene includes fighting with swords and sticks. Sarah is attacked by three thugs; Jack appears to beat them up (one hits a windshield, hard). A snake chews and spits out an elephant (bloody carcass visible). Snake picks up and throws a character who later appears dead on a gurney. Creepy FBI agent shoots Ethan; a second agent shoots and kills the first one. Bruce suffers injuries in a car accident.

Sex

Gentle flirting and handholding between young couple. Sarah first appears in a gym top that shows her dragon tattoo and a little cleavage. Sarah and Ethan kiss romantically on the beach.

Language

Mild language, including a couple of uses the following words: "s--t," "ass," and "hell." Other words/phrases include "old fart" and "crap."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

The hero of DRAGON WARS (D-WAR) is TV reporter Ethan (Jason Behr), who happens to be the reincarnation of a 500-years-dead Korean martial arts whiz kid. As soon as Ethan sees a devastating gash newly opened up in Los Angeles, he knows that somehow, "This has something to do with me." The explanation is delivered via flashback: Fifteen years earlier, young Ethan met old Jack (Robert Forster), who told him the legend of the good and bad snakes and the girl, born and reborn every 500 years, who must be sacrificed to one of them in order to settle their cosmic moral battle. Ethan is fated to ensure she makes it to the good snake and not the bad one. Though Ethan wants to prove worthy of Jack's trust, as soon as he meets the girl, Sarah (Amanda Brooks), he wants to save her. But he's supposed to take her to the Grand Cave, where she's to meet up with the Good Big Snake (the psychosexual metaphors here are beyond obvious). As the couple tries to figure out what to do, the FBI and the Secretary of Defense come after the Bad Big Snake, which is ravaging Los Angeles in search of Sarah. After plowing through parking garages, a hospital, and the Silver Lake suburbs, the Bad Big Snake finally reaches downtown, where it writhes up and around a tall building and chomps on a few helicopters that that are trying to shoot it down. In the final showdown, the heroes go head-to-head against the Snake’s evil army.

Is it any good?

2
“Now is the time," intones a serious-sounding narrator at the start of the film, "for destiny to unfold." It's also the time for confusion to begin. Why, for instance, does Hyung-rae Shim's movie have two names? Why is it premised on a Korean legend but set in L.A. with American stars? And why, oh why, do both the Bad Big Snake and the Good Big Snake (also called the Good Imoogi) need the same woman to sacrifice herself? At the end of the film, these questions remain unanswered.

In between the fighting scenes, the movie struggles to stay on any kind of course, with characters appearing and disappearing without much explanation. Ethan gets rudimentary help from his cameraman/researcher Bruce (good sport Craig Robinson), who solemnly gives him a handgun -- as if this will have any effect on the monster. Ethan has more effective help from the shape-shifting Jack, who isn't too happy about his protégé's decision to save the girl instead of sacrifice her. As for Sarah, she's mostly consigned to worrying and gasping: "Something terrible is coming, something more terrible than you can imagine." While Dragon Wars isn't so terrible, from her perspective, you'd have to agree.

Other choices

The Host

King Kong

Godzilla, King of All Monsters! (1956)
Jurassic Park
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 18 reviews.

2

Posted on 07/08/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

The movie does not go into very much detail. Another problem about the movie is that they use to much CGI. For example all the monsters and most of the people to. In my oppion this movie should have been rated PG.
5


Posted on 04/18/08 by Moviez Rock Kid contributor, age 11

I was so hooked into it

First of all, this is an amazing movie. I was soo hooked into the movie that I didn't know the movie passed by. For people who say it is bad compared to Transformers, who cares? In general, it is a great movie. Violence is an issue, but it is not bloody violence. It is just action violence. There are some scenes with killing, but there is no blood. One exception though is a elephant, ;). Also, there is a sad part. I will not say what, but be prepared. Overall, this is a great movie if you can handle action. My brother is 7, and he watched it with me and he was fine. It really depends on if you can handle action. This is definatley 5 stars.
Age 11+
1


Posted on 02/28/08 by alyce92 Adult contributor

2


Posted on 01/04/08 by gamecrazy Kid contributor, age 11

its good but horrible

this movie was great in action if you were judging it that way. But half the movie is in like korean the rest of it was kind of sucky even the korean part
Age 11+
1


Posted on 10/02/07 by Chris717 Adult contributor

A Disappointing, Laughable Film

Truthfully, I wanted a big-screen, explosive dragon movie -- I wanted something I could come back to CSM and rate "OFF"! However, what I got was a movie made for TBS Sunday matinee, with terrible dialogue, the loosest plot ever conceived, laughable acting, and one mildly entertaining 17-minute dragon-destroys-downtown scene. No more violent than Harry Potter, but about as entertaining as that film's credits.
Age 11+
0


Posted on 09/23/07 by pianolady Adult contributor

Bring back Godzilla!

My daughter is a big dragon fan. We were hoping this was on the same lines as Eragon, but within moments realized this was not on the same playing field. With the double flashback in the beginning of the movie, going to strange sexual/violent innuendos back in 1500's (grabbing all the women and ripping their tops looking for dragon tattoos) it was very distracting. Characters hopped in and out of the film; people in LA just happened to leave their vehicles with keys in them figuring someone might need them to escape menacing snakes. The two main characters leap out of a helicopter, landing unscathed on top of the US Bank building! The story line just did not make sense; perhaps they are gearing it to children but I had to question some other theater patrons bringing 6 year olds to this movie. I was tempted to ask the theater for my money back. I was hoping to see the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys on the bottom of the screen spoofing this movie because it was so bad.
Age 8+
1


Posted on 09/18/07 by tyanne Adult contributor

Wasted 2 hours of my life!

First let me say I was talked into this movie by my nephews, who are 6 and 14. I also took my 3 year old. I thought it would be no worse than a Power Ranger Movie (which I've had to watch numerous times). The special effects were great (even reminded me a bit of Star Wars), but that is obviously where they spent all of their $70 million budget! It sure wasn't the director or for a script! I guess the actors did the best they could, but some parts were quite laughable! I mean, when you're getting chased by a HUGE snake, you should at least LOOK like you're scared, instead of taking a drive around the park. My husband kept glaring at me during the movie as if to say "I can't believe you made me waste 2 hours of my life on this!" The story made NO sense and was extremely confusing! Even my nephews thought it was lame (although the 6 year old thought the monsters were cool).
Age 13+
5

Posted on 09/16/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

great CG and make sense

good ,good
Age 17+
4


Posted on 09/16/07 by foreverymc Adult contributor

It's got Korean in it

But I wouldn't recommend this to little kids, due to frightening elements.
Age 13+
5

Posted on 09/15/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

loved it...

I really enjoyed this movie...I love all sorts of monster movies. It is a great family movie and I loved all the special effects!!!

See all 18 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 14 reviews.

Age 11+
1


Posted on 02/28/08 by alyce92 Adult contributor

Age 11+
1


Posted on 10/02/07 by Chris717 Adult contributor

A Disappointing, Laughable Film

Truthfully, I wanted a big-screen, explosive dragon movie -- I wanted something I could come back to CSM and rate "OFF"! However, what I got was a movie made for TBS Sunday matinee, with terrible dialogue, the loosest plot ever conceived, laughable acting, and one mildly entertaining 17-minute dragon-destroys-downtown scene. No more violent than Harry Potter, but about as entertaining as that film's credits.
Age 11+
0


Posted on 09/23/07 by pianolady Adult contributor

Bring back Godzilla!

My daughter is a big dragon fan. We were hoping this was on the same lines as Eragon, but within moments realized this was not on the same playing field. With the double flashback in the beginning of the movie, going to strange sexual/violent innuendos back in 1500's (grabbing all the women and ripping their tops looking for dragon tattoos) it was very distracting. Characters hopped in and out of the film; people in LA just happened to leave their vehicles with keys in them figuring someone might need them to escape menacing snakes. The two main characters leap out of a helicopter, landing unscathed on top of the US Bank building! The story line just did not make sense; perhaps they are gearing it to children but I had to question some other theater patrons bringing 6 year olds to this movie. I was tempted to ask the theater for my money back. I was hoping to see the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys on the bottom of the screen spoofing this movie because it was so bad.
Age 8+
1


Posted on 09/18/07 by tyanne Adult contributor

Wasted 2 hours of my life!

First let me say I was talked into this movie by my nephews, who are 6 and 14. I also took my 3 year old. I thought it would be no worse than a Power Ranger Movie (which I've had to watch numerous times). The special effects were great (even reminded me a bit of Star Wars), but that is obviously where they spent all of their $70 million budget! It sure wasn't the director or for a script! I guess the actors did the best they could, but some parts were quite laughable! I mean, when you're getting chased by a HUGE snake, you should at least LOOK like you're scared, instead of taking a drive around the park. My husband kept glaring at me during the movie as if to say "I can't believe you made me waste 2 hours of my life on this!" The story made NO sense and was extremely confusing! Even my nephews thought it was lame (although the 6 year old thought the monsters were cool).
Age 13+
5

Posted on 09/16/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

great CG and make sense

good ,good
Age 17+
4


Posted on 09/16/07 by foreverymc Adult contributor

It's got Korean in it

But I wouldn't recommend this to little kids, due to frightening elements.
Age 13+
5

Posted on 09/15/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

loved it...

I really enjoyed this movie...I love all sorts of monster movies. It is a great family movie and I loved all the special effects!!!
Age 2+
5


Posted on 09/15/07 by techsign Adult contributor

Age 8+
5

Posted on 09/15/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 8+
5


Posted on 09/15/07 by pparkz Adult contributor

I shocked !!

There's no more words need. AWESOME !!
See all 14 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

2

Posted on 07/08/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

The movie does not go into very much detail. Another problem about the movie is that they use to much CGI. For example all the monsters and most of the people to. In my oppion this movie should have been rated PG.
5


Posted on 04/18/08 by Moviez Rock Kid contributor, age 11

I was so hooked into it

First of all, this is an amazing movie. I was soo hooked into the movie that I didn't know the movie passed by. For people who say it is bad compared to Transformers, who cares? In general, it is a great movie. Violence is an issue, but it is not bloody violence. It is just action violence. There are some scenes with killing, but there is no blood. One exception though is a elephant, ;). Also, there is a sad part. I will not say what, but be prepared. Overall, this is a great movie if you can handle action. My brother is 7, and he watched it with me and he was fine. It really depends on if you can handle action. This is definatley 5 stars.
2


Posted on 01/04/08 by gamecrazy Kid contributor, age 11

its good but horrible

this movie was great in action if you were judging it that way. But half the movie is in like korean the rest of it was kind of sucky even the korean part
5

Posted on 09/15/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 17

I loved it

It was great. It was a movie which I never watched before. Well, compare to the transformers, it isn't so great. However, overall, it was good.
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