 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
War
- Review Date: January 2, 2008
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
What is it good for? Bloody fighting, apparently.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to 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."
What's the story?
WAR breaks out when San Francisco-based FBI agents Jack (Jason 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). Despite the terrible odds, Tom and Jack are fearless and swift, even risking the wrath of legendary assassin Rogue (Jet Li). When Tom and his family are brutally murdered, Jack begins a vendetta that strains his family life. Still, Jack is an action hero on a mission. He abandons his family to investigate clue after clue with his task force, getting ever closer to mysterious, plastic-surgery-altered Rogue.
Is it any good?
In his feature film debut, director Philip G. Atwell 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.
War's rudimentary plot doesn't go much beyond the basic premise. More disappointing are the limits the film places on its two charismatic stars. Li's only job is to look mysterious and speak very little, 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.
What families can talk about
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.
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AGE
Ace
Awesome film that I loved!
Recommended for older teens
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AGE
Geared toward older viewers
I liked the movie overall, it had some great action in it, but my only concerns were the following which were pretty frequent:
VIOLENCE: A man has his throat slit, and people are shot and blown up. Plenty of blood splatter.
SEX: Women dance topless (breasts visible) but they have glow in the dark body paint on so you dont really focus on sensitive areas. (they do have thongs on) A woman does take off her dress and her huge breasts are shown (nipple visible) and lingered camera on for sometime, but she does have a thong on.
I would ONLY recommend this to OLDER VIEWERS!!
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AGE
Not for children under the age of 16, but if you are mature, it will be fine
Vengeance is the theme and is not a very good role model, yet it is a good role model for vengeance. Tons of blood and extreme violence, topless women, some rape, and expletive language throughout make this movie ridiculous and very hard to watch at times, especially when a man sticks his entire thumb into a man's open bullet wound and claims "I hit a bone, sorry."
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AGE
Explict Adult Jet-Li And Jason Stathham Movie Very Violent Not For Teens!!!
This Movie Is Pretty Normal Especially For A 5 Year Old. But The Violence Is Over The Top. There Is A Shooting In Which A Man Runs. And Another Man Shoots At Him And Tries To Kill Him And He Also Attacks A Man By Slamming A Door On His Nose And Kicks Him In The Face With His Shoe And Kills Him, And There Is A Violent Scene In Which A Man Deals With A Samaria Worrier Later In The Movie He Has A Sword And They Both Fight And The Attack Get's Bloodier And A Man Has A Nightmare Where Someone Shoots Him And His Friends Die And Get Knocked Out Violently And Chokes The Samaria Worrier Killing Him!
And There Is A Scene Where Jack Crawford Is Violently Attacked In A Warehouse The Man Takes A Water Helium And Throws It At Another Man And His Gun Falls And The Man Hit's With Violent Force And Jet Li Gets Attacked And When Jack Crawford Is Knocked Out Jet Li Uses Him For A Shield And He Get's Shot At Many Times And There Are Bloody Bullet holes Found In His Shirt!
I Would Not Reccemond This Movie To Anyone Under Age 18 & Up And A Violent Rape Scene Is Shown Where A Man Has His Face Scratched!
18+
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AGE
An ok action movie for teens.
This film didn't surprise me much. It has some pretty good action sequences. I did like the twist at the end. I just think it could've done better.
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AGE
boring...
get to the point, i didnt finish the movie cause it was so boring. in the 30 minutes i watched this movie, i saw one brutal murder, one action sequence, and about 5 topless scenes with whores in a strip club.
SEX: there is a strip club with girls dancing naked in cages. Inside the club there is a Yakuza social club that Li enters finding a gangster getting it on with whore doggy style then shoots him in the head. A Yakuza boss sends Jet Li a whore and a breifcase with money for a reward. She takes her clothes off but Li refuses.
VIOlENCE: Head shots, lots of blood and bruatl murders and executions.
DRUGS: Statham smokes.
LANGUAGE: f**k, s**t, etc.
This is the most boring Jet Li movie, watch Fearless instead.
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| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Philip G. Atwell |
| Cast: | Jason Statham, Jet Li, John Lone |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 103 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 24, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | January 1, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | sequences of strong bloody violence, sexuality/nudity and language. |
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