Relaps
08-24-2007, 4:30 PM
WAR
(Jet Li - Jason Statham)
All right. If you're an Action aficionado, then those two names should be familiar. Jet Li kicks ass, Jason Statham kicks ass. Generally, after seeing Crank, if the action kicks ass and the story is just good enough, you can pull off an enjoyable film.
So what went wrong here?
You got the FBI agent Crawford, a hard-boiled Fed in the dangerous streets of San Francisco. After dealing with Yakuza and Triad problems, he finds the main assassin from the Yakuza is this guy named "Rogue," who likes to use Titanium shells and Depleted Uranium bullets as a trademark. After a run in with Rogue, and baffling at his escape, Crawford and his Partner Tom set up a little family get together to watch "the game." When Crawford arrives, he's not expecting to see what he saw.
Now, spoilers ahoy.
Crawford finds Tom's home on fire, and 3 charred bodies inside, along with a titainium shell. He goes on a tangent and is determined to find Rogue.
Skip ahead 3 years, Crawford is devorced, and still obsessing over Rogue. Meanwhile, we look into meaningless back and forth missions involving Rogue with both the Yakuza and the Triads. After a while, I felt like I was watching GTA missions. One middle man stirring up shit between two factions. Also a lot like "Fistfull of Dollars." The whole conflict between the two gangs is: Two golden horses. Apparently a priceless heirloom in China, where they cant be sold, but CAN be sold in San Fran, because there's always a price for shit in another country.
The focus often switches between Crawford and Rogue, and overall, you really don't connect (or care) about the characters. Eventually it's discovered that Rogue is Tom (what a twist!) who got surgery and assumed the role of Rogue to bring down the Yakuza boss who put the hit on Tom and his family. Then he shoots Crawford, because Crawford worked for Yakuza boss a lot, and tried to get out so many times that it's boring. Then Rogue shoots him and drives away in a fancy car.
The writing is terribly cliché, full of cheesy dialogue that doesn't fit with that kinda setting. If it was a funnier film, it would be okay. The cinematography seemed reminicant to the Borne series; lots of quick cuts, wobbly camera, and close ups so often you don't know what the fuck is going on.
This movie had potential. That potential didn't even get close.
**••• 2/5 stars
Don't waste your money. To make an action film with Jet Li and Jason Statham boring takes skill. The worst skill possible.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7747/okkodj5.jpg
(Jet Li - Jason Statham)
All right. If you're an Action aficionado, then those two names should be familiar. Jet Li kicks ass, Jason Statham kicks ass. Generally, after seeing Crank, if the action kicks ass and the story is just good enough, you can pull off an enjoyable film.
So what went wrong here?
You got the FBI agent Crawford, a hard-boiled Fed in the dangerous streets of San Francisco. After dealing with Yakuza and Triad problems, he finds the main assassin from the Yakuza is this guy named "Rogue," who likes to use Titanium shells and Depleted Uranium bullets as a trademark. After a run in with Rogue, and baffling at his escape, Crawford and his Partner Tom set up a little family get together to watch "the game." When Crawford arrives, he's not expecting to see what he saw.
Now, spoilers ahoy.
Crawford finds Tom's home on fire, and 3 charred bodies inside, along with a titainium shell. He goes on a tangent and is determined to find Rogue.
Skip ahead 3 years, Crawford is devorced, and still obsessing over Rogue. Meanwhile, we look into meaningless back and forth missions involving Rogue with both the Yakuza and the Triads. After a while, I felt like I was watching GTA missions. One middle man stirring up shit between two factions. Also a lot like "Fistfull of Dollars." The whole conflict between the two gangs is: Two golden horses. Apparently a priceless heirloom in China, where they cant be sold, but CAN be sold in San Fran, because there's always a price for shit in another country.
The focus often switches between Crawford and Rogue, and overall, you really don't connect (or care) about the characters. Eventually it's discovered that Rogue is Tom (what a twist!) who got surgery and assumed the role of Rogue to bring down the Yakuza boss who put the hit on Tom and his family. Then he shoots Crawford, because Crawford worked for Yakuza boss a lot, and tried to get out so many times that it's boring. Then Rogue shoots him and drives away in a fancy car.
The writing is terribly cliché, full of cheesy dialogue that doesn't fit with that kinda setting. If it was a funnier film, it would be okay. The cinematography seemed reminicant to the Borne series; lots of quick cuts, wobbly camera, and close ups so often you don't know what the fuck is going on.
This movie had potential. That potential didn't even get close.
**••• 2/5 stars
Don't waste your money. To make an action film with Jet Li and Jason Statham boring takes skill. The worst skill possible.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7747/okkodj5.jpg