WAR

US, 2007, 103 minutes, Colour.
Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Luiz Guzman, Saul Rubinek, Ryo Ishibashi.
Directed by Philip G. Atwell.

There’s no mistaking the theme from the title. However, this is a particular war, a war between police authorities and a notorious and ruthless killer working for the Yakuza, killing for the Triad representatives in San Francisco, but, ultimately for himself. His name is Rogue.

Jet Li, doing far less martial arts action as he grows older but still skilfully wielding a sword, obviously relishes the opportunity to play the sneering and murderous Rogue. On the other hand, Jason Statham is his usual screen self, grim and laconic, as the officer who is upset at the murder of his partner and family and is determined to get Rogue.

This means that there are various set pieces of mayhem as Rogue goes about his business, as the Chinese and the Japanese try to outdo one another and the lone policeman pursues his prey.

It is all stylishly made, a cut above several of the more recent American vehicles for Jet Li.

However, there is an absolute whopper of a plot twist at the end which defies belief – and which makes the other plot twist seem rather small even though it is crucial.

1.Popular action film? Stunt work? Special effects?

2.The title, the war between the Yakuza and the Triads? The involvement of the Chinese, the Japanese, Americans? The war on American soil in San Francisco? The musical score?

3.The film as an action vehicle for Jet Li? Screen presence? Chinese? His history of martial arts films? Playing a villain? Older? Stunt work?

4.The film as a star vehicle for Jason Statham, an action star?

5.The background of San Francisco, the use of the city, locations? A character in the film? The contrast with the sequences in Japan, the beauty, elegance, different style?

6.The opening, Jack and Tom, their work together, the attempt to get the criminals? The shootouts? Rogue and his presence, escape? Nobody believing that he existed? Jack and his obsession? Wanting to get Rogue? Jack and his family, the neglect of his son? The exasperation of his wife? The dangers for them? Rogue and his going to Tom’s family, the deaths? Jack and the effect, wanting to avenge Tom?

7.The unexpected twist at the end: the fact that the Rogue seen for three years was in fact Tom? The credibility of this twist? The further twist that Jack was in the pay of the Yakuza?

8.The passing of the three years? Jack and his work, wanting to avenge Tom? His confrontations of the Yakuza, fearless in confronting them? Facing Chang and the Triads?

9.Rogue, Jet Li's performance, his saying that he was serving only himself? The loyalties to the Yakuza? Recovering the horses for Chang? The massacre of the Japanese and the consequences?

10.Shiro and the Japanese Yakuza, his daughter and her strength? The henchmen? The mission to the US? The confrontation with the Triads? The police and their trying to get the Yakuza criminals? Shiro and his finally deciding to come to San Francisco, the confrontation with Rogue, with Jack? The final fight? His death? The personality of his daughter, fit to be her father’s successor? Ruthless? Her treatment of adversaries?

11.The Triads, Chang, his American wife, child? The luxury life? His keeping on the right side of the law? His deals? Wanting the horses? Rogue and his getting them?

12.Jack and his pursuit of Rogue? The irony of the chase, the combat? The final meeting, the swords? The final revelation of the truth?

13.The plastic surgery, Rogue and his being disguised? The irony of discovering that Tom had gone to the surgeons? The deaths of the surgeons, the meeting with Doctor Sherman, down-and-out, in fear, his confessing the truth?

14.Benny, his cover with the boxing? His being an agent? Giving advice to Jack, information? His concern about Jack’s marriage?

15.Jack, the separation, the wife in danger? Her giving up on him?

16.The murder of Chang and his entourage? Rogue (Tom) enabling the wife and child to disappear, giving them the horse to start a new life?

17.The resolution, Jack and his giving his life for Tom? Atonement?

18.The violence of the film, appropriate to the action, characters, issues?