War

Now more or less typecast as an action-film star, Jason Statham acquits himself nicely in a supercharged match-up against martial-arts superstar Jet Li in director Philip G. Atwell's War. After his partner and family are brutally murdered by an infamous Triad assassin, FBI agent Jack Crawford (Statham) vows to find the elusive killer and avenge the slayings. But “Rogue” (Li) goes into hiding and only resurfaces three years later in order to ignite a bloody war between his former employer, Chinese mob leader Chang, and Japanese Yakuza boss Shiro. After Crawford and his team wade into the conflict, the violence escalates until the FBI agent finally comes face to face with his enemy. Up to this point, the story has unfolded in a fairly routine manner, but screenwriters Lee Anthony Smith and Gregory J. Bradley suddenly spring upon the viewer a plot twist worthy of The Usual Suspects—a surprise revelation that lends additional dramatic force to the climactic confrontation (which—like the other fight scenes in War—is beautifully choreographed by the incomparable Corey Yuen). A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include two audio commentaries (one with director Philip Atwell; the other with writers Lee Anthony Smith and Gregory J. Bradley), an audio trivia track, “The Action of War” documentary with nine behind-the-scenes vignettes (78 min.), the nine-minute music featurette “Scoring War,” three deleted/extended scenes (3 min.), a two minute gag reel, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven action film.] (E. Hulse)