WAR (2007)

TITLE
War

STARRING
Jason Statham, Jet Li, Luis Guzman, Matthew St. Patrick

THIS MOVIE IS LIKE
Face Off, Transporter

PROTAGONIST
This is a law enforcement centered (FBI) film, so the rules don't necessarily apply the same way to protagonists, antagonists, and conflict in general. Let's just say that the writing in this film is not what it should be and the protagonist is supposed to make things happen. Unfortunately, they give that duty to two people, Jack Crawford, played by Jason Statham and Tom Wynne, played at first by Terry Chen.

WOULD YOU SUGGEST IT TO A FRIEND
Sure, but with the hopes that the friend is not expecting the best work from either Jet Li or Jason Statham. The writing is loose, the translation looser, but this film sets no expectations that either will be something worthy of notice. It is simply an action flick which gained wide release either because of the talent (both of whom are still bankable) or the producers (who knew internationally they could profit from theirn investment if it flopped domestically.)

FIRST 10 PAGES
Partners, Agents Crawford and Wynne are successful in bringing down the bad guys during your average opening scene on a dimly lit dock. Both safely return to their families where later in the evening Agent Wynne watches the torture and killing of his family.

SITUATION CHANGES (PAGE 15)
Agent Crawford arrives at the Wynne family home the next day to learn that his partner and family have been slain by the notorious Rogue, played by Jet Li, acting on behalf of his Yakuza boss. With vengeance top on his list of priorities, Agent Crawford dedicates himself to hunting down Rogue and making him pay for what he's done.

COMMIT TO THE QUEST (PAGE 30)
Beggining of the bad writing: while we have Agent Crawford committing to his quest by securing a new team and partner, Special Agent Wick, played by Matthew St. Patrick to bring about a war between the two top Yakuza Bosses Chang and Yanagawa, both angling for each other, Rogue is also setting about on his own bidding that involves decimating foes.

CHANGE IS FORESHADOWED (PAGE 45)
Agent Crawford once again loses a partner in a conflict that forces a face-off between him and Rogue, which oddly enough never seem to result in the death of either man. Rogue also becomes very attached to the family of the Boss Chang.

THERE'S NO GOING BACK (PAGE 60)
Agent Crawford is pressed to decide between his disintegrated family and the committment he made to seeking out Rogue. He makes a decision to chase after Rogue abandoning his sensibilities for a trip into lawlessness. Rogue is ordered to kill Boss Chang and his family by Boss Yaganawa's daughter. He is instructed to bring the heads of his victims to her as a sign of his devotion to the family.

A SECRET IS REVEALED (PAGE 75)
Agent Crawford learns that Rogue has changed his identity several times over the years from a plastic surgeon hired by the FBI to create new facades for his protection and allow him to gain access into the underground of the Yakuza.

ALL BETS ARE OFF (PAGE 90)
Agent Crawford acts as an informant to Shiro Yanagawa letting him know of Rogue's betrayl and disobedience during a hit on a rival Yakuza boss where he spared the life of the boss's wife and child in the hopes that it will flush Rogue out from his hiding place. Rogue is summoned by Boss Yanagawa and a duel to the death commences.

THE END
The twist, a final confrontation is staged between Rogue and Agent Crawford, just after Crawford has surmised that it may be his former partner, Agent Wynne acting as Rogue. Thier meeting takes place on the dimly lit docks again and the backup for Agent Crawford is having a difficult time getting a fix on Rogue. Rogue reveals that he is in fact Agent Wynne and both men conclude they have been lied to and must now protect each other. Look for the ends of the Chang Family and Yawagaw Family to be tied up nicely by Agent Wynne/Rogue.