Featuring the second cinematic showdown between popular action stars Jason Statham and Jet Li, War is a fun if forgettable action crime-thriller released in 2007. Statham stars as John Crawford, a corrupt FBI Agent tasked with tracking down a shadowy assassin called Rogue (Li) after killing his partner Tom Lone (played by Li and Terry Chen). Although the film was bashed by critics (13% on Rotten Tomatoes), the visceral stunt work and jarring fight scenes stand out thanks to the expert choreography by Hong Kong filmmaker Corey Yuen.
As Crawford wades through San Francisco’s seedy underbelly to find Rogue, he gets mixed up in a brutal war between the Yakuza and the Triads. The story jumps forward several years and features unpredictable twists that can easily confuse viewers as the final act nears. To clarify the series of events that lead to a showstopping finale, it’s time to look back at War and analyze how the two former partners reconcile their rivalry.
What Is War About?
Directed by Philip G. Atwell in his feature film debut, War is an action crime-thriller originally titled Rogue. To avoid confusion with the 2007 Australian killer-crocodile film Rogue, Lionsgate changed the title to War. However, the movie was released under the title, Rogue Assassin, in several countries abroad. The story concerns FBI partners John Crawford and Tom Lone, who storm into a San Francisco warehouse on a job and are attacked by a cryptic assassin known as Rogue.
Just as Rogue is about to kill Crawford, Lone shoots Rogue in the face and his body falls into the San Francisco Bay. The assassin’s body is never located, and he is assumed to be dead. However, Rogue survives the gunshot and exacts revenge on Lone by murdering him and his family and burning down his house with their bodies inside. Three years after Lone’s apparent death, Rogue reemerged as a member of the Chinese Triad. Along with crime boss Li Chang (John Lone), Rogue starts a war between the Chinese Triads and the Japanese Yakuza, led by mob boss Shiro Yanagawa (Ryo Ishibashi).
Meanwhile, Crawford has been promoted to lead the FBI’s Asian Organized Crime Unit and has dedicated his life to catching Rogue and avenging his partner Lone. Crawford’s pursuit has taken a toll on his family and left him in psychological ruins. Although Rogue remains one step ahead of Crawford, the underrated Yakuza movie shifts dramatically when Rogue and Lone are revealed to be the same person.
War’s Big Character Twist
To understand the ending of War, it’s vital to scrutinize the shocking character twist that sets up the finale. After orchestrating several attacks on the Triads and the Yakuza, Rogue earns the trust of the mob bosses, Chang and Yanagawa. Rogue murders Chang but spares his wife and daughter. With his rival out of the way, Yanagawa travels to the U.S. to expand his empire but is told by Crawford that Rogue has betrayed him.
After goading him into a showdown, Rogue murders Yanagawa’s henchmen and challenges him to a sword duel. During the fight, it is revealed that Rogue and Lone are the same person. After being shot in the face and falling into the water in the opening scene, Lone had his face surgically altered to resemble Rogue.
Lone explains that the entire ruse was an elaborate plot to isolate Yanagawa for a one-on-one face-off. To save his life, Yanagawa blames Crawford for working with him and providing information about Lone’s family to Rogue. Irate, Rogue chops Yanagawa’s head off with a sword and searches for Crawford to settle the score.
What Happens at the End of War?
Before confronting Crawford, Lone sends packages to Chang and Yanagawa’s family. Along with the message “Make a new life,” Yanagawa’s daughter receives a box with her father’s head inside. Afterward, Lone calls Crawford and tells him to meet him at the warehouse where Lone was presumably shot dead at the start of the film. Crawford agrees but gets back up from FBI Agent Goi (Sung Kang).
The ending of the Jet Li movie occurs where it began; in a warehouse on the San Francisco docks. A gritty hand-to-hand fistfight between Lone and Crawford ensues, in which Lone eventually reveals his true identity. Shocked, Crawford confesses to working for Yanagawa but explains he did not know Rogue was alive, much less that he and Lone are the same person.
Crawford tells Lone that Yanagawa blackmailed him to get information about Lone’s family and pleads for forgiveness. Crawford describes how he was tricked into believing he was avenging the person who murdered his partner, unaware that Lone and Rogue were the same all along.
Finally, Lone does not accept Crawford’s apology and refuses to forgive him. Goi lines up a fatal shot with her laser scope, prompting Crawford to shield Lone’s body and prevent his death. Despite trying to save his former FBI partner, Lone fatally shoots Crawford. The movie ends with Lone fleeing town to begin life anew, just as he advised Chang and Yanagawa’s family to do.
In addition to being panned by critics, Jet Li has publicly criticized the movie several times since its release. Even so, War was listed 93rd among the Best 100 Action Movies in a 2014 poll conducted by Time Out. So with that in mind, perhaps it’s time to reassess this actioner.
War is available to stream on Fubo & Peacock.