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Watch War with a subscription on Peacock, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

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Jet Li and Jason Statham find themselves on opposing sides in the immensely boring War , which is full of clichés but short on action.

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Philip G. Atwell

Jason Statham

Luis Guzmán

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Movie Review | 'War'

Martial Arts With a Gun Instead of a Kick

By Andy Webster

• Aug. 25, 2007

Remember when a martial-arts movie was a martial-arts movie, and stars like Bruce Lee and the young Jackie Chan didn’t need wires, digital effects or firearms to convey their prowess? Today, it seems, anyone seeking a pleasant summer afternoon of dramatic Asian-style fisticuffs must settle for the kind of urban-action/martial-arts hybrid that is “War.”

In a premise redolent of “Yojimbo,” Rogue (Jet Li), a mysterious killer for hire, is tricking two San Francisco underworld families, one Japanese and one Chinese, into mutual slaughter. Obsessively on Rogue’s trail is an F.B.I. agent, Jack Crawford (Jason Statham, a British actor not troubling with an American accent), who suspects him of having murdered his partner.

The battle between gangs heats up, with much blood and gunplay and many testosterone trappings (flashy cars, high-tech weaponry) and tired cops-and-robbers settings (nightclubs, gambling parlors, harbor docks). At least there is a fierce duel with Japanese swords to lend that old-time juice.

As a crime boss’s daughter, Devon Aoki, the enchanting starlet from “Sin City” and “D.E.B.S.,” is a fleeting diversion. Her Kewpie-doll features, pixieish voice and leaden line readings inadvertently provide a welcome comic respite.

Though the movie’s final act offers an effective twist, its climactic showdown is all too brief and its denouement abrasively abrupt. Most regrettably, “War” squanders the considerable merits of its leads.

Like Mr. Chan, Mr. Li, a veteran of Hong Kong cinema, possesses true martial-arts skills. His character, however, is merely a cool gunman, firing automatics while barely breaking a sweat amid flurries of lightning editing.

Mr. Statham, who has shown a rugged, understated machismo and wry, winking humor in the “Transporter” films and the cartoonishly entertaining “Crank,” can’t match Mr. Li’s physical virtuosity, but he generates emotional heat. With his blend of menace and melancholy, his star remains ascendant.

Forget Mr. Chan and Chris Tucker: this pair really could have been the kung-fu commandos of the summer. Oh well. There’s always next year.

“War” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It has gunplay, nudity and a decapitation or two.

Opened yesterday nationwide.

Directed by Philip G. Atwell; written by Lee Anthony Smith and Gregory J. Bradley; director of photography, Pierre Morel; martial arts choreography by Corey Yuen; edited by Scott Richter; production designer, Chris August; produced by Steven Chasman, Christopher Petzel and Jim Thompson; released by Lionsgate. Running time: 103 minutes.

WITH: Jet Li (Rogue), Jason Statham (Crawford), John Lone (Chang), Devon Aoki (Kira), Luis Guzmán (Benny) and Saul Rubinek (Dr. Sherman).

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming
• Action/Adventure , Drama , Mystery/Suspense

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Jet Li as Rogue; Jason Statham as Jack Crawford; John Lone as Chang; Devon Aoki as Kira; Luis Guzmán as Benny; Ryo Ishibashi as Shiro

Home Release Date

• Philip G. Atwell

Distributor

Movie review.

FBI agent Jack Crawford and his partner, Tom, come upon a crime in progress on the docks, involving the infamous and elusive assassin Rogue. During the ensuing gun battle, Jack is wounded by the killer and is as good as dead except for the last-minute bravery of Tom. Rogue is shot in the face and falls into the water.

The two friends think that’s the end of it … until Rogue shows up and murders Tom and his wife and child. The assassin disappears again, but Jack now has a major chip on his shoulder. In fact, over the next three years, his obsession with the ghost-like killer begins to overshadow everything else in his life, even his family. He will have his revenge, whatever the cost.

After plastic surgery, Rogue resurfaces with a new face. Inexplicably, he starts killing key people to spark a bloody crime war between Asian mob rivals. With each move the hit man makes, Jack and his special FBI team are just steps behind. But what is the assassin up to? Can Jack extract his pound of flesh before the whole city burns to the ground?

Positive Elements

Tom risks his life to rescue his partner, and Jack returns the favor. Rogue promises to keep a mother and child safe. And even though he is ordered to kill them by his mob boss employer, he sees the two to safety and takes care of their needs.

Spiritual Elements

Rogue kneels meditating in front of a small table that holds two candles and a bullet.

Sexual Content

Gratuitous. And graphic. A woman strips to an almost non-existent g-string and the camera lingers as she leisurely shows herself off from top to bottom and from every angle. Another woman leans over a desk, topless, while having intercourse with a shirtless man behind her. (This already explicit scene becomes bloodily so when Rogue shoots the man in the head.)

Rogue walks through a dance club/brothel in which caged dancers wear little more than body paint. Two women kiss and stroke each other (while a man watches) in a side room. Two more recline—near-naked—on tables while patrons eat food off their bodies. Others wear brief panties.

Cops on a stakeout ogle two girls in tight-fitting outfits.

Violent Content

A bloodbath. The movie is called War , and its director takes full advantage of that name at every turn. People are killed or tortured in all sorts of ways, including: point-blank gunshots to the head and/or body, high-powered sniper shots to the chest, decapitation and gutting with a blade, vehicular homicide and dismemberment by explosive devices.

Brutal hand-to-hand combat (including martial arts and no-holds-barred cage fighting) results in broken bones, blood letting and death.

In one scene, for example, Rogue goads a street gang into a motorbike chase that results in several being thrown headfirst to the street at high speeds. The rest are led to a rival gang’s turf. Men are clubbed off their bikes and a battle breaks out with Samurai swords and pistols. In the midst of the bloody slashing and shooting, Rogue corners a man, beats him senseless, breaks his leg, shoves a sword sheath down his throat and then impales him with the drawn sword.

Crude or Profane Language

Over 50 f- and s-words are spit out. Handfuls of other profanities include “a–,” “h–,” “d–n,” “b–tard” and “b–ch.” Jesus’ name is blasphemed three or four times; God’s name is twice merged with “d–n.” There are several vulgar references to male and female genitalia.

Drug and Alcohol Content

Men waiting on the street drink from bottles of alcohol. A mob boss drinks from a glass. Jack downs a beer. There’s booze at bars and the strip club. Jack, a mob boss and others smoke.

Other Negative Elements

A policeman uses impolite slang while referring to the Japanese. Several shirtless, tattoo-covered men gamble in a side room. Jack and Tom joke about oral fixations. Jack’s wife divorces him because of his obsessive behavior.

Before you finish reading this review, stop and think about your favorite action film of all time. Got one in mind? Not ready yet? I’ll wait. …

OK. What’s lighting up your circuits and flashing across your brain’s big screen? (And should it be?) What makes it your favorite? What kept you engrossed and what keeps its name on the tip of your tongue? I’ve got a number of flicks on my list—most of them black-and-white classics—and they’re all oozing with great directing, edge-of-your-seat suspense, crisp (clean) dialogue, wry humor, hints of romance and an intelligent, twisting plot.

If those kinds of sparkling cinematic elements are part of your favorite(s), too, and you’re craving more of the same … then don’t watch War.

War is the quintessential example of the new Hollywood take on celluloid action. All high-octane CGI flash and nothing else. (Except an unrelenting flood of bullet-riddled death, superfluous sex and nudity, and a script that feels like it’s been stripped of wit, if only to make room for a few more f-words.) There’s no hero to root for, either. Everyone is corrupt and even those fighting for good reasons are ultimately shown to be nothing more than brutal killers themselves. The movie did surprise me with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. But nobody over the age of 10 should deem it credible—and I’m hoping nobody that young will ever have to see this immoral massacre.

I’ve called the film a bloodbath. Let me stress that it’s a bloodbath of the over-the-top, mind-numbing, guts-on-the wall variety. Sadly, that’s almost par for the course in 2007.

If psychologists could ever empirically connect the dots between violence on the screen and violence on the street, then the creators and perpetuators of this now-brainless and conscienceless genre would never have time to make any more movies. They’d be spending all their spare time in court trying to explain themselves.

For my part, I feel like I’m waving a sad farewell to all actioners. They’ve strayed so far from what they used to be they shouldn’t even share the same name anymore.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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War Reviews

• 36   Metascore
• 1 hr 43 mins
• Drama, Suspense, Action & Adventure
• Watchlist Where to Watch

Action stars Jason Statham and Jet Li pack quite a punch in this full-throttle martial-arts epic. Statham is an FBI agent who goes gunning for the long-thought-dead hitman (Li) who took down his partner three years before. But now, the hired killer is in the middle of an Asian gang war involving the Chinese triad and Japanese yakuza, and all is not as it seems. Directed by Philip G. Atwell. John Lone, Devon Aoki, Saul Rubinek, Ryo Ishibashi.

Once an Olympic diver and a model for the French Connection clothing line, Jason Statham has evolved into the dependable star of a particular brand of guilty pleasure: bare-knuckled, ultra-violent smack-downs like THE TRANSPORTER movies and the utterly out-of-control CRANK. This gangland bloodbath, originally titled ROGUE, is more of exactly what his fans have come to expect. On a rainy night on the San Francisco waterfront, a gun battle erupts between two FBI agents and the gang of Japanese yakuza whom they've been trailing for over two years. Special Agent Jack Crawford (Statham) suspects the group's ringleader is Rogue, a shadowy Japanese assassin who is rumored to have once worked for the CIA until he turned on three of his fellow agents. Crawford's partner, Tom Lone (Terry Chen), thinks the story is all just Agency legend. Lone chases the gunman down and shoots him in the face just before he tumbles into the San Francisco Bay. The body is never recovered, and Lone is certain that Rogue -- or whoever he was -- is dead. Three days later, a masked assassin enters Lone's house and attacks Lone, his wife (Steph Song) and their young child (Annika Foo). By the time Crawford arrives, the house has burned to the ground with three murdered bodies inside. The killer, however, has left a clue: a depleted uranium bullet in a titanium shell -- Rogue's trademark. What was once a job to take down a dangerous killer has now become for Crawford a personal mission to avenge his partner's death. Three years later, a nightclub in the yakuza district of San Francisco is attacked by a single gunman who butchers most of the Japanese gangsters inside. Crawford is baffled by the mayhem, until he finds a tell-tale titanium casing among the rubble. Rogue is alive, and apparently now working against the Yakuza. Meanwhile, age-old tensions between Tokyo's powerful yakuza boss Mr. Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and Chinese Triad leader Mr. Chang (John Lone) have suddenly begun to escalate. Thirty years earlier, Mr. Shiro slaughtered members of the Chang family and stole many of its treasures, including a pair of golden horse statuettes that are now on en route to California for sale under the cold, watchful eye of Shiro's homicidal daughter, Kira (Devon Aoki). Mr. Chang has hired Rogue (Jet Li) to steal the horses back, but it soon becomes clear that Rogue is playing both sides against the middle, and it's up to Crawford to figure out why. It's a complicated plot, but one that leaves plenty of room for everything a fan could want: gunplay, swordfights, brutal mano a mano fisticuffs, motorcycle races, car chases, Japanese gangsters eating sushi off of topless women, and that old standby, a decapitated head in a box. The movie is so devoted to action that scenes in which Crawford -- a sensitive guy who'll kindly dig a piece of shrapnel out of a bad guy's shoulder with his thumb -- attempts to deal with his martial problems stops the movie cold. There's a solid 11th hour twist, and even though the split-second edits undercut Corey Yuen's fight choreography, it all looks pretty good, and delivers exactly what it promises.

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Common sense media reviewers.

What is it good for? Bloody fighting, apparently.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Cops, crime gangs, and civilians betray each other

Violence is incessant, beginning with cops battlin

Bar scenes feature topless, thong-wearing dancers;

Lots of typical action-movie profanity, some of it

Mostly expensive cars, including a sleek Spyker C8

Jack smokes several times; his partner notes that

Parents need to know that this violent Jet Li action movie -- which is full of body-smashing, martial arts-style fights, plus shooting, punching, knifing, and car crashes -- isn't for kids. Bare-breasted, thong-clad club dancers serve as a visual indication of the villains' corruption (one woman is given as a …

Positive Messages

Cops, crime gangs, and civilians betray each other repeatedly, then seek vengeance in the most violent forms.

Violence & Scariness

Violence is incessant, beginning with cops battling Yakuza members (hand-to-hand fighting and kicking, shooting, stabbing). An early scene shows the brutal murder of Tom's family (frightened wife and child, burning house), which sets up the movie's vengeance theme. Rogue's assaults include throat-cutting, slicing off an ear, shooting, and sticking a sword through a hand. A dog with a bomb on its collar explodes; Jack tortures a suspect by pushing at a bloody wound; a fighting ring shows men slamming against the cage; Kira wields sharp blades; when a man is shot in the head, blood spurts graphically; a father's head appears in a box sent to his daughter.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Bar scenes feature topless, thong-wearing dancers; Chang sends Rogue a prostitute: She strips off her dress and reveals giant breasts and a thong. Cops joke about women on the street being prostitutes (one refers to the other's mother as "working tonight").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Lots of typical action-movie profanity, some of it subtitled, including frequent uses of "f--k," and fewer instances of "s--t," "hell," "damn," "son of a bitch," and "ass." Also a couple of slangy references to genitalia ("pr--k," "p---y").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Mostly expensive cars, including a sleek Spyker C8 Spyder.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Jack smokes several times; his partner notes that it's an "oral fixation" that he should give up. The villain smokes several times as well. Various background characters drink in bars, some "bikers" drink on the sidewalk, and Chang offers Rogue a drink a couple of times, but he refuses.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this violent Jet Li action movie -- which is full of body-smashing, martial arts-style fights, plus shooting, punching, knifing, and car crashes -- isn't for kids. Bare-breasted, thong-clad club dancers serve as a visual indication of the villains' corruption (one woman is given as a "present" to Rogue, but no sexual activity is shown). Jack smokes cigarettes, especially at the beginning of the movie, and there's plenty of drinking, though much is in the background. Language is frequent, usually angry, and mostly consists of "f--k." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (4)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Not really my taste

What's the story.

WAR breaks out when San Francisco-based FBI agents Jack ( Jason Statham ) and Tom (Terry Chen) take on two gangs at once: the Chinese Triads, led by Chang (John Lone), and the Japanese Yakuza, headed up by Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and his cold-blooded daughter, Kira ( Devon Aoki ). Despite the terrible odds, Tom and Jack are fearless and swift, even risking the wrath of legendary assassin Rogue ( Jet Li ). When Tom and his family are brutally murdered, Jack begins a vendetta that strains his family life. Still, Jack is an action hero on a mission. He abandons his family to investigate clue after clue with his task force, getting ever closer to mysterious, plastic-surgery-altered Rogue.

Is It Any Good?

War 's rudimentary plot doesn't go much beyond the basic premise; more disappointing are the limits the film places on its two charismatic stars. Li's only job is to look mysterious and speak very little, and Statham is relegated to charging around and watching his young, loyal, multicultural team members picked off one by one. Though frontloaded with fights and crashes, the formula actually seems to slow down the speedy action.

In his feature film debut, director Philip G. Atwell displays a fondness for fast cuts and close-ups, with an emphasis on big sound effects and machismo. He fleshes out the movie's fundamental revenge story with international jet-setting and plot points that have family members turning into both loyal fighters and victims.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the appeal of violent action movies. Why are filmgoers so entranced by fight scenes? Does the style of fighting affect how much you enjoy watching it? Families can also discuss the concept of revenge, which the movie revolves around. What is gained by revenge? Is violent vengeance ever justified? Parents, talk with your kids about the difference between real life and fantasy -- even teens. Point out that consequences exist -- even if it makes you feel humorless. The fact that violent movies stimulate parts of the brain is worth a reminder.

Movie Details

• In theaters : August 24, 2007
• On DVD or streaming : January 1, 2008
• Cast : Jason Statham , Jet Li , John Lone
• Director : Philip G. Atwell
• Studio : Lionsgate
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 103 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : sequences of strong bloody violence, sexuality/nudity and language.
• Last updated : June 1, 2023

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War (United States, 2007)

Jason Statham has staked out a claim for this page of the calendar. Two years ago, his movie Transporter II arrived on Labor Day weekend. Last year, it was Crank . This year, it's War (although, to be accurate, this movie opens the weekend before Labor Day). However, while Statham was the main man in both Transporter II and Crank , here he plays second fiddle to Jet Li. As the inscrutable, seemingly invincible Rogue, Li gets the lion's share of the screen time. And Li is such a supercool badass that he makes Statham come across as tame and unkempt. Li and the fight scenes are the reasons to see War . Everything else, including the surprisingly convoluted plot, is superfluous.

It's Yakuzi against Triad, with San Francisco as Ground Zero in the war. The Japanese faction is led by Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and his daughter, Kira (Devon Aoki), while the Chinese group is led by Chang (John Lone). Playing both sides against the middle is an assassin named Rogue. Shiro thinks he's his man but Chang believes Rogue is working for him. Meanwhile, U.S. Federal Agent Jack Crawford (Jason Statham) is involved in the conflict for a personal reason. He doesn't care if the Yakuza and Triads wipe out each other, but he wants a piece of Rogue. Crawford blames the hit man for killing his partner several years ago and he's in this for revenge. The truth on all fronts turns out to be more complicated than it first appears to be.

The weight of exposition slows things down but not to the point where the proceedings grind to a halt - and there is an eventual payoff to this. As far as the movie's meat is concerned, some of the action sequences work better than others. Those that involve hand-to-hand combat, such as Li going one-on-one with Crawford or engaging in a sword battle with one of the Yakuza, are well choreographed and expertly executed. An elevated heart rate isn't out of the question. Some of the more mundane material, like motorbike and car chases and routine shoot-outs, are difficult to get through without stifling a yawn. Once in a long while, a worthwhile car chase comes along (such as in Déjà Vu ), but most of the time, these are boring affairs. It's no different in War .

Jet Li is the epitome of cool. This guy is completely under control as he goes about his business. He kills without compunction. You've got to admire someone who's that calm and methodical. For most of the film, Li is as emotionless as they come; surprisingly, that makes it easier to identify with him. In a forest full of villains, he stands apart, radiating something that's not unlike nobility. Jason Statham plays a man with a troubled past and an equally troubled present, but he's pretty much relegated to the role of supporting character.

War , from first-time director Philip G. Atwell, doesn't set out to convert non-Li fans into adherents. The purpose of the movie is to give action fans a fix. It's not the greatest genre film but it is at least as energetic as the fourth Die Hard movie and better paced and more exciting than Transformers . This isn't great cinema, but it adequately fills a niche. Those who like their action loud and bloody won't be disappointed. There's a high body count and lots of explosions and, for some, that's what this is all about.

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Friday, January 18, 2008

Review: war (2007) [reviewed by clifford kiyabu].

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"We waste our money so you don't have to."

"We waste our money, so you don't have to."

Movie Review

US Release Date: 08-24-2007

Directed by: Philip G. Atwell

Starring ▸ ▾

• Jet Li ,  as
• Jason Statham ,  as
• Special Agent Jack Crawford
• John Lone ,  as
• Devon Aoki ,  as
• Kira Yanagawa
• Luis Guzman ,  as
• Saul Rubinek ,  as
• Dr. Sherman
• Ryo Ishibashi ,  as
• Shiro Yanagawa
• Sung Kang as
• Special Agent Goi

Jet Li and Jason Statham in War .

War is a bore. What looks like an action pack film, starring China's coolest martial arts star and England's toughest movie star, is nothing more than a B-grade, dull mess.

FBI agents Jack (Statham) and Goi piss off a Chinese mobster. In an act of revenge, Goi and his family are slaughtered by a mysterious assassin known as Rogue (Li). Jack then spends much of his time looking for Rogue. The previews would have you believe that Statham and Li spend large amounts of screen time fighting each other. They hardly ever do and then only a little at the end.

The amateurs that put this movie together created a ridiculous plot. In one scene, Li summons Statham to a location. Statham arrives with an army of police. Statham gets in Li's face and yells at him. Ooh that was intense. Statham's new partner pulls him away with some lame excuse about why they can't arrest him. The movie is supposed to have a twist ending. I saw it coming a mile away and thought to myself that there was no way this movie could be that stupid, but I was wrong. The dialogue was apparently written for middle schoolers or by middle schoolers. "My gun is bigger than yours." Is, sadly, the movie most memorable line.

The acting is just as bad as everything else in this movie. The only characterization Statham gives Jack is that he constantly carries a tooth pick. Hey Jason, a tooth pick does not create a character, a good script and some acting do that. Li has very few lines and spends most of his time posing, and usually with a sports car.

Photos © Copyright Lionsgate (2007)

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“War” a generic Jet Li thriller, but stick…

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“war” a generic jet li thriller, but stick around for the ending.

Triad hoodlum to yakuza thugs in this new Jet Li picture: “Hey, Buddha-heads!”

That’s telling ’em. All that’s left is for the Yakuza to yell back, “Confused, Confucians?”

“War” is another generic Jet Li thriller, with body blows and bullets and blood and naked bodies, a few chases, lots of shootouts and a plot twist of a finale that is, at least, surprising, even if it makes little sense.

Jason Statham stars as an FBI agent whose partner and the partner’s entire family are killed in an opening scene. He’s a man obsessed with avenging that murder.

The guy he’s after is nicknamed “Rogue,” as in rogue assassin.

Jet Li plays him.

They spar over a period of years in a growing San Francisco conflict that is consuming the Yakuza, the international Japanese mob, and the Triads, the international Chinese mob. John Lone of “The Last Emperor” is top dog for the Triads. Devon Aoki, the baby-faced archer of “Sin City,” is daughter of the Yakuza boss.

Li, dapper in black suits, black shirts, black shades and big, big guns, is darned cool until he mangles English in that squeaky little voice of his. His Rogue is all about the psychology of his foe.

“I saw it in your eyes – pain, rage, loneliness.”

The plot line this could’ve followed involves the fact that Statham’s fed is every bit the “rogue” that Li’s hired killer is. He tortures and executes suspects.

Instead, Statham plays his usual stubbled stud here, all attitude and menace and tough talk. He adds a toothpick to his repertoire.

There is but one city that can host a decent car chase, and it is San Francisco. There are a couple of passable ones in “War.” The fight scenes were choreographed by Cory Yuen, and one of them stands out.

The film was directed by Philip Atwell, a veteran of TV’s “The Shield” and assorted rap videos. Atwell doesn’t break Li’s streak of badly acted Hollywood performances or give us anything new in what is firstly and lastly a genre picture, and a pretty tired one at that.

But stick around for the finale. It’s a lulu, at least in terms of having to be seen to be believed. Then again, the same screenwriter who came up with “Hey, Buddha-heads!” wrote it, so there you go.

“War”

R for sequences of strong bloody violence, sexuality/nudity and language|1 hour, 43 minutes|MARTIAL-ARTS ACTION|Directed by Philip G. Atwell; written by Gregory J. Bradley, Lee Anthony Smith; photography by Pierre Morel; starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, Devon Aoki, Luis Guzman, Saul Rubinek|At area theaters

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War (2007) Movie Ending, Explained – Who is the one who is actually rogue?

Its lineage can be traced back to the cheesy action films of the ’80s where revenge was the obsessive motivating factor of the protagonists and in that regard, it more or less lives up to its predecessors. Little about it redeems the inane narrative but at 103 minutes, it’s a fun and forgettable action fare for enthusiasts of the genre.

War (2007) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Three years pass and John has developed an obsession with finding the Rogue and avenging his partner’s death, so much so that his marriage has fallen apart as a result of it. He now heads a task force called the Asian Organized Crime Unit which handles crimes related to the Yakuza and the Triads. Following a massacre of the Yakuza at one of their bars, John finds titanium bullets, the modus operandi of the Rogue. This lets him know that the notorious killer is back in town. The Triads and the Yakuza are rival gangs owing to an old feud between their leaders, Chang and Shiro, respectively.

Why are the Yakuza and the Triads rivals?

Shiro Yanagawa is the man who handles the Yakuza’s branch in San Francisco, though he has never been to America himself. Li Chang, the Triad boss of San Francisco, lives in Marin County. About thirty years ago, Shiro went to Hong Kong and wiped out Chang’s whole clan and robbed him at the same time. Over the next three decades, Shiro would go on to sell the entirety of Chang’s precious family heirlooms.

In the present day, there’s two golden horse statuettes that are the only such items left in Shiro’s possession and he is looking for a buyer as the high price they’ll fetch will help in the expansion of his operations in America. To facilitate the selling, Shiro sends his daughter Kira to ensure that it gets done properly. For Chang, what Shiro did to his clan in Hong Kong brought a great deal of dishonor to his name and so he wishes to have his revenge against him. Chang wishes to have the two horses back and in order to do so, he begins by enlisting the help of the Rogue.

Why does the Rogue invite John to Warehouse 16?

The reason behind the phone call for the Rogue was to frustrate John by getting within an inch of him, allowing him to see what he looks like (something that had constantly eluded John prior to this), yet not giving him the satisfaction of finally arresting him. Chang had asked his men to empty the warehouse before the FBI’s arrival, advised by the Rogue, without knowledge of the fact that it was he who had invited them in the first place. For Chang, the Rogue’s foresight adds to the reasons why he’s an extremely powerful ally for his gang in their quest to wipe out the Yakuza.

War (2007) Movie Ending, Explained:

Who is the rogue, really.

It is during this revelation that Shiro tells Tom how it was John who sold his family out to Shiro. John had been working for the Yakuza at the time. In fact, he himself was the insider that he mentioned to Tom at the beginning of the film. Tom kills Shiro and goes to seek revenge against John.

Chang’s wife, Maria, receives one of the golden horses that belonged to her husband’s family, from Tom, with a note that asks her to begin a new life. Kira receives a package from him too, except that it contains Shiro’s head. At the end of the film, Tom, having avenged his wife and daughter, leaves to start anew for himself, possibly taking with him the second golden horse statuette.

Read More: Poker Face (2022) Movie Ending, Explained

War (2007) Movie Links – IMDb , Rotten Tomatoes War (2007) Movie Cast – Jet Li, Jason Statham, Nadine Velazquez, John Lone, Devon Aoki

Where to watch war, trending right now.

Shahim aims to be associated with films in some capacity all his life. To him, Welles, Cassevetes, Tarkovsky and Haneke embody why cinema is the greatest of all art forms.

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Film / War (2007)

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War (also called Rogue Assassin in Europe) is a 2007 movie starring Jason Statham and Jet Li . Originally titled Rogue , the name of the movie was changed to avoid conflict with another movie with the same name .

Tropes this movie follows:

• Ambiguous Ending : The film ends with Lone shooting John in revenge for inadvertently getting Lone's family killed. If it killed him or not, however, is never revealed as the movie cuts to Lone escaping the scene and later seen taking the money he gained from Shiro, getting in his car and driving off to parts unknown.
• First of all, the Walther P99 (and all it’s subsequent models/generations) have only ever been chambered for 9mm and .40 S&W and there has never been a P99 chambered in FN 5.7 round, which was originally made for the FN FiveseveN and the FN P90, the only two guns available at the time of the movie that would be able to use said ammo. Strangely, when Rouge loads the magazine for his P99, he's really loading a FiveseveN magazine, plus a FiveseveN later appears in the hands of another character. However, the P99 may have been used because Jet Li's hands appear too small to wield the beefier FiveseveN.
• Another inaccuracy is the usage of depleted uranium bullets and titanium casings. While depleted uranium has been used as for bullets and has several offensive capabilities such as armor piercing, being able to self-sharpen as it goes through targets, mild toxicity that could kill or sicken an enemy, and the fact that it's awesome for a guy to shoot armor piercing, radioactive bullets made from an exotic metal . However, in real life, depleted uranium is only used in anti-aircraft ammunition because pistol cartridges lack the power for depleted uranium rounds to pierce through targets or self-sharpen, not to mention, depleted uranium is ''very'' expensive ; on a similar note, titanium being used as cartridge casings is also impractical since titanium is also expensive and offers no purpose while being used as bullet brass.
• Played straight with Shiro, who manages to hold his own against Rogue/Lone in a Sword Fight much longer than several of his assassins did earlier in the film.
• Averted with Li Chang, who is never shown to possess exceptional combat prowess and is killed without putting up much of a fight .
• Back Stab : Rogue/Lone shoots John in the back for being responsible for his family's death, even though John stops the sniper from shooting his friend.
• But for Me, It Was Tuesday : Shiro: I ordered many kills. Rogue/Lone : This one was different.
• Casual Danger Dialogue : The movie opens with Crawford and Lone dicussing the benefits of Oral Fixation when you Must Have Nicotine . It's only gradually apparent that they are crouched behind cover while Rogue is doing his One-Man Army thing on a gang of Triads.
• The Chessmaster : Rogue ends up working for both sides in effort to bring both of them down.
• Daddy's Little Villain : Kira, the Yakuza boss's daughter , is a Dark Action Girl who is eager to please her father by working as his lieutenant. She briefly works alongside Rogue while not realizing that he's Playing Both Sides .
• Decoy Protagonist : For the most part, the film seems to follow John going after Rogue in revenge for the death of his friend. However his importance is largely minuscule to the overall story and in truth, the film is really about Rogue or rather, Lone, and his quest for revenge for said death of his family.
• Demanding Their Head : Kira Yonagawa orders Rogue to kill Chang and his wife and daughter, so she can present their heads to her father . Rogue does kill Chang but helps his family escape , and at the end of the movie they receive a metal case containing a valuable statuette, and a note telling them to "make a new life" for themselves. Kira gets the same note and metal case... containing the head of her father .
• Did Not Think This Through : Crawford was told that the Yakuza only wanted to work over his partner to teach him a lesson. Instead they send Rogue who proceeds to execute Lone's wife and child.
• Dirty Cop : FBI Agent Crawford is revealed to have been on Shiro's payroll for quite some time and willingly gave up his partner, albeit under both threat of their dealings being exposed and the impression that the Yakuza were just going to work over his partner, not send a trained assassin to murder him and his entire family.
• Downer Ending : John's obsession in chasing Rogue and avenging his partner Lone took a toll in his family life. In the end, he gets killed (presumably) by "Rogue", who's really Lone, as revenge for working with Shiro who sent Rogue to kill him and his family.
• Even Evil Has Standards : Rogue seems reluctant to kill Li Chang's wife and daughter, despite previously killing Lone's family. However, it was revealed that Rogue is really Lone .
• Eyes Never Lie : John realizes that Rogue is Lone by looking into his eyes at the end of the film, recognizing his partner's eyes .
• Face/Heel Double-Turn : John turns out to be the one who sold Lone out, while "Rogue" turns out to be the real Lone alive and well having taken his identity and altered his face.
• Faking the Dead : After killing Rogue, Lone put his wedding ring on Rogue's finger and burned his house down so Rogue's body would be unrecognizable.
• Friendly Sniper : Goi is an FBI marksman who loyally assists Crawford in his pursuit of Rogue and cracks jokes about the size of his sniper rifle.
• Gratuitous Ninja : Somehow the attack on Chang's home requires the Yakuza to dress in black clothing and ski masks, then sneak up and kill the guards with swords, even though they've been quite happy to use firearms up to then.
• Hoist by His Own Petard : Rogue let his guard down long enough for Lone to get a chance to strangle him to death.
• It's Personal : John had always been obsessed in apprehending Rogue. But it becomes more personal when Rogue murdered his partner Lone and his family on Shiro's orders. It turns out this is due to guilt over having tipped off the Yakuza to their location; he thinks getting Rogue will somehow atone for their deaths. Meanwhile the "Rogue" he's after is really Lone, having survived and disguised himself as the former in order to get close enough to Shiro avenge his murdered family on his own.
• Kill and Replace : Officer Lone sets this in motion after he kills the real Rogue and takes his place.
• Lawman Gone Bad : Rogue is said to be an ex-CIA agent with an informed habit of switching sides even before he defected for good. His last target, FBI Agent Tom Lone, ends up pulling a Kill and Replace on him and continues his bloody legacy in order to avenge his family against the Yakuza boss who ordered the hit against them.
• Let the Boss Win : All of Shiro's men fear the consequences that may follow should they actually score a hit on him in sparring. When he is momentarily distracted, one of them accidentally strikes him, and the minion fully expects the worst. Instead, Shiro seemingly subverts this by reassuring the terrified mook that it was Shiro's own fault for being distracted/letting his guard down and congratulates him on the hit. Then he double subverts this by ripping the poor guy's ear off, though whether he expected the mook to heed his implied advice and guard against the hit is up for question.
• Magic Plastic Surgery : Rogue. He changes his face so many times no one knows what he originally looked like, and even then his face is usually obscured by shadow. Which makes it easy for Lone to change his own face and being able to pass himself off as Rogue.
• Mob War : Rogue is Playing Both Sides , inciting a war between Triad and Yakuza.
• My God, What Have I Done? : John realized his mistake of working with Shiro and causing the death of his partner and his family. John tells Lone he's sorry for everything, but Lone doesn't forgive him.
• Ninja : The five Yakuza Elite Mooks all wear black masks and use katanas.
• Not Himself : Shiro ordered Rogue to kill Chang. But he seems to show reluctance when he's ordered to also kill Chang's wife and daughter. Kira points out Rogue that he never had problems killing women and children before. That's because he's not Rogue.
• Nothing Up My Sleeve : When a Yakuza goon baulks at taking orders from Kira, she drops a knife from her sleeve and holds it to his neck. She tries the same trick on Rogue only to find her hand empty. Rogue then casually hands her the knife . "You dropped this."
• The Nth Doctor : Rogue is infamous for wearing a mask and undergoing frequent plastic surgeries in order to alter his face. Which makes it easy for Lone to pose as him.
• Rogue kills Joey T and makes it look like the Yakuza did it. Chang orders his brother not to seek revenge at this time, but Rogue follows him out of the building and lights a cigarette for him, pointedly telling him to keep the matchbook. The matchbook shows the name of a tea house where the Yakuza will be meeting that night.
• When John turns up with his fellow federal agents, brandishing the photos of Rogue's treachery in Yonagawa's face, the latter mutters, "Thanks for the tip." It looks like he's being sardonic, but he later reveals that John is on his payroll, so he really is tipping him off.
• Redemption Equals Death : John has been continuously guilty after he sold out Lone only to get his family killed. After discovering that Rogue is actually his 'dead' partner, he steps into the field of fire of an FBI sniper to stop him firing, only for Lone to shoot him immediately afterwards.
• Rogue Agent : Rogue is a former CIA assassin who turned on his own handlers. He appears to regard himself as a modern ronin, claiming to have no master, and even In-Universe he's known for being a Heel–Face Revolving Door .
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here : The last Ninja Mook tries to run away after his companions are killed or incapacitated in less than a minute. Rogue shoots him In the Back .
• Set a Mook to Kill a Mook : Rogue does this throughout the movie, playing the Triad and the Yakuza mobs against one another. At one point, he disguises himself as a Yakuza biker and goads some Triads into riding through Yakuza territory, where they mostly end up taking each other out.
• Shoo the Dog : Surprisingly, the Big Bad gets to do this. Yakuza boss Yonagawa is an awful excuse for a person and Would Hurt a Child . However, he does care about his loyal daughter and lieutenant Kira , and makes an excuse to send her back to Japan, out of harm's way, before his final confrontation with Rogue.
• Siblings in Crime : Chang's Co-Dragons are brothers. When one of them is killed, the other wants revenge on both Chang (for allowing it to happen) and the actual killer.
• Sleight of Handiness : Rogue is holding his pistol when Chang's daughter enters the room. He puts the gun underneath a newspaper, and when she demands to know what's there, he lifts the paper to show the gun has disappeared. When the girl leaves and a mook then tries to threaten him, Rogue makes the pistol appear again.
• That Man Is Dead : "Tom Lone is dead. My name is Rogue."
• Was It Really Worth It? / What the Hell, Hero? : Rogue/Lone : Why did you do it? What did Shiro promised you that worth my life for the life of some petty assassin?
• You Killed My Father : "You killed my partner and his family." However, he learns he himself was responsible.
• After Crawford rudely takes over the case from the local police, they ask what they're supposed to do. As Crawford has gotten himself bloody doing a Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique , he says they can do his laundry.
• Kira arrives in the United States to find the local Yakuza chapter gearing up for war with the Triads. She makes it clear that no-one is going to war without her father's approval, and when they start waffling, she holds a knife to the boss's throat and tells his minion to get her a salad. Chef, blue cheese. With dressing on the side.
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Product Description

After his partner Tom Wynne and family are killed apparently by the infamous and elusive assassin Rogue, FBI agent Jack Crawford becomes obsessed with revenge as his world unravels into a vortex of guilt and betrayal. Rogue eventually resurfaces to settle a score of his own, setting off a bloody crime war between Asian mob rivals Chang of the Triad's and Yakuza boss Shiro. When Jack and Rogue finally come face to face, the ultimate truth of their pasts will be revealed

Product details

• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
• Audio Description: ‏ : ‎ English
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 3345322
• Director ‏ : ‎ Phillip Atwell
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Closed-captioned, Full Screen, NTSC
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 39 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2008
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Jet Li, Jason Statham
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ Spanish, English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Lionsgate Home Entertainment
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000X1Z0CE
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #4,325 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV)
• #8,145 in Action & Adventure DVDs

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• Los Angeles Times Sam Adams Building to a climactic twist as arbitrary as it is unsatisfying, WarK ties itself in knots trying to bring something new to a stale formula. It's never painful to watch, but that's only because it provokes no feeling at all.
• New York Times Andy Webster Most regrettably, War squanders the considerable merits of its leads.
• AV Club Nathan Rabin In spite of a late-game adrenaline surge, the hoped-for fireworks between Li and Statham never quite materialize.
• Entertainment Weekly Marc Bernardin Just as you think to yourself, ''This flick would be way better if it had Van Damme playing twins,'' along comes a plot twist so ingenious that it almost redeems the rest of the flick.
• San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub There isn't enough humor in the script and not enough style in the direction by newcomer Philip G. Atwell. A few plot twists keep things interesting, but the best ones come long after anyone could possibly care.
• Boston Globe Wesley Morris No one who's witnessed any of the graceful yet blistering combat in the Bourne movies should stand for action sequences that look like they've been edited by an Uzi.
• Slant Magazine Nick Schager War is the Heat of cheesy Ameri-Euro-Asian kung-fu cop-crook movies.
• MovieFreak.com Sara Michelle Fetters For a nihilistic grade B action film it certainly pushes many of the right button, it's just wading through all the tiredly cliché crap to finally get there that takes some doing.
• Austin Chronicle Toddy Burton First-time feature director Atwell clearly displays skills he picked up directing videos for Eminem and 50 Cent.
• Chicago Reader J. R. Jones [A] routine crime thriller.
• Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck Lacking even the galvanizing action sequences that would have compensated for suffering through its formulaic plot, this is a thoroughly forgettable exploitationer.
• UGO Brian Tallerico A disappointment, failing to capitalize on the charisma of its two leads or even give them anything that interesting to do.
• Variety Joe Leydon The teaming of action stars Jet Li and Jason Statham may raise audience expectations for a lean, mean ass-kicking machine, but War turns out to be a flabby and formulaic programmer.
• Los Angeles CityBeat Andy Klein ... more proof that bad writing and directing can overwhelm any amount of talent elsewhere.
• Reel.com Pam Grady There is a lot of talent in front of the camera in this mess -- Statham, Li, Lone, Aoki, Luis Guzman, Saul Rubinek, and the always cool Sung Kang -- and they are all wasted. Those actors deserve a better movie. So does the audience.
• TheMovieReport.com Michael Dequina It's inexplicable that the filmmakers haven't given the stars many opportunities to pull out their celebrated skills en route to their inevitable head-on collision.
• Mark Reviews Movies Mark Dujsik A cliff notes version of an action movie.
• Movies for the Masses Joseph Proimakis Proefibikon prodiagrafon astynomiki peripeteia, me yperanalytiko epanalambanomeno senario anamenomenis plokis, tigka sta ftina kolpakia toy montaz gia petyhei ayto to cool binteoklipistiko
• Sacramento News & Review Jim Lane The story is threadbare...

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One of the best war movies ever made lands on netflix today, and you absolutely need to watch it.

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1917 is a masterpiece.

When I say that 1917 is one of the best war movies ever made, I’m not giving it full credit. This is one of the best movies ever made, period.

Director Sam Mendes has made some great films over the years— Road To Perdition, American Beauty, Skyfall— but none of them come close to the brilliance of this World War 1 picture. The movie has been on other streaming services for a while now, including Showtime and HBO, but now it’s on Netflix and you absolutely must watch it.

Part of 1917’s brilliance is how it’s shot, in two very long shots that are only broken up once in the middle of the film (though the film used techniques to give it the appearance of one long shot; a brilliant illusion). Cinematographer Roger Deakins— True Grit, Fargo, Prisoners— is at the top of his game. Very few movies are as visually impressive. This one has such a sense of urgency and flow that it’s impossible to look away.

1917 isn’t a dialogue-heavy movie, especially in its second half. The film stars George MacKay as Lance Corporal Will Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Tom Blake. The two men are sent on a desperate mission to bring a message to a British colonel (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is about to send his men into an ambush. This mission takes the two young men across enemy lines, through booby-trapped trenches, and into one peril after another. It’s extremely tense, though there isn’t a lot of the actual war shown, since this is a bit more of a zoomed-in, intimate story.

I won’t spoil any more. The film has many, many cameos from actors like Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Colin Firth and more. I’ve seen in it three times and loved every second of it.

Check out more streaming recommendations in my weekend streaming guide right here .

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How old was grogu when each star wars movie happened.

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Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows

The 15 best grogu moments in star wars, ranked, 2019 romantic comedy is getting a horror sequel.

• Grogu's species remains a mystery, though they are known for their long lifespans - Yoda lived nearly 900 years.
• Grogu was around 10 in The Phantom Menace, 20 in Attack of the Clones, and 23 during Order 66.
• Grogu's age aligns with key events in Star Wars history.

Despite his relatively young age, Grogu has become a major character in the Star Wars franchise, but very little is known about his life before he met Din Djarin. Though the Star Wars timeline is expansive, most of the franchise’s storytelling is confined to the Star Wars movies . Since Grogu was alive during the time of the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the original Star Wars trilogy – both eras that had a significant impact on Grogu’s life during the reign of the New Republic – it’s important to know what he might have experienced during those times, and how that might have affected him.

One of the greatest Star Wars mysteries is the mystery behind Grogu’s species. Despite the prominent presence of Grogu, Yoda, and Yaddle within the franchise, very little is known about where they come from or their general biology, though it is clear that they can live very long lives. Yoda was nearly 900 years old when he first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back , and Grogu is still seen as a child, despite being 50 years of age during The Mandalorian . So, how old was Grogu in each Star Wars movie? How much of the galaxy’s history has he truly witnessed?

What's the best way to watch Star Wars? Here's everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.

6 Grogu Was 10 In The Year Of The Phantom Menace

Star wars: episode i - the phantom menace (32bby).

The Star Wars timeline uses the Battle of Yavin as its main turning point. The Battle of Yavin involves the destruction of the first Death Star as seen in the original Star Wars movie. As such, everything that happens before the Battle of Yavin is labeled BBY, and everything that happens after it is labeled ABY. Since it was confirmed that Grogu was 50 in The Mandalorian season 1, which is set in 9ABY, it can be surmised that Grogu was born in approximately 41BBY , though his exact date of birth has yet to be officially confirmed by Star Wars.

Interestingly, Anakin Skywalker himself was also born in 41BBY. As Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace takes place in 32BBY, both Grogu and Anakin would have been roughly ten or 11 years old by the time the movie takes place. Famously, Anakin wasn’t inducted into the Jedi Order until then. It’s unclear when Grogu was brought to the Order; however, since the Jedi Council was reluctant to teach Anakin at ten years old, Grogu was likely much younger.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

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The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.  

5 Grogu Was 20 When The Clone Wars Began

Star wars: episode ii - attack of the clones (22bby).

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is officially set in 22BBY, ten years after The Phantom Menace. As such, Grogu would have been roughly 20 years old. The end of the film marks the start of the Clone Wars, the galaxy-wide conflict between the Grand Army of the Republic and the Separatists, and the beginning of the Jedi’s inevitable downfall. Though Grogu was 20 years old, it’s clear his species ages differently than humans and other humanoid species do, and as such, he would have been much too young to join the fight, unlike many other Jedi Padawans.

That doesn’t mean the Clone Wars wouldn’t have affected him though, despite being housed in the relative safety of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The war affected the Order greatly – it’s possible the younglings were given a completely different kind of instruction, one focused more on fighting than meditation and peace, for instance. When Grogu later protects Din Djarin in The Mandalorian , it’s clear that Grogu’s use of the Force is rather more uncontrolled than one might have expected, hinting his time at the Jedi Temple wasn’t always easy.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala's life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.

4 Grogu Was 23 When Order 66 Happened & The Empire Was Born

Star wars: episode iii - revenge of the sith (19bby).

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith takes place in 19BBY. At this point, the Clone Wars have been raging on for approximately three years, and it’s taken its toll on the galaxy and the Jedi, too. Just when it looks like the conflict is coming to an end, Palpatine finally reveals himself as the evil Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, and makes Anakin Skywalker his new apprentice. Order 66 is enacted, the clone troopers are forced to betray the Jedi, and the Jedi Order is decimated in one fell swoop.

In The Mandalorian season 3, it was revealed that Grogu survived Order 66 and escaped the Jedi Temple with the help of Jedi Master Kelleran Beq . Several Jedi gave their lives trying to protect Grogu. Grogu would have been 23 at the time, incredibly young for his species. The flashback in The Mandalorian , and Grogu’s experience with Luke Skywalker, makes it clear that Grogu was traumatized by the Jedi’s genocide, and understandably so. He would have never experienced that kind of violence and grief before, and his connection to the Force would have been affected by it.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise and chronologically the third in the Skywalker Saga. Set three years after the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker is tasked with keeping an eye on Chancellor Palpatine while other Jedi battle across the galaxy. In the background, however, a mysterious Sith lord begins to make their move to destroy the Jedi once and for all.

3 Grogu Was 42 When The Galactic Civil War Began

A new hope (0bby/0aby).

The original Star Wars movie, which was later retitled A New Hope, takes place in that pivotal year of 0BBY/0ABY. At this point, Grogu would have been roughly 42 years old, though it’s currently unclear how long Kelleran Beq stayed with Grogu, or when exactly he was captured by the Empire. It’s impossible to say where Grogu was when Luke Skywalker blew the Death Star to pieces, but as it was such a significant step back for the Empire, the entire galaxy would have felt the repercussions, perhaps even Grogu.

It's possible that, during this time, Grogu was being cared for by the Hidden Path , the secret underground network that aided Force-sensitives and other enemies of the Empire to find safety on distant worlds, out of the Empire’s reach. The Hidden Path was a major plot point in both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, both of which take place in 9BBY. It may be how Grogu stayed safe for a while after the fall of the Jedi Order.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV - A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father's weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.

2 Grogu Was 45 When Luke Skywalker Met Yoda

The empire strikes back (3aby).

The Empire Strikes Back takes place in 3ABY, so Grogu was approximately 45 years old . It is in this movie that Luke Skywalker meets Yoda for the first time, and they begin Luke’s Jedi training on Dagobah. In The Empire Strikes Back , Yoda was roughly 900 years old. Grogu, as such, still has a long life ahead of him. As both Yoda and Obi-Wan refer to Luke as the last hope of the Jedi, it’s clear they weren’t aware, or at least didn’t want to make Luke aware, that there were others out there like him. It’s entirely possible that they didn’t know Grogu was still alive.

Hopefully, at this point, Grogu was still an unknown presence in the galaxy. Given his connection to the Force, however, it’s possible he felt something when Luke and Yoda officially met, and when Luke began tapping into his power in earnest. What if that somehow led the Empire to discover his location?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

1980 saw the continuation of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although this was the second film in the Star Wars series itself, it would end up being the fifth film chronologically in the Skywalker Saga itself. Created by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner, this sequel sees Darth Vader attempting to locate the Rebel Alliance after they destroyed the Death Star.

1 Grogu Was 46 When Yoda Died

Return of the jedi (4aby).

In Return of the Jedi, which takes place in 4ABY, Yoda dies, and Luke is left to defend the galaxy on his own as a Jedi. What happened to Grogu during this time is anyone’s guess, though the fall of the Empire did trigger Palpatine’s contingency plans. Thanks to Star Wars: The Bad Batch and The Mandalorian , it’s clear that Palpatine’s cloning projects were active for a long time. Though the exact date of Grogu’s capture is unknown, it would make sense if it happened in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi and the Empire’s dissolution.

That would, however, tragically mean that Grogu was in the hands of the Empire and being experimented on for several years before he was eventually “rescued” by Nikto mercenaries and found by Din Djarin in 9ABY. Until more is revealed, it's impossible to know what happened to him during the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Hopefully, Grogu ’s history will become clearer as Star Wars ’ New Republic story marches on and this youngling’s powers and abilities continue to grow.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

The third film released and the sixth film chronologically in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is a sci-fi epic adventure film that continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and friends as they battle against the Empire. After a narrow escape but crushing defeat at the hands of the empire, the rebel alliance learns that a new Death Star has been constructed above the moon of Endor. With the war reaching its conclusion, the heroes will team with the forest planet's inhabitants and prepare themselves for one final showdown with Darth Vander and the Galactic Empire.

All Star Wars movies and shows are available to stream on Disney+.

Grogu is a former Jedi youngling who is now training as a Mandalorian apprentice under his adopted father, Din Djarin. A survivor of Order 66, Grogu was hunted by the Empire for his blood amidst their cloning experimentation. Rescued by Din after initially being his bounty, Grogu went on to be trained briefly by Luke Skywalker as a Jedi Padawan, but has ultimately chosen the path of the Mandalorians instead to remain with his father. Grogu is now traversing the galaxy with Din to fight the Imperial Remnant and learn the Mandalorian Way.

• Cast & crew

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan.

• Kenji Kamiyama
• Jeffrey Addiss
• Phoebe Gittins
• Will Matthews
• Lorraine Ashbourne
• Miranda Otto

• Helm Hammerhand

• Fréaláf Hildeson
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 10 minutes
• Dolby Atmos
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