Lord of War DVD Review

"LORD OF WAR" reviews

DVD

LORD OF WAR

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-03-03 16:33:22

Provider

DVD Review

If you love guns you've decided on the right movie. Just don't go expecting another Con Air style Cage action movie though, this one attempts to offer a moral stance as well.

Nic Cage, touped up to the eyeballs once more, stars as Yuri Orlov, a businessman who decides to make a better life for himself by becoming an arms dealer. Having sold his first Uzi, Cage stumbles across a weapons gold mine after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It's now an open market, prices are bargain-bucket-good and for the highest bidder you can get your hands on some serious Soviet military technology. All deals trace back to Yuri who finds willing buyers from unstable Third World nations who hand over the cash and don't ask questions. Selling arms make Yuri a rich man, quickly, but unwanted attention from Interpol agents goes with the territory.

Based on a true story, presumably writer-director Andrew Niccol was aiming to do to for the illegal arms industry what Goodfellas did to the mafia with this movie, as we're narrated through a man's entire life story in the space of two hours. However, the hectic pace of movie means means various sections of the plot become too convoluted for it to be considered a classic. Filling in the gaps are some hammy and plain unbelievable dialogue in an attempt to detail the grim life which he's immersed in, in just five minutes. "Selling your first Uzi is like having sex," slurs Cage like a guest star on the Fast Show, while stroking his manly M60.

However, solid performances by Donald Sutherland and Ethan Hawke as the Interpol agent along with the intriguing story still make this a decent thought-provoking political thriller for DVD buffs.

DVD extras include audio commentary from director Andrew Niccol, deleted scenes, interview with star Nicolas Cage (and his wig), Making A Killing: a look inside the international arms trade and much more.