Lord of War

Loki · 5 Feb 2006 at 00:38

Just watched this tonight. Based on a true story Nicholas Cage stars as the international Gun Smuggler. Cage plays the part of a Ukranian immigrant living in New York and realises that the life of inheriting his fathers Ukranian coffee shop is not for him. He sells his first gun to some gang banger in the early 80's and is hooked.

He then ends up selling tonnes of guns and munitions left over from the original war in Afghanistan. It charts his 20 year career in gun running to every warlord, despot and dictator this side of doomsday. It then charts his career and his constant battle with Interpol and other gun smugglers at the end of the cold war. Cameos courtesy of Ethan Hawke and Ian Holm respectivley

Parallels can be drawn with Godfellas for gritiness and also for Cage serving a narative throughout the film that is well scripted. Moreover for the simillarities between Henry Hill and Yuri Orlov(Cage)

Has a very poigniant message throught the film. Which culminates in the closing scene as the credits roll. "The 5 biggest countries guilty of gun running are America, Russia, China, UK & France. These are the 5 permenant members of the UN security council"

One of those films that could quite easily slip under the radar as its not mainstream, mind numbing spoon fed entertainment. Well worth a watch

asim · 5 Feb 2006 at 01:26

I saw Lord of War. Have to say it was actually a pretty good film. Interesting to see the way they interpreted gun trade.

Big Chris · 5 Feb 2006 at 02:24

Gets a big thumbs up from me, very good film IMO.

pmbuzz · 5 Feb 2006 at 02:32

Great film, with an awseome opening sequence.

GSXRMovistar · 5 Feb 2006 at 02:32

I had no idea what this film was about, in fact I thought it was going to be an action flick like some of the othe cage films. But was actually very impressed by it and as Loki has mentioned I was also reminded of goodfellas with how it spanned years and the narative voice over.

tntcoder · 5 Feb 2006 at 02:59

I really enjoyed this movie, thought cage did a really good job.

skiba · 5 Feb 2006 at 03:54

Very much enjoyed it too, for some reason i remember it being very colourful, definitely worth watching, a great message/lesson in there too.

mysticsniper · 5 Feb 2006 at 05:22

pmbuzz said:
Great film, with an awseome opening sequence.

I loved that as well.

Its cracking film with some black humour thrown in as well

Matblack · 5 Feb 2006 at 09:24

What a suprise that the Americans hated this.

A brilliant movie telling a few home truths whilst being fun to watch.

Is it out on DVD now?

MB

Loki · 5 Feb 2006 at 09:39

Matblack said:
What a suprise that the Americans hated this.

A brilliant movie telling a few home truths whilst being fun to watch.

Is it out on DVD now?

MB

Region 1 MB

SourChipmunk · 5 Feb 2006 at 15:55

I thought it was an excellent movie. The previews here showed only the bits that were funny, which made my wife and I out to believe it was going to be a somewhat comical movie, Cage stylee. Although it wasn't, the film didn't disappoint. Very powerful, indeed.

And pmbuzz, you're right: the opening sequence was rated by Entertainment Weekly mag as the best ever.

CircleFaust · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:04

watched this last night
cool film. how much of it's true i wonder. the plane landing in africa scene, did he really give away the guns and those guys strip the plane? crazy

opening sequence was a simple idea and very effective

Sic · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:13

funnily enough i actually really liked it as well. Cage's bored, deadpan, mopey acting style seemed to work quite well for this role and i was also pleased to see Jared Leto and Ethan Hawke (2 favourites of mine) doing a very good job. nice to see Hollywood get it right every now and again, even if they still can't write an original story

SourChipmunk · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:18

Sic said:
nice to see Hollywood get it right every now and again, even if they still can't write an original story

You're right, of course. But really, you don't see original stories in books anymore, either. Everything has been done. Now it's just a matter of how well they can redeux a film.

theleg · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:28

Matblack said:
What a suprise that the Americans hated this.

Americans hated it?

Most Americans ive spoken to about it loved it :dunno:

I thought it was great.

Sic · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:30

Raist said:
You're right, of course. But really, you don't see original stories in books anymore, either. Everything has been done. Now it's just a matter of how well they can redeux a film.

yeah, i guess you're right. this is why i've started checking foreign cinema...i cant imagine some of the stuff that's actually available out there isnt original. then again, i'd rather see a great redux than an average original. i'm not that pretentious....yet

NathanE · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:49

Cruiser said:
how much of it's true i wonder. the plane landing in africa scene, did he really give away the guns and those guys strip the plane? crazy

What's crazy about it?

It might not be true to the guy's life story but no reason it couldn't have happened I don't think.

FeFiDoh · 27 Mar 2006 at 14:15

watched it a while back thought it was brilliant and really well put together, cages acting is superb.

Tru · 27 Mar 2006 at 14:50

I got this the other day, are there any spoilers in this thread?

Zefan · 27 Mar 2006 at 14:51

10/10 from me. Cage=BEST.