Today’s quick review: The Art of War. Neil Shaw (Wesley Snipes) is a covert operative for the United Nations. Under the command of Eleanor Hooks (Anne Archer), he uses theft and blackmail to grease the wheels of the peace process. But when Shaw is framed for the murder of the Chinese ambassador, he becomes the target of a city-wide manhunt. The only person he can turn to is Julia Fang (Marie Matiko), a UN translator caught up in the chaos.
The Art of War is an action thriller about a secret operative who goes rogue in order to prove his innocence. The Art of War takes a typical setup for an action flick and follows through on it well. The plot is a sprawling conspiracy with high stakes and twists that are easy to predict but nonetheless satisfying. Shaw is a slight twist on the typical hero: resourceful enough to get out of trouble, but fallible and often behind the curve.
The Art of War’s action follows a similar pattern. The movie packs in chases, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat wherever it gets the opportunity, but none of the stunts are as memorable as the best the genre has to offer. The Art of War also gets caught between the two extremes of the action genre. The high stakes and violence push it in the direction of being a gritty thriller, but the presentation style would have been a better fit for a comedy.
The Art of War is a fine pick for anyone looking for a popcorn watch with plenty of action. The Art of War is not as impressive as some of its rivals, and its generic plot and relatively ordinary stunts keep it from leaving a lasting mark. But even so, the movie executes the formula well enough to entertain fans of the genre. Give it a shot if you’re looking for something simple and enjoyable. Skip it if you’re hoping to be impressed.
Check out The Replacement Killers or xXx for an action movie with a similar flavor. For an action comedy about diplomacy between the United States and China, check out Rush Hour or Lethal Weapon 4. For another thriller centered around an assassination attempt at the United Nations, check out The Interpreter. For a more grounded movie about a man framed for an assassination, try Shooter.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for fun, serviceable action without too many surprises.