The Art of War (2000)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Christian Duguay

Writers (WGA):

Wayne Beach (story)
Wayne Beach (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 August 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Who is your foe?

Plot:

Shaw is an operative for the United Nations' covert dirty-tricks squad, using espionage and quasi-ethical tactics to secure peace and cooperation...

Plot Keywords:

FBI | United Nations | Murder | False Accusation | Spy

Awards:

2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Wesley Snipes	...	Neil Shaw
Donald Sutherland	...	Douglas Thomas
Maury Chaykin	...	Frank Capella
Anne Archer	...	Eleanor Hooks
Marie Matiko	...	Julia Fang
Michael Biehn	...	Robert Bly
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	David Chan
Liliana Komorowska	...	Jenna Novak
James Hong	...	Ambassador Wu
Paul Hopkins	...	Ray, FBI Agent
Glen Chin	...	Ochai
Ron Yuan	...	Ming
Bonnie Mak	...	Anna Li
Uni Park	...	Tina Chan
Erin Selby	...	Hong Kong Reporter

Also Known As:

L'art de la guerre (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, some sexuality, language and brief drug content.

Runtime:

117 min | Germany:116 min (cut version) | Germany:117 min (uncut version)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:18 (bw) | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

Before appearing in this film, Michael Biehn read a copy of Sun Tzu's "Art of War" in K2 (1991).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Julia Fang and Shaw leave the cafe after his car explodes, the car with the Florida license plates has been moved from the front of the cafe to an alley across the street.

Quotes:

Julia Fang: Do they train you to be this vague, or is it a gift?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tropic Thunder (2008)

Underrated Conspiracy Thriller

Snipes puts in a fine performance as Neil Shaw, a united nations defence agent who is wanted for the assassination of the Chinese U.N. ambassador at a time where U.S. and Chinese relations are already strained.

Snipes teams up with a beautiful U.N. translator (Marie Matiko) in a search for the truth behind the conspiracy that is engulfing the duo. The Art of War delivers action, thrills and good plot twists and overall is a satisfying thriller. However it is not without some minor flaws, the story although complex and interesting is somewhat dis-jointed in its delivery and the ending lacks impact, even if it does ring true to the plot line.

All in all 'The Art of War' is a good, yet less than perfect action thriller, that will certainly satisfy Snipes fans.

7/10