Review of Lord of War (2005) by Sandeep N — 01 Jul 2010

When I saw this at the cinema I remember being very dissapointed by it. Didn't think it was a bad movie, just a little too overblown and maybe a bit too obviouse. Like the hammered home message of the movies opening credits where the camera follows the single bullet from construction to its finale journey into the young boys head.

But watching it again I now really like it. Dealing with this kind of subject matter maybe it's sometimes best to just lay it on the line and spell out exactly what you're talking about - which is what that clever-clever opening does.

And the movie doesn't let up there. Sex, Sex, Sex. It comes on strong with close up slo-mo shots of gleaming guns blasting away seaming to always be associated with getting laid. The first half of this movie is very sexy with naked women at every turn and our hero blazing through life on a rocket just illustrating the raw appeal of this kind of life and the power that 'the gun' suggests.

The stuff in West Africa is also a treat. It's still all presented in a sexy way but now it's just plain too much and becomes scary.

As a whole it's a very exciting, fast paced movie, with great visual flair that is chocked full of great scenes and memorable moments. Very impressed with it on this re-watch. And that closing tag just says it all.