MovieChat Forums > Lord of War (2005) Discussion > What is missing in this film ... ??? I j...

What is missing in this film ... ??? I just don't find the answer :-(

posted 14 years ago by Mandy_Whitsands
18 replies | jump to latest

Hi folks,

I have been scratching my head ever since I watched LoW 2 days ago. I like this film, but I have the intriguing feeling that something is missing. But I just can't seem to find what it is ...

Maybe you can help me find out?

It's bizarre, because the film reunites so many elements I do like.

* I like Nic Cage and think he does an excellent job in his role.
* I like the dialogue and voice off (outstanding and ironic)
* I like the setting. I like films set in Africa, and the film reminds of Blood Diamond which I adored (I think I gave it a 10).
* I like the genre.
* I like symbolism and moral questions (both of which constitute the backbone of this film).

... and still, I find LoW a bit ... empty. Somehow a bit clinical. A clean, surgical film project. Although the film shows to a certain extent the blunt reality: Aids in Africa, gun trade, violence, etc.

On the other hand, I didn't find Blood Diamond "empty". But what is the difference between those 2 films? Why is LoW empty?

Thanks for your help.

[–] apostolos1989 11 years ago

They made it look pretty easy to become a arms dealer which was unrealistic.
Also while it was pretty enjoyable the scenes between Ethan and Cage the end climax was lacking.

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Quite a few things, the most important of which are any real insight into the gun trade, interesting characters, compelling storytelling and any whiff of any originality. On the other hand, what it does have in abundance, are naked hokum (the last third of the film is total cornball stuff), obviousness at every step and lacklustre acting. Only rated it 6/10 cuz it somehow still manages to be reasonably entertaining and looks kinda pretty. The more I think about it though the more generous this rating seems.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] zeemaza 11 years ago

Personally, I don't like the fact that he went from immigrant to someone who sold a couple of Uzis to an international arms smuggler in about three minutes! I wanted the details of how he did that; what made him able to penetrate that market? Arms dealers are interesting because they are highly ruthless, shrewd guys of very high intelligence and many connections. You don't just sell a couple of guns on the streets and turn into ... Uri Orlov ...

I would have rather seen him work his way up from a worthless immigrant on the streets to the guy that uses ships and planes to smuggle his weapons ... that is complicated but the movie just ignores all that and jumps in to him being one of the world's biggest dealers! You either start off the movie with him being an arms dealer and go into a flashback of how he did it or you start off the movie with him being an international arms dealer and then the movie can focus on one of his stories as such or you can start him off as nothing and show us how he made it ...

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Yeah, it`s basically like at one merry day, an idea strikes and Yuri says "Eureka! I shall be an arms dealer!"... and just about 10 minutes later, he`s suddenly seen at some huge weapon storage, on another continent, all pro and stuff. The whole film merely skims the surface level of this business`s workings.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan