WAR (2007)

Nearly two decades after the original, WAR: Legacy of the Rogue resurrects the stylish, twist-laden world of the 2007 action-thriller WAR. In that film, Jet Li played the enigmatic assassin Rogue, and Jason Statham portrayed FBI agent John Crawford in a cat-and-mouse game of deception, revenge, and betrayal. The movie ended with a major twist: Rogue was actually Crawford’s former partner, seeking revenge for the murder of his family.

Now, in this fictional 2026 sequel, the legacy of those events comes back to life in explosive fashion.

Set in Tokyo and expanding across Southeast Asia, Legacy of the Rogue introduces Kenji Tanaka (Lewis Tan), a skilled ex-special forces operative haunted by the myth of Rogue. When his brother, a diplomat, is assassinated under mysterious circumstances, Kenji discovers a trail of cryptic messages linked to an underground organization known as Kuro no Yami (“The Black Darkness”)—a syndicate believed to have ties to Rogue’s past.

Meanwhile, John Crawford, now retired and living in seclusion, is pulled back into the shadows when the FBI reaches out to him: someone is recreating Rogue’s exact signature—a silent, calculated killer targeting crime bosses across Asia.

Jet Li returns in a mentor-like capacity, now operating under a new identity. Wiser, quieter, but still deadly, he warns Kenji: “You don’t chase ghosts. You become one.” Together, they must unravel a conspiracy involving government corruption, AI-controlled surveillance, and a resurgence of the same criminal empires Rogue once dismantled.

The film blends sleek martial arts choreography with stylized gunplay, harkening back to the tone of John Wick and The Raid. The action is intense and tightly edited, with standout sequences in a neon-lit Osaka rooftop chase and a final battle in a bamboo fortress at dawn.

Beyond the bullets and blades, Legacy of the Rogue delves into deeper themes: the cost of revenge, the illusion of justice, and whether true redemption is ever possible for men shaped by violence. Jet Li’s return is emotionally resonant, and Lewis Tan proves to be a strong leading man—both physically capable and emotionally grounded.

While the plot occasionally relies on familiar tropes, the film delivers a satisfying mix of adrenaline and introspection. Fans of the original will appreciate the continuation of its moral ambiguity and hard-hitting action, while newcomers will find plenty to enjoy.