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Yuri Orlov argues that his products kill fewer people than tobacco and alcohol. He has a point, but it's more fun and takes longer to die that way. There are few pleasures to be had from an AK-47 bullet to the brain, and no time to enjoy them. Yuri is an international arms dealer who has "done business with every army but the Salvation Army." He cheerfully tours the world's flashpoints, a war-to-war salesman in a dark suit and tie.

"Lord of War" is a bleak comedy, funny in a Catch-22 sort of way, and at the same time an angry outcry against the gun traffic that turns 12-year-olds into killers and cheapens human life to the point where might makes not only right, but everything else. Yuri is played by Nicolas Cage in another of those performances you cannot easily imagine anyone else doing; he plays an immigrant from Ukraine who has the cocky self-assurance, the snaky surface charm, the breezy intellectual justification for the most indefensible acts. He will sell to anyone, anytime, he tells us during his narration, which confides the secrets of his trade: He never sold to Osama bin Laden, because "he was always bouncing checks."

Yuri's world is a small one. He has few competitors and a short but frequently updated list of clients. The world's leading arms dealer when Yuri goes into business is Simeon Weisz ( Ian Holm ), who prefers not to do business with people he thinks are evil, although his definition of evil is extremely flexible. Yuri asks Simeon to let him team up, an offer Simeon rejects; he'll eventually lose a lot of business by that decision.

The clients come from all over. There is a moment in the film when Yuri gets some bad news: Peace talks have started in a particularly promising market. He shifts his focus to the Bosnian arena. When they say they're having a war, "they keep their word."

He also finds two good customers in Africa: The Liberian dictator Baptiste Senior ( Eamonn Walker ) and his son Baptiste Junior ( Sammi Rotibi ). Senior is capable of shooting people dead without notice just in a fit of pique. During a meeting with Yuri, he kills an inattentive aide, and seems ready to shoot Yuri next, but Yuri grabs the gun back and says, "Now you'll have to buy it, because it's a used gun." It's the kind of joke that appeals to Senior. Yuri's life and even his fortune are saved.

Yuri lives in Manhattan luxury with the former model Ava Fontaine ( Bridget Moynahan ), who believes him, or pretends to believe him, when he says he's in the international shipping business. That business takes a turn for the better with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the sudden appearance on the black market of enormous caches of weapons. Luckily, Yuri is related to a now-retired general in Ukraine, and they do business.

The movie, directed by Andrew Niccol (" The Truman Show ," " Gattaca ") has some of the same stylistic aggressiveness as David O. Russell's " Three Kings ." Consider a brilliant early montage that takes a bullet's-eye-view as it moves from ore to the assembly line to finishing, packaging, distribution, sale and eventual use; the montage ends with the bullet passing through the brain of a young man. It makes the point that at every step along the way, arms manufacturers are producing death as their end product.

That doesn't much bother Yuri, who believes that wars will be fought whether or not he sells arms. In that he is correct. There is the disagreement, however, of a stubborn Interpol agent named Valentine ( Ethan Hawke ), who thinks he could save some lives by putting Yuri out of business. Some of their encounters resemble the "Spy vs. Spy" feature in Mad magazine, as when Valentine chases a ship filled with arms, and Yuri is able to repaint its name and disguise it before the law gets close enough.

Helping Yuri at first, and then a distinct problem for him, is his younger brother Vitaly ( Jared Leto ). When they're desperately disguising the ship and need a Dutch flag they do not have, it is Vitaly's lateral thinking that suggests a French flag flown sideways looks like a Dutch flag.

After movies like " Hotel Rwanda ," "Before the Rain" and " Welcome to Sarajevo ," the cold cynicism of "Lord of War," plays like a deadly footnote. People are killed because guns are available; wars lower the average age of soldiers until in some places they are fought by children with no idea of their original cause. It's hypnotic, like the gaze of a poisonous snake, how Yuri stares into the face of this horror and counts his profits. Will fate and justice eventually catch up with him? Maybe, unless money is the answer. In Yuri's experience, it usually is.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film Credits

Lord of War (2005)

122 minutes

Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov

Sammi Rotibi as Baptiste Junior

Ethan Hawke as Valentine

Ian Holm as Simeon Weisz

Jared Leto as Vitaly Orlov

Eamonn Walker as Baptiste Senior

Bridget Moynahan as Ava Fontaine

Directed and written by

Andrew Niccol

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Lord of War Reviews

Yuri is Mr. Niccol’s Michael Corleone from “The Godfather” trilogy (directed by Mr. Cage’s uncle Francis Ford Coppola). Both Yuri and Michael put “family” first with their words, but make them last with their deeds.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Oct 16, 2023

Cage has the bravado to pull off the role of the cocky dealer going toe to toe with rival dealers and dictators, not to mention Interpol.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 6, 2023

A lazy movie that is interesting just at times. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Feb 12, 2020

Lord of War is the most intelligent action film to come out of Hollywood since David O. Russell's Three Kings.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 27, 2019

... it's serious, it's sardonic, and it has both a sense of humor and a sense of outrage.

Full Review | Oct 6, 2017

A carefully choreographed devil's dance in which Nicolas Cage finds fleet-footed rejuvenation as a man aware evil can't exist without good, but that evil often wins. This uniquely unsympathetic, world-weary film earns the right to fling that truth.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 19, 2010

A fine, grown-up movie, half thriller, half black comedy.

Full Review | Sep 19, 2008

The movie ultimately crushes itself in a vise of self-loathing.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Mar 11, 2008

Niccol is no stranger to hot-button issues, but he outdoes his previous efforts by injecting this satire of war profiteering in the Halliburton age with a wicked arsenic wit.

Full Review | Aug 16, 2007

I'm beginning to get discouraged about Andrew Niccol.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Satire is rarely so hard-hitting, or high calibre.

Full Review | Jul 10, 2007

This film fails so miserably don't be surprised to find yourself often rooting against the supposed good guy.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/4 | May 26, 2007

That the CIA engages in these activities with all sorts of Orlovs no doubt slithering around in the mix somewhere, is a far more intriguing huge chunk of vital information that sadly never made it to the screen.

Full Review | Feb 8, 2007

Even though Niccol sometimes puts unnecessary homilies in the mouths of his characters, he mostly pulls off the tricky feat of being direct and breezy at the same time. "Lord of War" skims along like a dance routine.

Full Review | Oct 7, 2006

Lord of War has a surreal edge, despite being enmeshed in world events, with absurdity and dark humor laced throughout.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 27, 2006

Una pelcula frvola y superficial sobre un tema serio e importante como el trfico de armas. Entretiene, pero como denuncia cnica se queda corta.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 13, 2006

The movie's too flippant for good drama and not funny enough for satire, but the morbidly fascinating subject and Cage's reptilian performance hold our interest.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 12, 2006

Impressive performances, fascinating info-bytes and pertinent editorial, but in the end, it feels too much like an illustrated lecture.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2006

The film's approach to violence is unflinching: this is what poor people are doing to each other with the guns the West sells them, it screams -- but there's no suggestion it might be stopped, or slowed.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2006

The film is totally engaging, even though not always on an emotional level; there are so many issues striding through the screenplay it's hard to relate too closely to Yuri, although there are moments.

Full Review | Feb 12, 2006

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Lord of War

Brimming with cinematic confidence, Andrew Niccol's ambitious "Lord of War" views today's international arms trade through its anti-hero, a young Ukrainian-American lured by the promise of wealth in the weapons biz. Despite Nicolas Cage's strongest perf in many a season, ragged shifts in tone will cool aud involvement and keep general B.O. numbers in the modest range.

By Robert Koehler

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Brimming with cinematic confidence, cynicism, chutzpah plus dramatic bungles, Andrew Niccol ‘s ambitious “ Lord of War ” views today’s international arms trade through its anti-hero, a young Ukrainian-American lured by the promise of wealth in the weapons biz. A stark departure for Niccol from his interest in the near-future (“The Truman Show,” “Gattaca,” “Simone”), this globalist dramedy owes much to the political gallows humor of Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and the rise-and-fall structure of the conventional biopic. Despite Nicolas Cage’s strongest perf in many a season, ragged shifts in tone will cool aud involvement and keep general B.O. numbers in the modest range.

Few films since Michael Mann’s “The Insider” have tackled a burning, complex contemporary topic with the ferocity and filmic energy that “Lord of War” applies, and Niccol should earn considerable plaudits for his daring approach. Coming fast on the heels of “The Constant Gardener,” Niccol’s film is more original, particularly in its refreshingly politically incorrect angle on Africa.

At the same time, Niccol’s reliance on massive chunks of voice-over narration (care of the hard-working Cage) and a snide tone leave the unfortunate impression that the film is extremely callous toward its subject. “Lord of War” wades in the dangerous waters of politically black humor, which can capsize the most important message without a strong hand in command.

With Yuri Orlov (Cage) speaking directly to the camera from the first moments, followed by an astonishing title sequence filmed from the p.o.v. of a bullet as it goes from being manufactured to puncturing the skull of an African youth, pic’s strengths and problems are instantly on display.

From Yuri’s blithe attitude toward his work as a weapons dealer to the almost goofy camera angle of the bullet, the comic tone is established and then suddenly violated by real violence, leaving auds unsure how to respond.

Yuri narrates his upbringing in Gotham’s Little Odessa quarter, where he and brother Vitali (Jared Leto) were raised by their Ukrainian emigre parents. Yuri witnesses a mob hit in 1982, and realizes that there’s a real demand for guns and bullets — and cash could be made supplying them.

From strictly small-time customers, Yuri, in almost absurdly quick order, brings now-partner Vitali along to the West Berlin arms fair of 1983, where master arms dealer Simeon Weisz (Ian Holm) gives him a one-sentence brush-off: “I’m in the business to change governments.”

Yuri, though, is in this business to do business — a crucial distinction that defines his character for the rest of the film. If “Lord of War” makes its most obvious point by decrying the human cost of the global proliferation of arms, its subtler point is that in Yuri’s view, selling AK-47s or helicopter gunships is no different from selling refrigerators. Even this is made comic, with a slo-mo shot of an automatic machine gun accompanied by the sound of a clinging cash register.

Soon, Yuri is in charge of illegally registered sea vessels. Charging on board is dogged Interpol agent Valentine (Ethan Hawke), the relentless cat to Yuri’s mouse for most of the remaining 90 minutes.

Editor Zach Staenberg deserves high credit for the film’s rollicking sense of time and years whizzing by. On his frequent international trips, Yuri continually sees a girl from his youth, Little Odessa goddess Eva (Bridget Moynihan), now a supermodel. While Vitali gives in to the temptations of cocaine, Yuri elaborately arranges to track down Eva, and soon has her as his trophy wife in lavish Central Park East digs.

Pic shifts to a more troublesome midsection, divided roughly between a dull, unconvincing set of domestic scenes involving Yuri and Eva’s parched marriage, and Yuri’s dealings with a bloodthirsty Liberian dictator named Baptiste Senior (Eamonn Walker).

Regularly dressed in his “Reservoir Dogs”-style black suit in a country filled with dead bodies and muddy streets, Yuri looks increasingly strange in Liberia’s mayhem. A sense of doom slowly descends on Yuri’s character, most brilliantly visualized when Valentine catches up with him again in an airborne chase and handcuffs him on the ground of a dusty airfield.

Niccol’s script is finally too much for the film to hold onto. Yuri’s life, globe hopping and two-facedness appear to be more than any one feature could possibly contain.

While the Yuri character is never less than fascinating, the script struggles with its approach to him. Lost along the way are some potential dramatic anchors, such as the father-son dynamic between Weisz and Yuri that seems to be a central story point but is never developed.

Nor does Yuri and Vitali’s relationship ever ring quite true, including a third-act climax that nearly unravels the entire film.

What’s missing most in the story is a certain humanity that Cage must provide on his own. He brings a theatrical irony to bear here with brilliance, even as his ever-present voice on the soundtrack serves to give texture and dimension — even if it goes on much too long.

By contrast, Walker is far too emphatic and one-note, Moynihan blander-than-bland and Holm criminally cut short of screentime.

Pic looks and feels authentically international, with lenser Amir Mokri finding distinct imagery to match Gotham, Czech and South African settings. Song selection, like much of the humor, is a bit too smarty-pants for the film’s own good.

Production: A Lions Gate Films release of an Entertainment Manufacturing Co. presentation of a VIP Medienfonds 3/Ascendant Pictures/Saturn Films production in association with Rising Star/Copag V/Endgame Entertainment. Produced by Phillippe Rousselot, Andrew Niccol, Nicolas Cage, Norman Golightly, Andy Grosch, Chris Roberts. Executive producers, Fabrice Gianfermi, Bradley Cramp, Gary Hamilton, Christopher Eberts, Andreas Schmid, Michael Mendelsohn, James D. Stern. Co-producer, Douglas E. Hansen. Directed, written by Andrew Niccol.
Crew: Camera (Technicolor, widescreen), Amir Mokri; editor, Zach Staenberg; music, Antonio Pinto; music supervisor, John Bissell; production designer, Jean Vincent Puzos; art director, Stephen Carter; set decorator, Donna Hamilton; costume designer, Elisabetta Beraldo; sound (Dolby Digital/SDDS/DTS), Derek Mansvelt; supervising sound editors, Dane A. Davis, Eric Warren Lindemann; executive line producer, Ronaldo Vasconcellos; visual effects supervisor, Yann Blondel; special effects supervisor, Tyronne Stevenson; visual effects, L'E.S.T.; stunt coordinator, Eddie Yansick; associate producer, James E. Vidal; assistant director, Matthew Penry-Davey; casting, Mindy Marin. Reviewed at Lions Gate Films screening room, Santa Monica, Aug. 30, 2005. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 122 MIN. (English, Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic dialogue)
With: Yuri Orlov - Nicolas Cage Vitali Orlov - Jared Leto Ava Fontaine - Bridget Moynahan Simeon Weisz - Ian Holm Valentine - Ethan Hawke Baptiste Senior - Eamonn Walker Baptiste Junior - Sammi Rotibi

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Lord Of War Review

14 Oct 2005

121 minutes

Lord Of War

In earlier films as a writer-director, Gattaca and S1m0ne, plus his script for The Truman Show, Andrew Niccol looks to New Scientist articles and current cultural trends for the seeds of ‘if this goes on …’ awful warnings. Here, he is more interested in why the world is hell now, and how it has become that way, than in how much worse things will be in the future — and he seizes upon a big subject unduly neglected by the movies. Many films have dwelled on the ins and outs of the illegal drug business, but Lord Of War applies the GoodFellas-style insider confessional approach to a trade where death isn’t an unfortunate side effect but the main attraction: the arms business.

Much of the entry-level material is striking: a credits sequence gives a bullet’s eye-view as it takes a long journey from an American factory to an African head, and the narrator spiels lovingly about the Soviet 1947 model Kalashnikov (the AK-47, the real ‘weapon of mass destruction’). The Scarface dealer’s dictum (“Never get high on your own supply”) is wittily updated in the “first rule of gun-running” (“Never get shot with your own merchandise”), but it’s hard to make the weapons business as perversely exhilarating as the dope trade.

Movies fetishise guns, as the script acknowledges with the dictator’s son obsessed with owning “the gun of Rambo”, but there’s surprisingly little excitement in watching cases of ex-Soviet ‘machine parts’ being traded on Third World docks or in the back of beyond, even with hair’s-breadth escapes, car bomb assassinations and vividly horrid characters like Eamonn Walker’s all-purpose evil African dictator.

As often in criminal memoirs, it is hard to get really involved with a main character who — despite Nicolas Cage’s insidious charm — is just a shit. All Yuri Orlov’s unapologetic candour can’t make you care when his wife wants to leave him or his more morally ambivalent brother cracks up. The cat-and-mouse between Yuri and his Interpol nemesis (Hawke) leads to a last reel shift which is probably necessary from an audience’s point of view — reminding us that crooks like Yuri are minor operators next to the big governments who sell weapons legally — but really shouldn’t be news to supposed professionals.

Movies | 19 09 2005

Movies | 12 11 2004

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DVD & Streaming

Lord of War

Action/Adventure , Drama , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov; Jared Leto as Vitaly Orlov; Shake Tukhmanyan as Irina Orlov; Jean-Pierre Nshanian as Anatoly Orlov; Bridget Moynahan as Ava Fontaine; Ethan Hawke as Jack Valentine; Ian Holm as Simeon Weisz; Jack Niccol as Nicolai Orlov; Eamonn Walker as Andre Baptiste Sr.; Sammi Rotibi as Andre Baptiste Jr.

Home Release Date

Andrew Niccol

Distributor

Movie review.

Witnessing the shooting of two Russian mafia goons in a restaurant would send most people to therapy. Not Yuri Orlov. For the young Ukranian-American growing up in “Little Odessa” on Long Island, the event crystallized his unlikely sense of calling in life: providing effective armament to those who want it.

Yuri is a natural-born hustler, and he quickly graduates from peddling Uzi submachine guns to local mobsters to international arms deals. Along the way, he convinces his younger brother, Vitaly, to join him—though Vitaly’s reflective and hedonistic nature means the partnership doesn’t last long. Vitaly also has a conscience, something Yuri would be hard put to identify, much less follow.

That begins to change, however, after Yuri deceptively woos model Ava Fontaine into marriage with him. Ava knows Yuri’s dealings aren’t on the up-and-up, and she begins asking questions. But it takes the birth of their son, Nicolai, to awaken in Yuri something resembling second thoughts.

Yuri’s nemesis is the dogged, straight-laced Interpol agent Jack Valentine. Despite Valentine’s best efforts, however, Yuri consistently remains one step ahead of the law as he delivers AK-47s, grenades, tanks and even helicopter gunships to clients in Colombia, Afghanistan and especially Africa. Andre Baptiste Sr., dictator of the war-torn African country of Liberia, proves to be Yuri’s most powerful, lucrative and dangerous patron. With Valentine seemingly always in tow, Yuri juggles supply problems, a marriage based on deception and his own nagging conscience as the Lord of War .

Positive Elements

All around Yuri Orlov are flawed people who try, in their own way, to convince him to take an honest look at his life.

His younger brother, Vitaly, is an aimless, skirt-chasing drug and alcohol addict. Yet even Vitaly recognizes that his life has value. He keeps a “Beware of the Dog” sign in the kitchen of the restaurant where he works. When Yuri asks him about it, Vitaly says, “The dog is in me. [The sign] reminds me to be more human.” He tells Yuri that maybe doing nothing is better than running guns. Later, Vitaly tells his older brother, “Those things you sell kill inside,” implying that Yuri’s job is damaging his soul. When Vitaly joins Yuri for one last arms deal in Liberia, he sees a woman and child murdered by a group of men and realizes that his brother is selling guns to those people. He tries to convince Yuri to renege on the deal, then blows up a truck full of guns with a grenade before being killed by Yuri’s Liberian buyers.

Jack Valentine refuses to compromise the law to capture his elusive quarry. Each time he confronts Yuri—who invariably manages to elude the agent’s best efforts—Valentine tries in vain to convince Yuri to leave his chosen “profession.” “You get rich by giving the poorest people in the world the ability to keep killing each other,” Valentine tells Yuri. In one instance, he detains Yuri for 24 hours, the maximum time he can hold someone without charging him. Valentine says that doing so will give the people Yuri’s guns would kill one more day to live. In his last interrogation, Valentine tells Yuri, “I’d tell you to go to hell, but I think you’re already there.”

Yuri’s wife has a vague idea that her husband’s “business” isn’t above the board, and for much of the movie is content to live the lavish life Yuri’s labors procure for her. Ignorance is bliss for Ava until Valentine shows up to question her and tells her what her husband actually does. When Yuri returns home from his latest deal, he finds Ava sitting naked on the bed (the camera shows only her uncovered back). “I can’t wear these clothes. They’ve got blood on them,” she says, begging him to give up his business. Like Vitaly, Ava tries to appeal to Yuri’s sense of human decency: “I have failed at everything else, Yuri. But I won’t fail as a human being.”

Yuri himself manages to make a few positive decisions. When the president of Liberia leaves two prostitutes in Yuri’s room as a gift, he kicks them out. And for a brief time, Yuri tries to leave his life as an arms dealer for the sake of his family.

Spiritual Elements

Yuri’s parents, Anatoly and Irina, pretend to be Jews in order to get out of the Ukraine. But Anatoly seems to take his new religious identity seriously. Too seriously according to his wife. Irina complains that he goes to synagogue more than most real Jewish people. But Anatoly tells Yuri, “Always remember, there is something above you.” And in his final scene, Anatoly has a copy of the Torah with him.

Yuri says he doesn’t understand why some people are susceptible to chemical addiction, such as his brother, while others aren’t. “But for the grace of God,” he says, “it could be me.”

Sexual Content

At the Berlin arms fair in 1983, Yuri and Vitaly meet two models in tight-fitting camouflage shorts and shirts. Each man has sex with one of the models, and the scene includes brief breast nudity. Likewise, the shirt of a stripper Vitaly has met partially falls off, revealing one of her breasts. Yuri returns home from a trip and has sex with his wife in the shower (brief nudity is seen but mostly they are shown through the steamy shower-door glass).

After he’s married Ava, Yuri makes out with a waitress and paws at her body on top of her clothes. Two female escorts wearing what look like Dallas Cowboy cheerleader uniforms are constantly with Andre Baptiste Jr., the son of the Liberian president. The two prostitutes Baptiste Sr. leaves in Yuri’s room insist that they don’t have AIDS and promise to do whatever Yuri wants. In a later scene, Yuri gets high on cocaine and has sex with a prostitute with apparently little concern about AIDS or fidelity. (Breast nudity makes a brief appearance here, too.)

Violent Content

An early scene follows a single bullet’s “lifespan” from its production in a Russian factory to it being fired into the skull of a young African boy. That sets the stage for two hours of intense and bloody violence.

Two Russian gangsters are gunned down in a restaurant. An unseen sniper shoots at Vitali in Lebanon. A Colombian drug warlord shoots Yuri in the stomach. A bomb destroys a car with Yuri’s uncle in it.

Baptiste Jr. enjoys driving through Monrovia, Liberia, liberally firing his automatic rifle into the streets. The president coldly shoots one of his personal guards who’s flirting with a woman in Baptiste’s entourage. “No discipline with the youth today,” he observes. “Personally, I blame MTV.” The body is carried away, leaving a smeared, bloody trail behind it.

Later, in a pivotal scene relating to the condition of Yuri’s soul, Baptiste Sr. holds one of Yuri’s rivals hostage, a man named Simeon Weisz. The president places Yuri’s hand on the gun with his own and aims it at Weisz’s head. He tells Yuri that if he simply says “stop” he won’t shoot the man. Yuri is obviously uncomfortable at the thought of actually killing someone, but he doesn’t respond in time. Baptiste Sr. pulls the trigger and shoots Weisz in the forehead, spraying blood all over the window behind him. (This is one of the most shocking and graphically violent scenes in the movie.)

Vitaly witnesses a group of men who chase down a woman and child, then butcher the pair with machetes. The clustered mob is big enough that you can’t really see their blows landing on the doomed woman and child, but it’s a chilling scene nonetheless. A vulture is shown picking at a corpse in Monrovia. We glimpse another decaying corpse on the ground in Afghanistan.

Crude or Profane Language

Roughly 50 uses of the f-word bombard viewers, as well as about a half-dozen s-words. Characters take God’s name in vain; twice it is linked with “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Few scenes don’t include someone smoking a cigarette or drinking, usually wine, champagne or hard liquor. Indeed, drinking and smoking are as commonplace as dialogue.

What’s surprisingly graphic, however, are at least half-a-dozen scenes that show Vitaly or Yuri snorting cocaine. Vitali has a serious cocaine addiction, which brother Yuri willingly feeds. Several times, Vitali begs his brother for another hit, and Yuri simply pulls a small vial of coke out of his pocket and gives it to him. Yuri even gives his brother the drug as he drops him off at a rehab clinic.

At first, Yuri seems less susceptible to cocaine’s pull. But after he participates in murdering Simeon Weisz, Yuri goes to a bar, gets drunk and tries a line of the local drug concoction called “brown brown”: a mixture of cocaine and gunpowder that the local warlords give to young boys before sending them into battle. The bartender convinces Yuri to give it a try, saying, “After all, it’s your gunpowder.”

Other Negative Elements

Yuri’s worldview is deeply cynical. His voiceovers throughout the movie reveal the depths of this pained perspective. Almost everything Yuri does is based on deception. Of his courtship he says, “Some of the most successful relationships are based on lies and deceit.” He also brags, “Selling guns is like selling vacuum cleaners; I’ve sold [Israeli-made] Uzis to Muslims.” Other cynical one-liners include, “Bullets change governments faster than votes,” and, “If I’ve done my job right, an arms embargo should be practically impossible to enforce.”

It almost goes without saying that bribery is part and parcel to Yuri’s work; everything he does requires a bribe to greedy officials—including a crooked American officer willing to sell him used Army munitions.

Lord of War opens with Yuri Orlov standing on what looks like an ocean of spent bullet casings in a Third World war zone. His voiceover tells us that there are 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation, one for every 12 people. “How do we arm the other 11?” he asks. It’s that sort of detached, ironic narration that shapes this complex film.

The first half invites us to connect with Yuri’s character. Sure, we know he’s a scoundrel, but we’ve not yet really seen the carnage wrought by his profession. When Valentine intercepts Yuri on a boat en route to Colombia, we’re still rooting for Yuri to escape.

In the second half, however, director Andrew Niccol (who’s also responsible for the thought-provoking sci-fi drama Gattaca ) pulls a cunning bait and switch by giving us an unflinching look at the bloody consequences of Yuri Orlov’s work. He’s no mere scoundrel; instead, his work puts guns in the hands of wicked men to whom human life is less than cheap. After participating in Weisz’s murder, Orlov begins to reconsider. But the momentum of his choices proves overpowering, and he’s unable to pull away from the narcotic allure of brokering weapons to bloodthirsty despots.

Then, just when you think this is (only) a gut-wrenching character study, a heavy-handed twist at the end goes for a political knockout punch by suggesting that Yuri’s shameless profiteering as a gun runner is nothing compared to the activities of the world’s five largest arms dealers: the United States, Russia, China, France and Great Britain—an assertion I’m still wrestling with several days after seeing the film.

Lord of War , then, is a provocative film apparently designed to challenge our assumptions about the U.S.’s role in the world. It is also addicted to graphic depictions of violence, drug abuse and sexuality. And that forces me to ask these questions: Are its hyper-grim images necessary? Does it really take this much visceral aggression to drive us to grapple with such significant accusations and questions? Should it?

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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Lord of War

Nicolas Cage has had a long, broad career playing a wide variety of characters. He’s played good guys, bad guys, good guys who turn bad, bad guys who turn good, and just about every other variation you can think of. As a serious actor who manages to bring a genuine touch of truth to most of his performances, he’s a good centerpiece to build a film like Lord of War around.

Cage is not only the main character for Lord of War , but, since the entire film is told from his perspective, he’s also the narrator of the film, which means his voice and emotion serve as our guide through the events of the movie and really set the pace for the story on screen. As such, the film is truly dependent upon Cage’s abilities, which takes a little getting used to. The first half hour or so feels like it drags a bit. As I adjusted to a narrated movie flow (instead of having the events unfold without a narration) the pacing got better, making a big difference by allowing that extra touch of character that comes with an internal dialog to come into play.

In Lord of War , Cage plays Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant who discovers that, like doctors and morticians, human beings will always have a need for people who sell guns. Yuri shares with us his whole story, from his first experience with a gun sale through his monumental heights, to his inevitable downfall. As he tells us at the beginning, he doesn’t try and sugar coat the story; he knows he’s not the best representative of the human race. Although Yuri first attempts to break into the legal market of arms dealings, competitors like Simeon Weisz (Ian Holm) make that near impossible, forcing Yuri to resort to black and (Yuri’s favorite) “gray” markets.

As with all rich men, Yuri surrounds himself with people who are eventually affected by his chosen career. This includes his parents and his trophy wife, model Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan) - Yuri’s dream girl since age ten. While the story of Yuri finally getting together with Ava is an interesting one, it turns to sorrow as the realization comes that Yuri discusses his arms deals and weapons with more passion and emotion then he uses to talk to his wife.

However, the first to fall to Yuri’s world of corruption is his own brother, Vitaly ( Jared Leto ) who initially serves as a business partner but eventually succumbs to a cocaine addiction. Sadly this means Vitaly spends most of the movie coked up, or just plain crazy, the result of the only real difference between the two Ukrainian boys: a conscience. Vitaly has one, Yuri doesn’t, and so Vitaly turns to drugs to hide from the consequences of their sales. Jared Leto brings that same honesty to his character as Cage, although the two offer a huge contrast between Vitaly’s regret and Yuri’s passion. It’s no mistake that Vitaly disappears for long stretches of the film while Yuri gets so involved in his business. During these times, the conscience of the movie becomes FBI Agent Jack Valentine ( Ethan Hawke ). Unlike Vitaly, who is haunted by his actions, Yuri is simply chased by a conscious which never seems able to keep up with his skill in deception.

While the bulk of the movie relies on Cage’s formidable abilities, writer/director Andrew Niccol deserves praise for the movie’s story, dialog, and visual style. The most original credit sequences since School of Rock shows the audience just how much money is in weapons as we see just how many hands a single bullet passes through on its trip from creation to its eventual, destructive use. Just as enjoyable is the movie’s dialog, with some great banter and quotable gems including my personal favorite: “that’s the trouble with falling in love with a dream girl… they have a habit of becoming real.” It’s just another lesson that Yuri learns the hard way, beautifully summed up by Niccol’s writing and Cage’s heartfelt delivery.

The one big issue I have with the Lord of War is a political message literally tacked on to the end of the film. The entire movie is about Yuri’s questionable business, and the ethics behind selling guns: is it just a business, or does the seller bear some responsibility in what happens with those weapons? Vitaly sees the responsibility, Yuri doesn’t. The two performances form a great debate in the movie without being forceful, creating thoughtful material to consider once the movie is over. Unfortunately by tossing in a couple of closing title screens the film changes to a specifically overt point of view by attempting to place the blame on a particular. Personal politics aside, it’s a disappointing move from a movie that achieved so much until those last thirty seconds.

Lord of War is not a comedy or an action flick as the trailers sometimes try to portray it. Some of those elements are in it, but at its core it’s a deep morality play, lead by one of Hollywood’s most honest and sincere performers. Even with a forced political motive shoved in at the end, Lord has a decent message to deliver.

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LORD OF WAR

Post author: eenableadmin
Post published: August 5, 2019
Post category: Uncategorized

(director/writer: Andrew Niccol; cinematographer: Amir Mokri; editor: Zach Staenberg; music: Antonio Pinto; cast: Nicolas Cage (Yuri Orlov), Jared Leto (Vitali Orlov), Bridget Moynahan (Ava Fontaine), Ian Holm (Simeon Weisz), Eamonn Walker (Baptiste Senior), Sammi Rotibi (Baptiste Junior), Ethan Hawke (Valentine); Runtime: 122; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Philippe Rousselet/Andrew Niccol/ Nicolas Cage/Norman Golightly/Andy Grosch/Chris Roberts; Lions Gate Films; 2005) “As flawed as it is, still has some value as it delivers some measure of truth.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Writer-director Andrew Niccol’s flatly drawn political satire chronicles the 18 years in the life of Ukranian American émigré Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage). His family fled the Soviet Union in 1980 by pretending to be Jewish and lived in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach section (called Little Odessa because so many Russians favor the area). After Yuri witnesses a gangland assassination, he eschews going into his father’s restaurant business to establish himself instead as top dog among international arms dealers.

It’s smugly directed as a political warning for those completely clueless that freelancing amoral arms dealers and major countries with political agendas like the USA are responsible for continuing the ongoing killings all over the world. It’s a film that yearned to be a documentary and reveal some inside info on how lucrative and deadly a business is arms dealing, and how legitimate major countries play a big part in keeping warring armies armed. Though informative, even if telling what’s common knowledge, and at times darkly humorous, the action story never develops or becomes engrossing. It remains slightly intriguing only because one gets the feeling it’s telling the truth about how arms circulate throughout the world. If you subbed drug dealer like the one in Scarface for arms dealer, you’ve still got the same formula and the pic wouldn’t miss a beat as entertainment about a character meant to be reviled but is fun to watch because he’s leading such an exciting life. Unfortunately this film loses its thread, unable to mix entertainment and action with its sobering tale, and the only thing that remains intact is that evil does have the face of this banal arms dealer.

The film comes with a mostly offscreen narration by Cage who tells his tale via flashback in a wryly humorous and unapologetic manner, whose cynical greedy character never seems anything but a composite figure of all arms dealers. Yuri’s aim is to sell everyone in the world a weapon, confirming a stat that as of now one-out-of-every-twelve people in the world are armed. As an afterthought, there’s a human interest story tacked on to make him more human. But that never works because it seems so fake. In this side story, Yuri charms his world famous model dream girl Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan) he meets under false pretenses by renting a hotel to himself and luring her there with a false photo shoot. Yuri never reveals the lie but instead marries her without letting on the true nature of his enterprise, and we’re supposed to believe she never discovered he’s a natural liar and gunrunner leading a double life until much later. It’s a superficial Hollywood fantasy romance story that was just too unbelievable and poorly played out to do anything but sink the film into murky waters.

The heart of the film relates Yuri’s big break coming when the Soviet Union starts falling apart in the 1980s, and during the chaos he returns to the Ukraine to make deals to steal weapons and sell them to developing countries. Africa becomes his biggest market, as the country with the most ongoing wars. Needing someone he trusts to watch his back, Yuri makes his brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) a partner. But his brother is cut from a different cloth and soon becomes an unreliable coke addict who is in and out of rehab. Yuri goes it alone and discovers he has a flair for this business, and becomes friends with many dictators including the particularly ruthless one in Liberia (Eamonn Walker). All the time he rationalizes that if he weren’t doing it someone else would and that he’s just the supplier and not the one who pulls the trigger, therefore taking no responsibility for his actions.

Relentlessly tracking down Yuri is seemingly the only honest law enforcer on this planet, Interpol agent (Ethan Hawke). The two one-dimensional characters have many contacts during the course of the film. But none are dramatic, and their encounters seem better suited for a comic book story.

The film’s most powerful moment (which might be its only powerful moment) has Yuri deliver a climactic speech where he states that the biggest arms dealer in the world is the president of the United States. For that reason alone this mainstream film, as flawed as it is, still has some value as it delivers some measure of truth.

REVIEWED ON 9/18/2005 GRADE: C+

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Lord of War (2005)

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller Lionsgate | R – 122 min. – $22.99 | March 20, 2019

Date Published: 03/13/2019 | Author: The Movieman

Lionsgate provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

The screen captures came from the Blu-ray copy and are here to add visuals to the review and do not represent the 4K video.

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Lord of war steelbook 4k review, cage has the bravado to pull off the role of the cocky dealer going toe to toe with rival dealers and dictators, not to mention interpol..

It is no secret that International Arms dealers have been supplying guns, ammunition, bombs, etc. to governments and insurgents worldwide and that these sales have been going on for decades. Though they are illegal, many of these dealers have ties to dictators, rebel leaders, and allied government forces. In the 1980's there was even a government scandal (The Iran-Contra Affair) that exposed just how far up the chain of command the orders to sell arms went. Among those "helping" the government and profiting from the weapons sales was Russian-born Viktor Bout. In 2005 a film based loosely on Bout's life, called Lord of War, was released. This week a Best Buy exclusive 4K SteelBook of the movie goes on sale.

Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage; Renfield ) came to the United States and settled in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York. After witnessing the deaths of two young men sent to kill a mafia boss, he decided to get involved with the lucrative business of selling guns. After making some small deals, Yuri brings his brother, Vitaly (Jared Leto; Dallas Buyers Club ) into the business and together they become significant players in weapons trading. Over time though, Yuri sees the downfall of his occupation after Vitaly is killed, his parents disown him and his wife leaves him.

Director Andrew Niccol ( Gattaca ) uses a variety of shots and angles to keep the audience interested and on their toes. The opening sequence could be titled "the day in the life of a bullet" because we watch as the camera follows the creation of a bullet through the factory to the shipping crate into a shipping container then out of the container at the other end of the world into a gun pointed at some enemy. In some ways, that opening could be seen as synonymous with Yuri's journey from his humble beginnings selling an Uzi to a local mobster to becoming one of the largest Arms dealers in the world.

Cage has the bravado to pull off the role as the cocky dealer going toe to toe with rival dealers and dictators, not to mention Interpol. Ethan Hawke ( Training Day ) is young and eager as he portrays the Interpol agent relentlessly pursuing Yuri, whose sharp thinking and wit manage to keep him one step ahead of law enforcement most of the time. Despite being in his early thirties when Lord of War was filmed, Leto looks at least ten years younger as he plays a cocaine addict with a conscience who likes the money and lifestyle arms dealing affords him but has a hard time reconciling it with the tens of millions of innocent people who get murdered with the guns he and Yuri sell.

The 4K release isn't new but if you haven't seen it in 2160p resolution, you are missing out. While some of the effects don't hold up well, the picture quality and color palette are both excellent. The aforementioned opening sequence has some wonderful detail but at other moments the bullet and its journey look unnatural. The Dolby Atmos audio is superb with bullets and explosions flying past your head as you view the action onscreen. The dialogue is sharp and clean and overall the audio enhances the audience's experience.

The extras are all previously released and ported over from the 2019 version. They include Deleted Scenes, "The Making of Lord of War " Featurette, Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade Featurette and, Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Andrew Niccol. The real treat here is the SteelBook, and more importantly, the plastic case that is the outer shell of the package. Parts of the design are printed on the plastic so as you remove the SteelBook from the sleeve Yuri's sunglasses come off and the bullets laid at his feet are gone.

For the layman who knows little to nothing about the intricacies and politics behind arms dealing, the film is an interesting study and very informative. As a film, it is a little uneven at times with the pacing going in spurts and fits. Overall, not a bad film to watch every few years but not one that would become a cult classic.

Purchase a copy of the Lord of War SteelBook today exclusively from Best Buy.

Nicolas Cage ,
Jared Leto ,
Bridget Moynahan ,
Ethan Hawke
Andrew Niccol

For more information about Lord of War visit the FlickDirect Movie Database . This release has been provided to FlickDirect for review purposes. For more reviews by Allison Rose please click here.

Allison Rose, a Senior Correspondent and Critic at FlickDirect, is a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry with a communications degree from Hofstra University. She brings her film expertise to KRMS News/Talk 97.5 FM and broadcast television, and is recognized as a Tomatometer-Approved Critic . Her role as an adept event moderator in various entertainment industry forums underscores her versatility. Her affiliations with SEFCA, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Online Film Critics Society highlight her as an influential figure in film criticism and media.

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‘Lord of War’ Movie Review (2005)

By Laremy Legel

Lord of War was overwrought, preachy, predictable and boring. Other than that it was fantastic! No seriously, this is not a good film folks. It’s the story of Nicolas Cage as an international arms dealer but it never connects on any level. This is a shame because it comes from a really nice film pedigree.

It’s by Andrew Niccol, the screenwriter who has The Truman Show , The Terminal and Gattaca to his credit. I really liked all three of these films and I think they show a tremendous amount of range. Perhaps the problem was that Niccol directed Lord of War ? He may be a more gifted writer than director as only Gattaca was directed by him of the aforementioned. Oh yeah, he also directed Simone . Yikes!

Before I bust out my hatchet and go to work I should mention briefly why this film is getting a D and not an F . I enjoyed the opening credits which follows the path of a bullet from creation to violent use. I enjoyed the ending, which wasn’t as utterly predictable as everything else in the film. Lastly I liked the sex scenes thrown in every ten minutes. I’m no perv, but when you’re watching drivel you’ll take a momentary escape any way you can get it.

Hatchet Time! Lord of War is all about just how darn bad guns are, and by inference how bad gunrunners are. The problem is the film has no nuance, no subtlety. When confronting social issues I prefer at least a nod to complexity such as Blow or Traffic . Usually black markets exist for a reason, and that reason isn’t because the sellers are always bad .

I’d also call Jared Leto poor in this film. Leto and Nic Cage are brothers like me and Nic Cage are, and just so you know, Cage and I aren’t brothers. Even if you can swallow the fact the Mr. Cage is a Ukrainian gunrunner you’ll most certainly choke on Leto being his little assistant gunrunner brother. They don’t look alike, act alike, seem related or emote like any brothers I’ve even seen. The film also asks for too much, too soon. Early on Cage asks Leto for a favor, a “brother in arms” moment, but you’ll find yourself laughing at it. We’ve seen these guys five minutes and now they are going to live and die for each other? C’mon, meet us halfway, show them as kids getting in trouble or something. Throw us an emotional bone.

I forgot one of the other bright spots! Eamonn Walker as Andre Baptiste Sr. He plays Baptiste as an over the top crazed maniacal killer but judging from history that sounds about right. So he’s dead on and provides a few moments of levity in an otherwise flat piece. When he’s on screen killing folks for no good reason the film feels crisp. It’s dead on arrival otherwise.

Oh, one final note to all filmmakers everywhere, please stop using Jeff Buckley’s version of the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah”. This song packs an emotional wallop but I’ve now seen it on The O.C. , The West Wing and Shrek (actually it might be Rufus Wainwright’s version in a couple of those). It works in all three but it feels misplaced in Lord of War . You can’t throw a song like Hallelujah out there unless you’ve earned it! In closing Lord of War is a mess. Save your ten bucks.

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41 facts about the movie lord of war.

Written by Gianna Nutter

Modified & Updated: 05 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Are you a fan of action-packed movies that delve into the gritty world of arms dealing? If so, then “Lord of War” is a film that should be on your must-watch list. This thrilling masterpiece, directed by Andrew Niccol and released in 2005, takes viewers on a captivating journey through the dangerous and morally ambiguous world of international arms trade. Starring Nicolas Cage in the lead role, “Lord of War” offers a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences and ethics surrounding the sale of weapons across borders. In this article, we will delve into 41 fascinating facts about the movie, ranging from behind-the-scenes trivia to interesting details about the plot and characters. So, grab some popcorn , buckle up, and get ready for an exhilarating ride into the intriguing world of “Lord of War.

Key Takeaways:

“Lord of War” is a 2005 movie based on real events, starring Nicolas Cage as an arms dealer. It explores the ethical implications of the arms trade and has a thought-provoking narrative.
The film’s powerful quotes and intense action sequences sparked discussions about arms control and the global impact of the arms trade. It remains relevant today, igniting public discourse about the military-industrial complex.

Lord of War was released in 2005.

Starring Nicolas Cage, this action-packed film takes us deep into the illegal arms trade around the world.

The movie is based on real-life events.

Writer and director Andrew Niccol drew inspiration from various true stories about arms dealers and their illicit activities.

Nicolas Cage plays the lead role of Yuri Orlov.

Cage brilliantly portrays the morally dubious and charismatic arms dealer, bringing depth and complexity to the character.

The film features a star-studded cast.

Alongside Nicolas Cage, Lord of War boasts performances from Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, and Bridget Moynahan, among others.

The screenplay was written specifically for Nicolas Cage.

Director Andrew Niccol envisioned Cage as the perfect fit for the role of Yuri Orlov and tailored the script accordingly.

Lord of War explores the ethical implications of the arms trade.

The movie delves into the moral ambiguity of the industry, raising questions about the consequences of supplying weapons to conflict zones.

The production budget was around $50 million.

With a substantial budget, the filmmakers were able to create realistic and captivating action sequences.

Lord of War was shot in various locations.

The film was primarily shot in South Africa , with additional scenes filmed in the Czech Republic and the United States.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics.

While some praised its thought-provoking storyline and strong performances, others criticized its pacing and lack of character development.

Lord of War was a moderate success at the box office.

The film grossed over $72 million worldwide, surpassing its production budget.

The opening scene of the movie is particularly memorable.

It showcases the journey of a bullet from its creation to its tragic impact, setting the tone for the rest of the film.

The film features impressive practical effects.

The team behind Lord of War put great effort into recreating realistic firearms and explosive sequences, adding to the film’s authenticity.

Yuri Orlov’s character is loosely based on real-life arms dealers.

While a fictional character, Yuri shares similarities with notorious figures from the black market arms trade.

Lord of War raises awareness about the dark side of globalization.

Through its narrative, the film highlights the role of multinational corporations in perpetuating conflicts through the arms trade.

The movie contains powerful and thought-provoking quotes.

Lines such as “There are 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation. That’s one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is: How do we arm the other 11?” linger in the minds of viewers.

Lord of War sparked conversations about arms control.

Its release prompted discussions about the need for stricter regulations and accountability in the global arms trade.

The film’s soundtrack complements the intensity of the story.

Featuring a mix of music genres, including rock, electronic, and classical, the score adds an extra layer of impact to the scenes.

Lord of War doesn’t shy away from showing the gruesome realities of war.

The film depicts the devastating consequences of the arms trade, emphasizing the human cost of conflict.

The script of Lord of War took years to develop.

Andrew Niccol extensively researched the subject matter and worked on the screenplay for over five years before filming began.

The movie gained a cult following over the years.

Despite its mixed reviews upon release, Lord of War found a dedicated fan base appreciating its thought-provoking themes and compelling performances.

Lord of War received recognition at award ceremonies.

The film received nominations for Best Screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Action Movie at the Saturn Awards.

Real firearms were used during the production.

To ensure authenticity, the filmmakers obtained licensed firearms for use in scenes involving weapons.

The story of Lord of War is told from Yuri Orlov’s perspective.

The audience gets an inside look into his life as an arms dealer, witnessing the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Andrew Niccol’s directing style enhances the film’s impact.

Known for his thought-provoking and visually stunning movies, Niccol brilliantly captures the tension and moral dilemmas faced by Yuri Orlov.

Lord of War inspired discussions about the role of governments in the arms trade.

The movie raises questions about political accountability and the responsibility of nations in regulating weapons sales.

The costume design in Lord of War is meticulous.

The costumes accurately depict the various factions involved in the arms trade, from military personnel to paramilitary groups.

The film’s title is a reference to the Biblical phrase.

And when the Lamb opened the seventh seal , silence covered the sky.” Lord of War explores the silence and complicity surrounding the arms trade.

Lord of War showcases the dangerous allure of the arms trade.

It exposes how the promise of wealth and power can corrupt individuals and perpetuate violence.

The cinematography in Lord of War is visually striking.

The film utilizes various camera techniques to capture the intensity and chaos of the arms trade.

The movie highlights the global impact of the arms trade.

Lord of War sheds light on how the trade destabilizes nations and prolongs conflicts around the world.

Lord of War was not without controversy.

Some critics accused the film of glamorizing the arms trade and downplaying its devastating consequences.

The screenplay for Lord of War was highly praised by industry professionals.

Andrew Niccol’s sharp writing and well-crafted dialogue earned him recognition within the film community.

The movie features intense action sequences.

From high-stakes weapon deals to heart-pounding chase sequences, Lord of War keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Lord of War examines the connections between arms trafficking and geopolitics.

The film explores how the distribution of weapons impacts global power dynamics and international relations.

The film’s marketing campaign emphasized its thought-provoking narrative.

Trailers and posters focused on the moral questions raised by the arms trade, rather than solely highlighting explosive action scenes.

Lord of War shed light on the importance of transparency in the arms industry.

The film invites viewers to question the accountability and lack of oversight in the multimillion-dollar weapons trade.

The movie received accolades for its sound design.

The expertly crafted sound effects and immersive audio enhance the film’s impact and realism.

Lord of War remains relevant today.

The movie’s exploration of the arms trade and its consequences continues to resonate in a world grappling with ongoing conflicts.

The film contains powerful moments that leave a lasting impression.

Scenes like the disarmament sequence, where weapons are destroyed, serve as poignant reminders of the destructive nature of the arms trade.

Lord of War ignited public discourse about the military-industrial complex.

The movie drew attention to the intricate web of interests and relationships that drive the arms industry.

Lord of War is a captivating and thought-provoking film.

With its stellar performances, engaging story, and insightful commentary, it continues to captivate audiences and spark discussions about the arms trade.

The movie Lord of War provides a gripping portrayal of the international arms trade, shedding light on the complex web of politics, corruption, and moral ambiguity that surrounds it. Through its stellar performances, thought-provoking narrative, and attention to detail, this film captivates audiences and leaves an indelible impression.

With its realistic depiction of the arms industry, Lord of War raises important questions about the consequences of our actions and the ethics of profiting from human suffering. Whether you’re a fan of action-packed thrillers or interested in exploring the darker side of global politics, this movie is sure to leave you with plenty to think about.

So grab some popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be both entertained and enlightened by the compelling story of Lord of War.

Q: Is the movie Lord of War based on a true story?

A: While the movie takes inspiration from real events and arms dealers, it is not a strictly accurate portrayal of any specific individual or incident. However, it does highlight the broader issues surrounding the international arms trade.

Q: Who stars in the movie Lord of War?

A: The film features an incredible cast, including Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto , and Ethan Hawke in leading roles. Their performances bring depth and intensity to the characters, enhancing the overall impact of the story.

Q: What is the message of Lord of War?

A: The movie raises important questions about the morality and consequences of the arms trade. It explores themes of greed, corruption, and the impact of violence on innocent lives, ultimately leaving viewers to ponder the ethical dilemmas presented.

Q: Is Lord of War a violent movie?

A: Yes, the movie contains scenes of violence that accurately depict the harsh realities of the arms trade. It is not recommended for young or sensitive viewers.

Q: Is Lord of War a must-watch for movie enthusiasts?

A: Absolutely! The combination of a compelling story, powerful performances, and a thought-provoking message makes Lord of War a must-watch for anyone interested in gripping cinema that delves into complex societal issues.

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The movie's ties to Helm's Deep are unavoidable, sparking comparisons to the iconic battle from "The Two Towers."
Embracing parallels to "The Two Towers" while offering fresh storytelling can help the film stand out.

2024's Lord of the Rings movie The War of the Rohirrim is an exciting chapter in the franchise's history, introducing several new elements to the story, but the film already faces problems thanks to one scene from the original trilogy. Ever since Peter Jackson's seminal movies, The Lord of the Rings has struggled to recapture the magic of Middle-earth. The director's Hobbit prequels failed to live up to expectations while Amazon's lavish TV series consistently underwhelmed. All this piles the pressure on The War of the Rohirrim , even before factoring in the movie's biggest obstacle.

An animated feature set around 250 years before the start of The Fellowship of the Ring , The War of the Rohirrim will delve back into the Kingdom of Rohan's history. Narrated by Miranda Otto's Eowyn , the movie will tell the story of legendary ruler Helm Hammerhand – whose famous horn resides in the Hornberg at Helm's Deep. Given the film's place in the Lord of the Rings timeline , War of the Rohirrim will not cover the human and orc conflicts that define the original series. However, despite its different story, the movie's subject will inevitably invite comparison to Jackson's films, causing a major problem.

Lord Of The Rings: War Of The Rohirrim - Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know

The lord of the rings: the war of the rohirrim will get compared to helm's deep.

The War of the Rohirrim 's setting, characters, and context means that the movie will help flesh out one of The Lord of the Rings ' most important factions. First introduced in The Two Towers , the Horse-lords of Rohan are shown to be a powerful and proud race, preferring to use cavalry in combat rather than foot soldiers. Given the beautifully rendered version of the kingdom seen in Jackson's movies, returning to Rohan promises to be an exciting prospect. Yet by focusing explicitly on the kingdom, War of the Rohirrim will inevitably draw comparisons to Rohan's greatest Lord of the Rings moment – the Battle of Helm's Deep .

Despite coming in the second movie, Helm's Deep is viewed by many as the high point of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The battle is atmospheric, epic, and genuinely tense – with evil almost triumphing before a climactic cavalry charge. It's arguable that nothing in the franchise since has lived up to Helm's Deep's spectacle. By returning to Rohan once again, War of the Rohirrim will naturally remind viewers of Helm's Deep – not least because of the involvement of the fortress' namesake, Helm Hammerhand . This may set viewers up for disappointment, as it's difficult to see how the movie can recapture the original scene's power.

War Of The Rohirrim's Helm's Deep Connections Are Unfair (But Inevitable)

In reality, comparing the conflict in War of the Rohirrim to Helm's Deep is deeply unfair. Not only will the use of animation necessitate a different type of battle scene in the 2024 Lord of the Rings movie, but the context for both stories will be completely different. While Helm's Deep was a heroic last stand forced upon a desperate King Theoden, War of the Rohirrrim is a more traditional conflict between Rohan and the Dunlendings . While the story may cover the founding of Helm's Deep thanks to Helm Hammerhand's involvement, it's unlikely that it will involve a siege on the scale of The Two Towers .

The differences between the two stories make comparing the projects unfair. However, the very fact that Rohan is involved makes it impossible to ignore the kingdom's history in the rest of The Lord of the Rings series . Whatever the nature of the conflict in War of the Rohirrim , the legacy of Helm's Deep means that any mention of Rohan and Rohirrim immediately reminds any viewer of battles against Uruk-hai in the rain, tossing dwarves into battle, and a heroic charge down a mountainside. As a result, it's impossible for the movie to escape The Two Towers ' battle's shadow.

8 Ways Lord Of The Rings' New Movie Connects To The Main Trilogy

War of the rohirrim should embrace helm's deep comparisons.

Completely detaching itself from the legacy of Helm's Deep is simply not an option for War of the Rohirrim . The movie is too intricately bound up in Rohan's heritage to avoid connections to one of the most seismic battles in the kingdom's history. As a result, to avoid the potential problems of unwanted Helm's Deep comparisons, the movie should lean into its parallels with The Two Towers , rather than ignore them.

This is not to say that War of the Rohirrim should just rehash Helm's Deep all over again. Restaging the same battle with less spectacle will only remind viewers how brilliant the original scene was. However, with subtle references and perhaps a discussion of how Helm's Deep came to be built could not just help the movie stand out on its own terms, but also enhance the action in The Two Towers . The War of the Rohirrim already faces a battle to avoid unfavorable The Lord of the Rings comparisons. Through clever storytelling, the movie can stand out as an important addition, rather than an unnecessary footnote.

The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim

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Every 'Lord of the Rings' Movie, Ranked By True Tolkienites

Vote up the Middle-earth movies that take you on an epic journey.

Revered author J.R.R. Tolkien was notoriously resistant to seeing his Middle-earth saga on the big screen. While filmmakers like Walt Disney, George Harrison, and Stanley Kubrick certainly tried to change the author's mind to adapt The Lord of the Rings saga into movies during his lifetime, it was only after his 1973 passing that things began to roll.

That said, Peter Jackson's trilogy of The Lord of the Rings benchmarks this adaptation for all future filmmakers, ably supported by The Hobbit franchise, which Jackson had to step into to complete after Guillermo del Toro left.

With seven Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, including the ’78 animated flick, let’s see how the Tolkienites rate them, plot holes and all .

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Premise: The very first of the franchise, The Fellowship of the Ring , starts with Dark Lord Sauron, who is seeking the One Ring to regain his lost power. Only now, the ring is with young Hobbit Frodo Baggins. He, along with eight companions, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and his three Hobbit friends Merry, Pippin, and Samwise; form the Fellowship of the Ring, with the sole purpose of destroying the One Ring.

Standout Moments: The moment when the titular group formed at the Council of Elrond and pledged their loyalty to Frodo to help “walk into Mordor” is an iconic scene, as is the battle between Gandalf and Balrog. Boromir’s death adds a tragic nuance to the movie and only highlights his rather sad life.

Is It Faithful To The Book? To fit a book into a movie, there have been some omissions and condensations in Tolkien’s storyline. For instance, The Last Alliance's seven-year siege of the Barad-dûr is condensed into a single battle, and Sauron is shown to explode, instead of Tolkien’s words that mention that his spirit flees. The 17-year gap between Frodo getting the ring and Gandalf returning to explain the inscription is also understandably shorter. The Moria sequence is also more of a portentous sign and is different from the book, especially when Pippin knocks a skeleton followed by a bucket and chain into the well, instead of a mere pebble. Also, no Tom Bombadil (which some book fans were fine with).

Fun Facts: Sir Christopher Lee was not only the first person to have been cast in the trilogy; he’s also the only one to have met J.R.R. Tolkien face-to-face. Meanwhile, Viggo Mortensen had never heard of the books or even met Peter Jackson, and he took on the role only after his 11-year-old son asked him to .

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Premise: The third and the last of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King , carries on with the plot of the previous movie. It shows the last leg of the journey of Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as they make their way to Mount Doom to reach their goal of destroying the One Ring. Of course, by then, we know what Gollum’s true goal is. As for the rest of the Fellowship, (Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and their allies) they join hands to battle Sauron and his Mordor legions.

Standout Moments: Mount Doom erupting with Frodo and Sam still on it is a heart-stopping moment, even though the audience expects good to win. Aragon’s battle cry, “For Frodo,” rouses the audience as much as it does the armies. The ghost army behind Aragon is another stunning visual and emotional impact, as is Samwise Gamgee carrying Frodo through the final hurdle in more ways than one. The King of Gondor chastising Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin for bowing to him, and then bowing to them instead is a thing of goosebumps, especially as it makes the tiny Hobbits look like the tallest beings.

Is It Faithful To The Book? As is with all of Jackson's movie adaptations of The Lord of the Rings , some events and timelines have been compressed to fit into the screen time. Some scenes in the movie come from The Two Towers book, like the attack by Shelob, but the second half of the book is almost entirely missing. That said, the last spoken line of the movie, "Well, I'm back," is also the last line of the book.

Fun Facts: Shelob is based on Peter Jackson’s worst nightmares , given he’s an arachnophobe. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King had a perfect score at the Academy Awards , with eleven wins out of eleven nominations. Altogether, The Lord of the Rings trilogy became the most nominated film franchise in Academy Award history with 30 nominations. It surpassed The Godfather trilogy (28) and the Star Wars film franchise (21) at the time.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Premise: Directed by Peter Jackson and further endearing Elijah Wood’s Frodo and Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn to the audience, the second of The Lord of the Rings franchise picks up from where the first ends. Frodo and Sam continue towards Mordor to obliterate the One Ring, helped by Gollum, the ring’s untrustworthy former bearer. After escaping their Orc captors, Merry and Pippin join forces with Treebeard the Ent and lend a hand in planning an attack on Isengard, the fortress of Saruman. The third part of the plot focuses on Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli who, in their pursuit of Merry and Pippin, end up in the war-stricken nation of Rohan. There, they are reunited with the resurrected Gandalf before it all ends in a stunningly shot Battle of Helm's Deep, as they pit their forces against the legions of the wizard Saruman.

Standout Moment: The Battle of Helm’s Deep is a stunning sequence, breathtaking in its cinematic fierceness. Having Sam and Gollum play the angel and the devil on Frodo’s shoulder, while he’s already in torment because of the ring, adds emotional depth to the movie, especially given it’s a middle entry to a trilogy. Ian McKellen makes a great Gandalf, and his urgent entry into the battle bringing reinforcements on horses flying down on a steep slope is a triumphant buzz. That said, this movie is a testament to the skill of the CGI wizards behind the scenes who bring Gollum and Treebeard the Ent to life.

Is It Faithful To The Book? There are many differences between the movie and the book, the most important being the structure. The book opens with the war in Rohan and ends with a focus on Frodo and Sam, and their confrontation with Shelob. This scene is moved to the third movie, and instead, here the climax is the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Also, while the book begins with Boromir’s death, it's absent in the movie, given it was depicted towards the climax of The Fellowship of the Ring . There are plenty of other deviations from the book as well.

Fun Facts: This movie proved Viggo Mortensen’s passion for an ongoing shot. The agonized scream torn from his throat, when he kicked an Orc helmet on finding the remains of the Uruk-hai and believing Merry and Pippin to be dead, was all too real - because the pain was actually real. Mortensen broke two toes in that shot. Additionally, Orlando Bloom fell off his horse and broke ribs, while John Rhys-Davies's stunt double, Brett Beattie, sustained plenty of injuries. Since all this happened around the same time, Jackson dubbed the three “The Walking Wounded.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Premise: The first of the Hobbit films, The Unexpected Journey is set in Middle-earth around sixty years before The Lord of the Rings timeline. Some parts of the movie come from Tolkien's The Return of the King . The story revolves around Bilbo Baggins, who, at Gandalf’s urgings, accompanies the thirteen Dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. The movie begins by showing Bilbo, who’s turning 111, writing his adventures for his nephew, Frodo.

Standout Moments: The opening of the movie focuses on an old Bilbo Baggins and makes for a powerful introduction. Martin Freeman, as Bilbo, manages to introduce some welcome comedy as an unfailingly polite Hobbit, even in the face of the trolls who want to eat him and the other Dwarves. The riddles between Bilbo and Gollum also make for a fantastic dialogue, as does the Gandalf monologue about Bilbo as his choice of burglar for this quest.

Is It Faithful To The Book? Since one book is stretched out into three movies, Peter Jackson seems to have taken plenty of creative liberty with the script. Frodo is shown to kick-start The Hobbit trilogy, although he finds no such familiar scene in the book by Tolkien. Radagast’s hedgehog, Sebastian, is a non-entity in the book, although he’s quite the lovable character in the movie. Azog finds little more than a mention in the book, but his character is fleshed out in the movie. Fans of the book will find several other changes to the characters and their actions in the movies, although that’s not always bad.

Fun Facts: As a not-so-fun fact, out of the 150 or so animals housed for the production, up to 27 horses, goats, chickens and one sheep died .

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Premise: The last of The Hobbit trilogy concludes the adventure of Bilbo Baggins. The Battle of the Five Armies sees Orcs, Dwarves, Elves, and humans prepare for war after Smaug leaves Lonely Mountain. Bilbo tries to address Thorin's growing madness, while Gandalf’s struggle with the Necromancer is another sub-plot. The movie ends with a setting from where The Lord of the Rings trilogy can take off.

Standout Moments: The CGI effects of Smaug attacking Laketown and the utter destruction wreaked by him, earned this movie a PG-13 rating and makes for a fantastic watch. The Necromancer sequences blend The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy almost perfectly. While the battle itself is not as grand as options from The Lord of the Rings , the deaths of Thorin, Kili, and Fili manage to wring quite a few tears.

Is It Faithful To The Book? In the book, as Smaug wreaks hellfire over Laketown, Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from a tunnel; in the movie, they are out in the open. The talking birds from the book are missing in the movie, while Bilbo’s use of the ring is also much reduced as opposed to the book. Legolas finds no mention in The Hobbit book, but he’s present in the film. But, of course, the biggest difference is the fact that the battle is even shown in the movie, as in the book, Bilbo is knocked out and misses the battle entirely.

Fun Facts: This is the last movie featuring legendary screen actor Sir Christopher Lee released before his death on June 7, 2015, at 93. He was also one of the few actors to feature in both the trilogies. Additionally, some actors decided to retain props from the movie. Tolkien fan Martin Freeman kept his sword and prosthetic ears ; Richard Armitage held on to the original Orcrist sword, and Lee Pace kept his elven sword.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Premise: The second installment of The Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of the Smaug is the sequel to 2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey . As a franchise, it acts as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This movie follows Bilbo Baggins as he continues on his quest, along with Thorin Oakenshield and fellow Dwarves, to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. At the same time, they are being pursued by the dastardly Orcs, namely Azog the Defiler. Meanwhile, Gandalf the Grey finds the return of evil in the ruins of Dol Guldur.

Standout Moments: Beorn’s introduction remains a great scene, as it highlights the sheer size difference between the four different sizes of races - Hobbit, Dwarf, Wizard, and Beorn, a skin-changer. But really, the dialogue between Bilbo, a tiny Hobbit, and Smaug, a gigantic dragon, stands out the most as it is both terrifying, interesting, and oddly fun.

Is It Faithful To The Book? Tolkien wrote one Hobbit book in his lifetime and revised it several times. That said, there’s a huge difference between the book and the movies based on it. Most viewers feel that The Hobbit trilogy is more Peter Jackson’s story and the movie has a lot of padding, over and above the actual children’s book by Tolkien.

Fun Facts: The necromancer’s Black Speech sounds so demonic and unholy because Benedict Cumberbatch suggested that the editors reverse the recording. He also studied various reptiles and dragons t o prepare for the voice of Smaug . Meanwhile, Orlando Bloom performed most of his stunts himself as well.

The Lord of the Rings (1978)

Premise: Young Hobbit Frodo has been chosen to destroy the One Ring, created by the Dark Lord Sauron. To help him on this quest, he has the Fellowship of the Ring. Adapting its premise from Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers , the movie focuses on the adventures of Frodo, ably helped by a very Triton-like Gandalf.

Standout Moments: The standout moment in the movie is more about the “realistic” animation. The movie used live-action footage which was rotoscoped to produce an animated look. Of course, Aragon’s lack of martial skills was a bit of a wisecrack move.

Is It Faithful To The Book? The brainchild of Ralph Bakshi, the movie mostly sticks faithfully to the book, although since it's just one movie adapting two books, the story is condensed. Most of Frodo’s journey from Bag End to Bree, including encounters with Farmer Maggot, Tom Bombadil, and his wife Goldberry, is missing. Another omission is the Hobbit Fatty Bolger.

Fun Facts: While people believe Tim Burton worked on this movie as an animator , he did work on the film as an uncredited in-between animator. Bakshi also tried to use Led Zeppelin music for the movie, given the band were J.R.R. Tolkien fans, but was unable to obtain the license.

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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. The untold story behind Helm's Deep, hundreds of years before the fateful war, telling the life and bloodsoaked times of its founder, Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan.

Kenji Kamiyama
Jeffrey Addiss
Phoebe Gittins
Will Matthews
Miranda Otto
Shaun Dooley

Brian Cox in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

Helm Hammerhand

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Runtime 2 hours 10 minutes
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‘Civil War’ Review: Alex Garland’s Grim and Nauseatingly Violent Nightmare Imagines What’s Next for America

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The filmmaking style of Alex Garland’s “ Civil War ” is, in many ways, the negative image of Jonathan Glazer’s “ The Zone of Interest. ” Both films deal with dehumanization and desensitization to the suffering of others, but where Jonathan Glazer’s film does this with absence and restraint, Garland’s assaults the viewer with nauseating intensity. Shaky camerawork enhances the you-are-there feeling of the film’s combat scenes, and every gunshot — and there are a lot of them — is mixed loud enough to make your ears ring.

In real life, America is growing crueler and more divided by the day, and the social fabric of the country is disintegrating along with its infrastructure. But “Civil War” isn’t a plea for empathy, or even civility. It simply follows this trend to its logical end point, which is a country where militiamen with automatic weapons shoot strangers on sight and torture their old high school classmates in the burned-out shells of abandoned car washes. Everyone who isn’t directly affected by the violence pretends it isn’t happening, in the name of “stay[ing] out” of politics — a stance that the film condemns more strongly than any.

Jessie will receive a traumatic education in the life of a war correspondent over the next few days, as she tags along with Lee, her colleague Joel (Wagner Moura), and her mentor Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) in their beat-up white press van on what’s technically a road trip — although that term seems a little too pleasant for what’s happening here. They set off on a roundabout route from New York to D.C. that takes them through Pennsylvania and West Virginia and finally down to Charlottesville, the rather on-the-nose front line of a war that’s emboldened white Americans to execute anyone they deem an “other.”

This dynamic plays out in a scene that juxtaposes the warm yellow sunlight and delicate wildflowers of a spring day with a nightmarish tangle of bodies in a mass grave, overseen by a soldier played by Jesse Plemons whose whimsical red plastic sunglasses both contrast with and highlight his casual sadism. The film’s blaring needle drops have a similar, if less focused, effect: Pop music is usually fun, which makes its inclusion here disquieting, because there’s nothing fun about this film. It has some darkly surreal moments, sure. Maybe even a barking, joyless laugh or two. But it’s not fun .

One thing that works in “Civil War” is bringing the devastation of war home: Seeing American cities reduced to bombed-out rubble is shocking, which leads to a sobering reminder that this is already what life is like for many around the world. Today, it’s the people of Gaza. Tomorrow, it’ll be someone else. The framework of this movie may be science fiction, but the chaotic, morally bankrupt reality of war isn’t. It’s a return to form for its director after the misstep of “Men,” a film that’s grim and harrowing by design. The question is, is the emptiness that sets in once the shock has worn off intentional as well?

“Civil War” premiered at SXSW 2024. A24 will release it in theaters on Friday, April 12.

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COMMENTS

Lord of War movie review & film summary (2005)
He cheerfully tours the world's flashpoints, a war-to-war salesman in a dark suit and tie. "Lord of War" is a bleak comedy, funny in a Catch-22 sort of way, and at the same time an angry outcry against the gun traffic that turns 12-year-olds into killers and cheapens human life to the point where might makes not only right, but everything else.
Lord of War
Movie Info. The 20-year arms dealing career of Queens, N.Y., outcast Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) serves as a window onto the end of the Cold War and the emergence of worldwide terrorism. He finds ...
Lord of War Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 5 ): Kids say ( 2 ): Ambitious, uneven, and occasionally philosophical, LORD OF WAR ultimately argues against war and violence. While this is hardly a new idea, it's rare to find a movie so determined to make its case -- sometimes too heavy-handedly, though always earnestly. This despite the fact that Andrew Niccol 's ...
Lord of War (2005)
User Reviews. Atop a hillside in Liberia overlooking an impending village massacre once the arms deal settles, Nicolas Cage's Yuri pleads to his conscience rattled brother Vitaly (Jared Leto), "It is none of our business!" Writer and Director Andrew Niccol's "Lord of War" is all about the big business of war, and the cost of selling one's soul.
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Lord of War is the most intelligent action film to come out of Hollywood since David O. Russell's Three Kings. Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 27, 2019
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31. Arguably one of the best movies of the 2000's and Nicholas Cage's best performance as a lead actor, The film 'Lord of War', released in 2005, is a realistic and unfiltered take in the role of illegal arms dealers, who facilitate the sale and transfer of arms trafficking throughout the international arms industry, which continues….
Lord of War (2005)
Lord of War: Directed by Andrew Niccol. With Nicolas Cage, Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto, Shake Tukhmanyan. An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.
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Yuri witnesses a mob hit in 1982, and realizes that there's a real demand for guns and bullets — and cash could be made supplying them. From strictly small-time customers, Yuri, in almost ...
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Aug 11, 2014. Lord of War is a strong, potent film that (besides adding accurate commentary on gun trading), has many alternative themes about life. It reminds us that sometimes, having everything you want is a bad thing, and that being at war with yourself is far worse than any global conflict. It is well-acted, well-scripted, and never boring.
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Lord Of War In earlier films as a writer-director, Gattaca and S1m0ne, plus his script for The Truman Show, Andrew Niccol looks to New Scientist articles and current cultural trends for the seeds ...
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Lord of War is a 2005 crime drama film written and directed by Andrew Niccol, starring Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan, and Ethan Hawke. Lord of War follows Yuri Orlov as he enters the illegal arms trade shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, eventually becoming a well known and unscrupulous gun runner.The film was released in the United States by Lions Gate Films on ...
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Movie Review. Witnessing the shooting of two Russian mafia goons in a restaurant would send most people to therapy. Not Yuri Orlov. For the young Ukranian-American growing up in "Little Odessa" on Long Island, the event crystallized his unlikely sense of calling in life: providing effective armament to those who want it. ... Lord of War ...
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Even with a forced political motive shoved in at the end, Lord has a decent message to deliver. Rafe Telsch. As with all rich men, Yuri surrounds himself with people who are eventually affected by ...
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Oct 27, 2021. Arguably one of the best movies of the 2000's and Nicholas Cage's best performance as a lead actor, The film 'Lord of War', released in 2005, is a realistic and unfiltered take in the role of illegal arms dealers, who facilitate the sale and transfer of arms trafficking throughout the international arms industry, which ...
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Relentlessly tracking down Yuri is seemingly the only honest law enforcer on this planet, Interpol agent (Ethan Hawke). The two one-dimensional characters have many contacts during the course of the film. But none are dramatic, and their encounters seem better suited for a comic book story. The film's most powerful moment (which might be its ...
Lord of War 4K Ultra HD Review
VIDEO - 4.75/5. Lord of War takes aim onto the 4K Ultra HD format presented in its original 2.40 widescreen aspect ratio and given a wonderful looking 2160p high-definition transfer. Lionsgate 4Ks do tend to look rich on the format with amazingly sharp detail and the natural film grain and noise was retained.
DVD REVIEW: Lord of War
Shot largely in South Africa, Lord of War has images that are crisp and vivid, the wide-open spaces contrasting sharply with the forced intimacy of barbarism and murder. The sound is equally brash. The director's commentary on this two-disc set is wonderfully frank, and other extras include a featurette, deleted scenes, and a 15-minute piece on ...
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After sampling their profits, Vitaly becomes heavily addicted and eventually burns through an entire kilo. After several months, Yuri checks Vitaly into rehab, and continues alone. He lures childhood crush Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan) to a false photo shoot and subsequently marries her. They later have a son, Nikolai (Nicky).
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A squeaky-clean Interpol agent, Jack Valentine (played by Ethan Hawke), relentlessly pursues Yuri. Valentine is an honorable, just man intent on stopping Yuri. Yuri sees his role as a "necessary evil," choosing not to take sides or get emotionally involved. LORD OF WAR contains valuable moral lessons, but it is drenched in violent content ...
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In 2005 a film based loosely on Bout's life, called Lord of War, was released. This week a Best Buy exclusive 4K SteelBook of the movie goes on sale. Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage; Renfield) came to ...
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Lord of War was overwrought, preachy, predictable and boring. Other than that it was fantastic! No seriously, this is not a good film folks. It's the story of Nicolas Cage as an international ...
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Key Takeaways: "Lord of War" is a 2005 movie based on real events, starring Nicolas Cage as an arms dealer. It explores the ethical implications of the arms trade and has a thought-provoking narrative. The film's powerful quotes and intense action sequences sparked discussions about arms control and the global impact of the arms trade.
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The War of the Rohirrim's setting, characters, and context means that the movie will help flesh out one of The Lord of the Rings' most important factions.First introduced in The Two Towers, the Horse-lords of Rohan are shown to be a powerful and proud race, preferring to use cavalry in combat rather than foot soldiers.Given the beautifully rendered version of the kingdom seen in Jackson's ...
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Premise: Directed by Peter Jackson and further endearing Elijah Wood's Frodo and Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn to the audience, the second of The Lord of the Rings franchise picks up from where the first ends. Frodo and Sam continue towards Mordor to obliterate the One Ring, helped by Gollum, the ring's untrustworthy former bearer. After escaping their Orc captors, Merry and Pippin join ...
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Lord of War Reviews

Lord of War

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Lord of War

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Key Takeaways:

Lord of War was released in 2005.

The movie is based on real-life events.

Nicolas Cage plays the lead role of Yuri Orlov.

The film features a star-studded cast.

The screenplay was written specifically for Nicolas Cage.

Lord of War explores the ethical implications of the arms trade.

The production budget was around $50 million.

Lord of War was shot in various locations.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics.

Lord of War was a moderate success at the box office.

The opening scene of the movie is particularly memorable.

The film features impressive practical effects.