Dragon Wars: D-War (2007)

Movie Info

Listen old man…I’m getting a pervy vibe from you and your creeping me out!

Legends tell of a woman who can transform into a celestial dragon.  When the Yeouiju and her protector are reborn in modern day Los Angeles, California, reporter Ethan Kendrick (Jason Behr) learns that the destiny predicted by his mentor Jack (Robert Forester) might come true.  Unfortunately, Ethan doesn’t know the reincarnation of the Yeouiju named Sarah Daniels (Amanda Brooks) and their ancient enemy the Buraki has come to Los Angeles to end her threat forever.  Now, Los Angeles finds itself trapped in the middle of an ancient battle with dragons overrunning their streets and skies, and Ethan must try to break destiny to save Sarah.

Yes…I’ll be the obligatory wise-cracking sidekick

Directed by Shim Hyung-rae, Dragon Wars:  D-War is a South Korean film originally sometimes called just D-War or D-War:  Dragon Wars.  The movie marked the first major theatrical release of a Korean film in decades but was met with horrible reviews.

I can enjoy a bad movie as a good comedy, and D-War looked just like that.  The effects were cheesy, the acting was awful, and the story was unnecessarily complex…and instead of being so-bad-it-is-good, the movie is just bad.

Just give him a live rat and he’ll go away

The movie claims to Korean folklore…it doesn’t matter if it really is or isn’t because the movie has garbled it so much that it is just mush.  Much like a Syfy film, it has a hard time finding a humor/drama balance and as a fantasy is rather generic.  With the movie, you kind of just want the dragons, and they seem actually kind of secondary to the plot.

Despite being a Korean film, the movie has a largely American cast.  Jason Behr stars as the modern version of the protector and Amanda Brooks is his destiny crossed lover.  Ethan is helped throughout the movie by comedian Craig Robinson as his friend.  The movie makes the sometimes great actor Robert Forester a joke as Ethan’s mentor.  There is also a small role by Retta from Parks and Recreation as a receptionist.

My girlfriend is a ghost now and there’s a good dragon…what just happened?

Though effect ladened, the effects aren’t that great.  There have been some great dragons in recent time like in Reign of Fire and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but the dragons of D-War aren’t one of them.  They aren’t the worst thing you’ve ever seen, but they aren’t good.

D-War or whatever you call it is a bad movie.  It doesn’t merit watching simply on its bad nature.  There are better so-bad-they-are-good movies or better dragon movies if that is your thing.  It is however interesting to see an “American” Korean film, and how Americans are perceived in their culture…I just wish there was more commentary in that nature since the movie is so poor.