A movie about the most dangerous thing for humankind: Nor religion, Nor women, but Weapons ! (DVD)

Rating: 4/10 (11 March 2007)

My title is cynically shocking but my intention is to arouse consciousness about what really kills: WEAPONS. Not words, not ideas, no differences, but real objects made by humans whose aim is to kill other humans But a weapon is harmless if nobody touches it. So, the "Thanatos" side of humans (its death pulsion) needs to find somebody who can be the middleman between those who built & those who use.
This movies is about this kind of "lord of war".
From a realistic point of view, the movie is respectful: indeed, Africa is the main consumer because it is the poorest civilization, thus unable to have massive weapons of destruction. In addition, the movie acknowledges the situation of child-soldiers, and the director is honorable to refuse casting "disabled" child. At least, it denounced the bigger sharks which really pull the strings of those lords of war.
From a drama point of view, the story has good dynamics: a brother relationship, an attractive & moralistic wife, western background against natural sets. All the same, as the character of Nicolas Cage compartments his life (his container is a symbolic home for him), the movie is maybe too much rigid, too cut.
Cinematography, the director is a good visual one: excellent opening, intelligent frames (the ads of his future wife, the automobile design viewed as target, etc.).
But finally, the movie lacks something to motive several viewings but the first one isn't a loss of time also. It has the value of opening a high political issue from the basic level. This debate could go on with the insight of the Philip K. Dick's novel "the Zap Gun" in which he asked if those who design weapons are kind people, cynic or with a corrupt conscience ???