Rating: 
Summary: Stands alone as the best war movie for Desert Storm
Review: There are hundreds of movies about war, but only a few accurately depicts the horror and moral dilemma of specific wars. This movie does for Desert Storm what Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, The Deer Hunter, and Apocalypse Now did for Vietnam; what Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, and Patton did for WWII; and what Glory did for the Civil War. I love these movies, not just because they were superbly acted, directed and visually stunning, but because they show the human side of war. Three Kings honors those of us who served during that war by delivering the truth about human nature. It shows us that all of the gold in the world could never replace the value of people, and that war is about more than taking lives, but giving life. It also shows that most heroes are not always the ones who are recommended for the Silver Stars and Metals of Honor, but the ones whose methods, ethics and character may be questionable, but will always do the right thing. Most heroes go unnoticed. Ice Cube and George Clooney's performances are superlative.
Rating:
Summary: Clooney and the clan go to war!
Review: When I saw 3 Kings in the theater, I wasn't expecting a whole lot, just a low budget war movie. Let me tell you, this was by far the best movie I saw in '99 and I was shocked to hell about it. The movie centers on 4 GI's in the Gulf War who find out that Sadaam has millions of $$ in gold hidden in one of his bunkers. The set out to find the gold and take it home to retire and lead the good life for awhile. Once they do find it, they realize that the US troops have left the paupers to perish. When Sadaam's troops mercilessly kill a defenseless woman, the Clooney clan alter their mission to save the commoners and to redeem themselves. Clooney was excellent as the 'man in charge' who finally has to put his selfish motives aside and do what's right. Wahlberg is a revelation in his role as a man who just wants to see his family. Normally I don't recommend too many movies this highly, but this is a can't miss! Forget private ryan and all his brothers and give Clooney, Wahlberg and the Cube 2 hours of your time-
Rating:
Summary: Great War Movie
Review: This is one of the best films of 1999 and one of the best war movies. Never have wounds looked so real. This is a must-see.
Rating: 
Summary: BACK HAND SWIPE AT BUSH 41
Review: "Three Kings" starred the ultra-liberal George Clooney in a convoluted story of U.S. soldiers trying to get rich in war torn 1991 Iraq, possibly re-creating the theme of Clint Eastwood's 1970 film "Kelly's Heroes". "Kings" is not a highly political story, but leaves little doubt that it views the first President Bush's war in Iraq, particularly the Kurdish uprising that he encouraged and did not back, as a cynical American lie.STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM
Rating: 
Summary: Provoking Satire
Review: Writer-director David O. Russell's almost-remake of "Kelly's Heroes" set during the Persian Gulf War provides a satirical view on the concept of war, humanity, and who really profits from them. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, are weekend warriors who aren't happy about being in the desert risking their life for no money. Hearing about some Kuwaiti bullion (No, not the little cubes you make soup out of)in the hands of Iraqi soldiers, they decide it's time to go out on their own to hit the jack pot before anyone else gets there. On their way back they have to decide whether greed is more important than compassion or whether the two can be mixed somewhat. Fast-paced with shifting images and camera angles, the movie gives one the sense of the values of the high-tech 90s and war in general. Exploring materialism and greed from top to bottom, David O. Russell explores the rationale of war and the Persian Gulf-War in particular. A great film for a wide audience. Whether you like war-movies, political satires, comedy, drama, or action, this movie has something for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A solid piece of filmmaking
Review: I'm not a war fan. My dad is, but I could care less about the genre. However, Three Kings opened up my eyes. Unfortunately, I walked into the theater 20 minutes late so I missed most of the "comedic" part of the film. However, I did get a chance to see the gag with the blood and guts falling from the sky. However, after that, I saw a good movie with a good plot, stylish directing, and good performances all around. This movie takes place right after the Gulf War. Our heros (George Clooney, Mark Walhberg, Ice Cube) are in charge of getting stolen gold from Iraq back to Kuwait. They complete their mission, but they find themselves in the middle of a heap of trouble. After they shoot a couple of Iraq soldiers, they must escape with refugees to the Kuwait border to get them from a certain death. Of course, the US has ordered a cease of fire andnow both Iraq and US troops are after them as they trek to the border. The script is somewhat cut and dry, but the action is pretty engaging. The ending is a little predictable, but it leaves a good impression. I recommend this movie, and I'm considering taking this genre for real.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps my favorite movie
Review: There is no movie that I recommend to friends more than Three Kings. It is a masterpiece. It's hard to pick an all time favorite movie, but this one could be mine.
"Major Gates, Major Gates, Major Gates!"
"We're taking more Iraqi prisoners tomorrow...TOMORROW!"
If your curious as to why Bush I wasn't re-elected, watch Three Kings. If you just want to watch an amazingly funny, sad, moving films of the late 90s, watch Three Kings.
My only suggestion is to be aware that a newer directors cut is on the near horizon, in fact it is currently mired in politics right now, due to the "extras" that apparently are very political. The movie was also suppoessed to be re-released in theatres but is on hold to similar issues.
Rating:
Summary: A movie that has aged well; could've been made last week
Review: Back in 1998, who would've thought that the director of edgy family dramedies like "Spanking the Monkey" and "Flirting with Disaster" had such a sharp, innovative, prescient military satire/adventure waiting to spring out?
Though it's set in 1991, at the end of the first war with Iraq, "Three Kings" says a lot about current American foreign policy, military obligation, the media's coverage of combat, gung-ho-istry and the mid-East's perception of the United States. Though they don't appear on-screen, Saddam and George (H.W.) Bush haunt this movie, permeating the landscape just as much as the blue, Ecktochrome haze that the camera peers through for most of the movie.
Politics aside, though, "Three Kings" functions best as a good old wartime heist flick (ala "Kelly's Heroes"). As Operation Desert Storm packs up its tents, a band of military misfits (George Clooney, Ice Cube, Mark Wahlberg and director Spike Jonze) get wind of a stash of stolen gold and go after it. Chaos ensues but Russell makes a conscious effort not to let the action devolve into guts 'n glory. There's a dramatic weight to practically every bullet fired in this yarn.
The movie loses a little momentum during the final act but that's intentional (note the sudden change of film stock), a conscious effort to play against dramatics.
This is also a movie filled with crackling scenes: Cube storming a bunker and getting distracted by footage of the then-brand-new Rodney King beating; a gruelling interrogation (complete with haunting dream sequence cut-aways); and a great sequence in which Wahlberg's captured soldier finds a cell phone and calls his wife in Detroit for help.
In addition to the film, there's also an engrossing extra feature on the DVD that shows David O. Russell's bizarre road to a green light for the movie, and a Spike Jonze-directed short on Ice Cube's method acting which never fails to crack me up.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest War Movie I've Ever Seen
Review: I'm a big fan of war movies, and even though the Nicolas Cage movie "Windtalkers" was very good, I have found the best war movie to be "Three Kings"- a great movie that brings itself to life and that leaves you interested until the very end.
It is March 1991. The Gulf War has ended. And Archie Gates (George Clooney), Troy Barlow( Mark Wahlberg), Chief Elgin(Ice Cube), and Conrad Vig(Spike Jonze) are four soldiers who have served and are now ready to go home. So when President Bush makes all the armies and troops who served stay in Iraq to help innocent Iraqi citizens who have been executed by Saddam Hussein and are worthless by Hussein's power, Gates, Barlow, Elgin, and Vig decide to steal a secret stash of Kuwaiti gold. And once Gates, Barlow, Elgin, and Vig find themselves having to stick to Bush's plan, you'll be on the edge of your seat until the movie ends.
"Three Kings" was directed by David O. Russell( "Flirting With Disaster") and Russell has proved himself to be a good director. Clooney, Wahlberg, and Ice Cube were very good, and Jonze was a bit annoying at times, but he was very good also. And Clooney, Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Jonze, and Russell, along with a great story, make "Three Kings" one film you don't want to miss.
Rating:
Summary: Original And Provoking Satire
Review: Writer-director David O. Russell's almost-remake of 'Kelly's Heroes' set during the Persian Gulf War. The film successfully combines drama, action, and comedy to create a provoking satire on the nature of war and the human condition.
George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, are weekend warriors who aren't happy about being in the desert risking their life for no money. Hearing about some Kuwaiti bullion (No, not the little cubes you make soup out of)located at a remote Iraqi outpost, they decide it's time to desert their posts to hit the jack pot. Once they have the gold, they must make a choice between their greed and humanity: or can they join these seemingly irreconcilable motives?
Fast-paced with shifting images and camera angles, the movie gives one the sense of the values of the high-tech 90s and war in general. Exploring materialism and greed from top to bottom, David O. Russell exposes the rationale of war and the Persian Gulf-War in particular. A great film for a wide audience. Whether you like war movies, political satires, comedy, drama, or action, this movie has something for everyone.
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