Rating: Summary: wanna be everything Review: Three kings is that kind of movie that has ambitions to be everything. A realistic war-epos, a fun comedy and a "condemn the US government" work. It failes totally in with every ambition. The movie starts with a funny and comic dialogue and ends with a sentimental "10 years later" review. You ends up as a big questionmark.
Rating: Summary: Doesn't Underestimate Audience, Does Entertain Audience. Review: "Three Kings" is the kind of film that Hollywood doesn't make Enough of. It is Smart, Tough, Well-Written and Realistic, while also being Big, Bold, Cinematic and Entertaining. It's the Perfect Combination of the Hollywood Blockbuster and the Anti-Hollywood Independent film.George Clooney stars as Archie Gates, Mark Wahlberg is Troy Barlow and Ice Cube is Chief Elgin. Together they are the Three Kings (Spike Jonze is to them like D'Artagnan is to the Three Musketeers). What Starts as a Treasure Hunt in the Iraqi Deserts Ends in the Escorting of Dozens of Refugees to the Border, away from Saddam's Tyranny. What looks like a Simple Plan (Get the Gold... and Get Out) and a Simple Film (a Generic Action/Comedy) grows into So Much More as it progresses. It has a few Things to say about Our Government, Their Government, Ourselves, Individuals and what One Person Can do to help. The film Makes all these Statements, without Ever losing sight of the fact that it's Mainly here to Entertain it's Audience... Which it does, with Flying Colours. It is Also a Rapid Anti-war film. For the Americans it is all a Big waste of time, and for Everyone Else, it is Life or Death. Whenever the Americans try to help anyone, Red Tape and Bureaucratic Nonsense stands in their way. The Three Kings in question are out there, supposedly doing wrong, but they are the only ones Really Helping the Supposed Cause. It is all so Futile. The film also says all this, while disguising itself as a straight Action film (probably to get the script through all the Pitch Meetings with a Decent Budget and Studio Support... Good Move). The Reason for the 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that the film is Not one that warrants Repeat Viewing. It reaches Maximum Impact Straight away, unlike some other anti-war films (particularly Stanley Kubrick and Oliver Stone films). Since purchasing this DVD I have watched if Far Less than I Expected to. Perhaps that's just me. David O Russell's Directing is as Fresh and Original in a time where Nothing is Fresh and Original. The Pacing is great, the Performances are All Stand Outs and the Photography is Outstanding. Some of the Images will be Burned in your Memory for an Eternity. If you like Action Movies, you'll love "Three Kings". If you like Anti-war films, you'll love "Three Kings". If you like your films to have a Point and a Message, you'll love "Three Kings". If you think George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg are Hotties, you'll love "Three Kings". It has So Many things in it's favour, Far too many to count. See it for yourself, the Chances are High that you'll Like what you see.
Rating: Summary: Bold & Unflinching Review: A completely original war movie, "Three Kings" was one of the best movies of 1999 and possibly of the decade. Though not as commercially successful as it deserved to be, it received widespread critical acclaim for its director, David O. Russell, and excellent cast, including George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze ("Being John Malkovich"). A tale of greed and compassion set among the dust and desolation of Iraq during the Gulf War, "Three Kings" succeeds on many levels because it is unafraid to ask difficult questions about morality and humane actions in the midst of carnage. Though revolving around war, the film is not without its dark humor. In fact, there are several laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of ominous dread (an exploding cow, a strategically placed map, Nora Dunn's hilarious journalist). Beautifully downplaying the ironic wit and enhancing the suspense, the cast is always believable and a pleasure to watch. "Three Kings" is bold and unapologetic, and probably not for everyone. But it is a truly unique war story and an excellent source of food for thought.
Rating: Summary: Totally unexpected cerebral action thriller Review: I remember the hype on tv when this movie was in the theatres. I was totally turned off and would never have wanted to see it. Instead, I found a realistic atmosphere portrayal of 1991 post invasion border action (I was there at the time, US Army), combined with brilliant satire and fantastic characters. Amidst the action and humour, there is plenty of sadness as well at the plight of the rebels who had hoped on getting US Support from Bush, only to be left high and dry. Spike Joenz plays a sad character too, and he did a great job of playing the loyal simpleton who lived off of the energy of Wahlberg. A really fun/serious movie with great desert scenery, really captures the brightness of the Iraqui/kuwaiti sunshine, along with the chaotic environment that ensued when the US routed the invaders. Watch and enjoy!
Rating: Summary: 3 UNCROWD KIGS Review: a odds flicks dads makles u woddle pucke. i dosan't understamnd why peps think if a flick is oidd it mujs be brillant. this flick is two much four me. it's a war movie a comedy and an action movie intwo 1[ De actins iz okey anz so isz the directing bute da rest fp thidz movieb is two far fetch. i didn'yt like the charctetrts and i didn't want to watc h thme foir two hoursn go watch a better mmvie like something bny spike lee...try gets on mhy bus insteda........word!
Rating: Summary: an antidote to private ryan and John wayne Review: Three Kings is the best buddy anti-war movie I have seen in years. Picture Gunga Din with Irish soldiers instead of British,if you will. The plot is deceptively simple: steal the gold that Sadam Hussein stole from Kuwait during the invasion of that country. The trhee soldiers in the title{well,4 actually,Spike Jonez does not get full king billing, I guess,though he almost steals the movie}The scenes of the americans hiding in a humvee to steal the gold and being met with starving woman and children,then gunned down by iraqi soldiers is powerful as is the comment from the soldiers:Bush told them to rise up against Saddam and we'd support the,they did,we didn't." Interestingly for a main stream Hollywood movie, that war and Bush are bashed mercilessly for their betrayal of the Iraqi's and Kurds who risked their lives, then were left to be slaughtered by Husseins troops. The 4 leads are uniformly excellent. Clooney is wonderful as Archie Gates,the Special forces major,Ice Cube is excellent as the chief{also he portrays a pacticing muslim in the movie,and it is done respectfully, another rarity for Hollywood}, Mark Wahlebrg is barlow,almost the conscience of the group and Jonze is conrad, the redneck{well, it is Hollywood after all} Searing in its indictment of the failure of American policy yet still funny enough to keep you watching, this is a very,very good movie. Sort of a thinking persons action movie, if you will.The best american movie of the year. The DVD come loaded with those features which appeal to afficioandos.behind the scenes,timelines deleted scenes,etc. The transfer is excellent, as is the sound. Very,very well done!
Rating: Summary: George's War Review: If this film had come out a year later, Al Gore would be president. This movie serves as a sweeping condemnation of George Bush Sr's foreign policy...it's brilliant, funny, tragic: a cautionary tale about war in the new world order.
Rating: Summary: Snubbed. Review: Maybe the best film I saw in 1999. The cinematography is far superior that of American Beauty's. This is a complex story and a good one at that. It makes you question not only the Gulf War, but all American wars. All I can say if that if you like good movies, you'll like this one. Spike Jonze is a personal favorite of mine, so that weighs into my descision.
Rating: Summary: The movies' wittiest look at war since M*A*S*H Review: It is the end of the Persian Gulf War, but for three soldiers the action is only just beginning, as they plot to steal Kuwaiti gold from an Iraqui outpost. Their plan, however, falls into complications when they become involved with Iraqui rebels whom Saddam Hussein has targeted for extinction. THREE KINGS was marketed as a rip-roaring action flick, and it certainly delivers the goods in that department, with several well-staged, John Woo-type explosive set pieces and shoot outs. But the movie is so much more than the sum of its pyrotechnics. Foremost it is a satire on American pop culture, with several choice barbs lobbed at famous musicians. (One demented Iraqui's theory as to why Michael Jackson altered his appearance is particularly funny and quite possibly insightful.) And the director's ironic use of pop tunes (i.e., Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now")during moments of high tension is just masterful. The cast is very good. Clooney makes a solid, capable lead. Walhberg discards his tough guy persona to limn a combination of sweetness and steel, and Ice Cube manages to make his trademark smirks and sneers palatable and appropriately funny. But Spike Jonze, the famed video/film director, stands out in a very sharp, sad, and funny role as a naive young Southern soldier, gung ho to the very end, and Nora Dunn, as an ambitious reporter, is out and out hilarious.
Rating: Summary: Cool? Can I say anything else? Review: It's a good moive, I can't say great but good. It's not really a shoot em' up and bloody ol' war movie. It's really funny, none the less. Three guys, go out to get some money. That's all, untill they run into something that makes them think. It's a funny movie, did I just say that? Yup! But that's it, so if your looking for something funny, and a little action, along with it, then check this movie out. Even for drama, cause it's got a few of that. ~Isriah~
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