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Three Kings

Three Kings

List Price: $14.97
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WOW...and I don't even like war movies!
Review: An incredible blend of wit and humor and shock and horror! Not for the faint of heart! I actually have a whole new respect for Clooney who really is more than just a pretty face. Mark Wahlberg can play a loose cannon soldier as well as a rising (no pun intended)porn star. I suppose the flick is sort of a guy thing, and I certainly didn't expect to get into it as much as I did. This was a pleasent surprise after the long list of clunkers we've been renting. The pickings at the tape store have been bleak! Rent this one!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: action, drama, comedy wrapped all into one!
Review: What a great movie! I came in not expecting much from this film, and came out of it saying "wow". "Three Kings" is definitely not your cookie cutter war film, but it still has that patriotism and drama that you get from most war movies. Everything about this movie is great - the unique characters, the Gulf War setting and even the whole appearence of the film itself. This is such an enjoyable film and definitely one to add to the library - especially with all the special feautures on the DVD!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best war movie since Saving Private Ryan
Review: When the war in the gulf ended it was obvious that the war didn't really end. Civallans of iran were getting slaughterd. This movie gives you a in depth look at the chaos and the fact that it wasn't the simplistic war we thought it was.

With powerful scenes of moral issues and intense action this war is new and it is the exact premise the filmakers wanted to film it like no other movie. The film is very hilarious but it also makes you think about the decsions these soldiers had to make and what it took to be a soldier in the gulf.

With options wonderful sound and the making into this moving film Three Kings us an film paked with more options then you can handle on a DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tour De force
Review: Without doubt one of the sharpest, funniest, thought provoking, emotionally wrenching, and (hey, there is no shame) fast and furious action films to emerge from a major studio in many a moon. The DVD transfer perfectly capturres Newton Thomas Sigel's stark, daring and much commented upon cinemaphotography for the smaller screen at home; and watch your speakers with that awesome 5:1 sound.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Movie
Review: This is a great movie to add to your DVD collection. It has a great cast and its direction was very good. If you like good war movies then this is one to get.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good use of the Technology
Review: Writer-Director David O. Russell places Clooney, Wahlberg, Jonze and Ice Cube in the desert to fight in the squirmish in the gulf. The trick in getting anybody to pay attention to the gulf war including the characters was to get them away from their camp where most of soldiers never actually saw the enemy. Upon finding a treasure map in an Iraqi soldiers most sensitive hiding place our heros set out to find millions of dollars of Kuwaiti gold. The neccessity for a plot like this highlights what a different kind of war the Gulf War was, the only way to show some action and interaction with the locals is a fictional treasure hunt.
This is not an action flick as it was sold in it's theatrical release but, it does move along nicely and Russell takes much care in not glorifying the guns and violence.
The great part about this release is the excellent use of the DVD technology. It's packed with extras beyond the usual cast listings and commentary (although these are also there). Of particular interest are Russell's video journal and for tech heads the interview with the DP.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: funny and moving
Review: Three Kings is a romp, but a romp with a heart, mixing light-hearted comedy and heart-breaking encounters. The scenes of what the Iraqi people go through are stirring, and the conversation between the Iraqi torturer and the captured American is unforgettable. The musical accompaniment to the "Saddam is coming!" scene is perfect.

People sometimes say they don't agree with the politics of this film. What is to disagree with? Putting a human face on an enemy we'd prefer to demonize? Even while making fun of the Iraqi dictatorship, the film recognizes that we don't keep going over there out of the goodness of the American heart. There are thousands of human rights brushfires around the world, and only the politically naive overlook the little three-letter word that explains why we just happen to choose the Middle East out of all the possible places to intervene: O-I-L.

Clooney's character was a delightful trickster....I was hoping he'd develop somewhat as a character, but the decision he makes toward the end of the movie was within him from the start, so I'm not certain he changed much. Perhaps part of his "job" was to be present for the changes taking place in his colleagues.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Surprisingly Good!
Review: First, I don't necessarily agree with the politics of this movie (it was, after all, given a screening at the Clinton Whitehouse). I'm not certain that the movie presents as "fair and balanced" a view of the U.S. involvement in the Persian Gulf War with Iraq as the producer claims he was trying to present (the notion that the U.S. was there to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi annexation is only cursorily glanced over), but aside from its view that the administration of George Bush (the Elder) did not sufficiently support the Iraqi people in their bid to overthrow Saddam Hussein (a belief that has merit even among conservatives), this movie also succeeds brilliantly in becoming much more than a 1990's update of "Kelly's Heroes", which is the only impression I ever had of it from the theatre trailers.
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This movie takes a different angle than typical war films in that it doesn't try to show U.S. soldiers as the elite special forces troops as depicted in "Black Hawk Down"; indeed, this may very well be the first war movie shot from the Reservists' point-of-view...our heroes aren't men who are dedicated to a life defending their country; they are family men with (menial) jobs who spend a weekend a month in the military for extra cash to help them get by (except for George Clooney, a career Special Forces/Delta Force officer who has lost his motivation for the life he's chosen after his involvement in a war that to this day leaves more questions unanswered than resolved).
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The photography is inventive and interesting, the acting is first-rate (especially Spike Jonze and Mark Wahlberg...Ice Cube doesn't disappoint, and George Clooney is just plain cool...I personally enjoy the Arabic actors the best)...and there are enough special features to the DVD to have an interested viewer watching for hours.
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I recommend this movie, despite its political leanings...it's one of the DVD's I own that I watch regularly.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWESOME
Review: I must say, don't listen to any negative reviews, because this film really puts it all on the table. You've got well-developed characters who actually go through changes, an unpredictable and continuously interesting plot, and a film style that is entertaining and unusual. Everyone in this movie is allowed three dimensions, not just the Americans, not just the refugees, but even Sadam's soldiers. This is not a war movie as much as it is an unpredictable adventure tale. I found myself smiling frequently and then becoming serious a minute later. Somehow the tone can shift and fluctuate like the wind and yet possess the same, consistent demeanor throughout. I don't know how they did that. Mark Wahlberg's character was pretty damn enjoyable, Clooney can really do that thing where he smiles with only his eyes, and who better to throw a C-4 laced football then Ice Cube? Great cast, witty dialogue, and surprising emotions. I really like this movie. Just don't expect a simplistic action plot with over used special effects. It's a much more intelligent, thoughtful, adventure story with a variety of plot twists. Grab this movie quick and have fun.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After seeing all of the positive reviews for this movie, I was really looking forward to checking it out. Boy, am I glad I only rented it! Admittedly this movie is not entirely terrible, but after seeing all of the critical praise which it doesn't really deserve, I have a hard time saying anything good about it.

First of all, any favorable comparisons to "Kelly's Heroes" are totally unwarranted. ("improving on the premise" ??!?!? wake up!) "Kelly's Heroes" is a comic masterpiece on the triumph of personal greed over political conflict. While it gets serious and even tragic in places, it never loses sight of its satirical premise. In "Three Kings", the greed aspect nearly vanishes, as does the comedy for the most part. Some scenes are indeed very funny, but for the most part the humor gives way to shmaltz, political correctness, and downright preaching.

In the end, this is not a satire but a mere adventure film with some sociopolitical pretensions. As a serious statement about the Gulf War, this movie is a failure because of its utter dependence on sentimentality and commercialism (can you say "product placement"?). And its sporatic attempts at being artistically relevant only make it more painful to watch (when a movie begins with a warning about the cinematography, that's not a good sign).


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