Three Kings

Rating:
Summary: Funny, original, and very relevant
Review: This film definitely has its quirks and flaws but I think it was one of the best ones of 1999. It is an honest and humorous examination of the Gulf War and of the treachery of American policy toward the Iraqi rebels that America promissed to support. Like "Saving Private Ryan" this film contains gritty battle field realism, but of a totally different sort. "Three Kings" displays the kind of battle field ambiguity that can result in soldiers being killed unnecessarily. It also demonstrates in a unique and grisly fashion what a bullet wound does to internal organs. Most importantly, "Three Kings" reminds us that the Iraqis are people too. The rebels who resist Sadam Hussein only want to open businesses and lead a peaceful life. The Iraqi soldier who tortures an American is himself a victim of the Americans since his wife was maimed and his child killed by American bombs. This does not justify his brutality, but it puts the audience in the awkward position of understanding its origins.

This film deals with complex and difficult themes without preaching. It has its hokey and over done moments (Chief takes out an Iraqi helicopter by throwing a mined football at it.) but it's still worth it.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful film.
Review: Three Kings is, in my opinion, the fifth best film of 1999 (after The Insider, The Green Mile, Being John Malkovich, and The Sixth Sense). The story of three (actually four) soldiers secretly going out into the desert after Saddam's gold resembles the story of The Gulf War. The soldiers head out for purely selfish reasons, just like America did. We as a United Nations didn't and still doesn't really care about the Kuwaiti peoples, we were only concerned with our oil interests in the middle east. These soldiers learn to care about the Arabs and their perdicement and later try to help them. Now if only America could have such a heart, or any heart at all for that matter. The film also shows that only a handful of Arabs fit that sick, racist (yes, I said racist) steriotype that all Arabs are zealous Muslim terrorists bent on nothing but destroying America. But hey, if your a superpower I guess you'll always need a faceless enemy.... This film will show that Arabs are PEOPLE, not animals we need to fear. So see Three Kings.

Rating:
Summary: "Three Kings" is a hot war movie of 99
Review: All three of the main actors Clooney,Wahlberg,Cube all acted well in this unique film. I have never seen a film done so well in a long time, everything looked so real, even the shoot wounds. I most of all love when Ice Cube found the missing gold, in one of the suitcases. I don't understand why they had to take Wahlberg away, they put oil down his throat. I would have to say this is the best war movie comparable to M.A.S.H, AND KELLEY'S HEROES.

Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: .... war movies are not propaganda films. War movies arevery important. Three kings, actually it's 4 kings, really isn't awar movie. the war was over when this movie takes place and it's about 4 guys who set out to make themselves some money, but they have to help people at the same time. This movie is really funny more then anything else. A must see.

Rating:
Summary: Propoganda
Review: The fact that war has many different points of view is a moot point. Why, then, make ANOTHER movie about it? Full of innocuous pontification and one-dimensional characterization, this movie is as annoying as the original coverage of the war was back in 1991. The only puprose of this movie is for a very liberal Hollywood to take shots at a very conservative era that hasn't been dragged through the mud yet. Right or left, there's nothing worse than a propoganda movie and this one stinks of it.

Rating:
Summary: Three Kings
Review: Great movie! Treats the Arabs like they are human! Wonderful visuals

Rating:
Summary: Sublimely surreal and indelible; one of the year's best
Review: The commencing dialogue of the movie between Mark Wahlberg and Spike Jonze tells all:

W: Are we gonna shoot people or what?

J: What?

W: I said, are we gonna shoot people or what?

J: What's the answer?

W: I don't know! That's what I 'm trying to find out!

It is immediately apparent that these guys are young people who are disillusioned by the Gulf war. In the next scene when the American soldiers are partying, we can't help but laugh--not only because the scene is hilarious, but because these guys haven't really done anything, haven't seen any action. "Three Kings" is a terribly absurd and emotional experience, a scathingly intelligent and ingenius foray of the human conscience, and a hilariously insane account of irony. This movie is tremendous fun, with scenes that feel desperate and uncontrollable. There's also some great action. The cinematography is astounding; the camera pans and zooms, addimg infinite realism. Lastly, the characters in this movie are absolutely believable, in part to the script, and in part to the actors. Overall, a very unique movie, one that deserves praise for its bold fearlessness, for its brilliance, and for its sublimely surreal and indelible effect. Hands down, one the the year's finest films.

Rating:
Summary: Great filming, complex and riveting story
Review: There are scenes in this film that you will never forget, some tragic, some hilarious, some thrilling and some poignant.

Edge-of-your-seat viewing makes you think and pay attention - this is a fast-paced movie with many twists and turns and it keeps you on your mental toes.

Shows you more than one viewpoint of the Americans who fought in Iraq and shows more than one viewpoint of the Iraqis - soldiers and innocent citizens who get caught up in this scheme to capture stolen Kuwaitii gold.

Mark Wahlberg's performance was worthy of an Oscar nomination. This was one of the best films of 1999, hands down and a great insight into one little facet of Desert Storm.

Rating:
Summary: Gore and more
Review: I bought this DVD because the intellengia kept rating it five stars. If you like seeing a woman shot in the head, with the blood and guts coming out the other side - it's for you. If you like to see a six-inch needle planted into a man chest - it's for you. If you like to see depicted what happens to your internal organs when your shot - it's for you. Can we expect later some snuff scenes "for authenticity"? The supposedly important woman reporter cried when she saw birds covered with oil - but thought nothing of bodies lying all around her. The story is incoherent. The translations of Arabic to English at the bottom the screen don't stay long enough to be read. If have been disappointed with other movies that I've bought but this one went where it deserved - in the trash can.

Rating:
Summary: Dont watch
Review: This movie was horrible. I really tried to like it but it was just so bad. Story and action seemed tossed together over a drinking weekend to sell before the war ended.