The Kingdom (Widescreen Edition)
by Peter Berg
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ashraf Barhom, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jennifer GarnerDirector: Peter Berg
Brand: FOXX,JAMIE
Producer: John Cameron
Producer: K.C. Hodenfield
Producer: Maria Williams
Producer: Mary Parent
Producer: Michael Mann
Producer: Ryan Kavanaugh
Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-12-26
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Product features:
- Widescreen
Movie Reviews of The Kingdom (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: TOP OF THE LINE FBI v.TERRORIST ACTION THRILLER
Summary: 5 Stars
The General Idea
The oil and politics of Saudi Arabia go back to the 1930s. Saudi Arabia becomes the world's #1 oil producer, the USA is the world's #1 oil consumer. Ergo, the interests and fate of the two are economically and politically entwined. It's that simple. But most people don't know, and don't care, and don't worry about gasoline - until the oil is cut off. First time, because OPEC know that they are sitting on a gold mine and want more money for it - mid-1970s. (Remember the WORLD recession then?) Or, until a late and unlamented ruler of Iraq decides to invade Kuwait - for its huge oil reserves of course, it floats on the stuff - and Iraqi recon parties go over the border into Saudi Arabia to boot. Then the whole world sits up and notices again - that was 1990. So the US has to respond (did you know that President Carter passed the legislation enshrining this in US foreign policy after the first crisis?), and then the Saudis prefer to fund Desert Storm (about $80 billion as I recall), and pay for half the US armed forces to be on their sand to enable them to kick Saddam out of Kuwait and also preserve the rule of the House of Saud. After that, certain fanatical terrorists want the corrupt foreigners out of Saudi Arabia and in particular all the Americans, and the bombs start to go off. Maybe even in a US workers' compound. Then there was 9/11 and Afghanistan. That brings us up to date for the film, set in "The Kingdom" of Saudi Arabia.
The Film
Based on a similar actual events, in this film suicide bombers take out a softball game taking place in a US compound. It is a layered attack. The FBI (James Foxx is perfect for the team leader) are responsible for onsite investigation, but it is impossible to get clearance to send in rapid response forensic team. Well, doing it the clean and clear diplomatic way it would be impossible. So, the team do get there, and they do their stuff. But of course the terrorists are easily up to this and the counter-counter-action is tightplay all the way.
The director Peter Berg makes every person in this film human. FBI, Saudi princes, the Saudi police chief, the children, the wives, the retired and not-so-retired terrorist bombers. We here real conversations, folks snap and bite and banter and plead like real people reacting to real time events and real antagonists. They look like they are really hurting and really panicking in a jam. Sometimes they do it by the book, sometimes they improvise, sometimes they cheat. You can't see the joins. The pace cracks along. The shoot-outs alone were worthy of the price of the cinema ticket, but the DVD totally holds up too. Not all action movies do hold up on DVD, but this is one that does.
The DVD bonus items: education, and behind the scenes
The start of the film has a rapid-fire sledgehammering headlines-history to fill in the background for those who don't really do news or history. But the DVD goes further. The very educational bonus `timeline' in the disc extras really does accurately thumbnail the main events from finding Saudi Arabian oil in 1933, and the positioning of the main players in the run-up to Osama bin Laden offering the king of Saudi Arabia the services of his army of bandits in Afghanistan to drive out the other errant Iraqi bandit in Kuwait. But in 1990 Saudi Arabia knew which side their bread is buttered, and chose Stormin' Norman instead of ObL. After the Iraqis run for home, ObL has to do something with his troopers, and so we all probably know enough about after that.
The producers care about accuracy, and they go the extra mile. This fits with the docu-drama feel of some of the film. There are no weak links. The Arabic conversation is 100% convincing and is sub-titled where it is all-Arabic.
The other good item worth a close look is the play-by-play of how you plan and shoot a full metal jacket freeway terrorist attack-and-hijack on a convoy of Saudi security vehicles. It has enough both for the film buffs and the casual watcher.
If you like to see shot-outs character by character there is a breakdown of the four shooters big finalé too. Five stars all the way. Put Peter Berg on your hot directors list.
Comparison films
1. Syriana - avoid. Save money, buy a pizza or the next one instead.
2. Munich - the Israeli secret service track down the Palestinian terrorists who murdered the Israeli atheletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Justice, just not by the numbers. Way to go Spielberg, it makes up for Amistad.
Summary of The Kingdom (Widescreen Edition)
"A High-Octane Action Movie." -A. O. Scott, The New York Times OscarŽ winners Jamie Foxx (Collateral) and Chris Cooper (Breach) and Golden GlobeŽ winners Jennifer Garner (Daredevil) and Jason Bateman (Smokin' Aces) ignite the screen in this high-intensity thriller about a team of elite FBI agents sent to Saudi Arabia to solve a brutal mass murder and find a killer before he strikes again. Out of their element and under heavy fire, the team must join forces with their Saudi counterparts. As these unlikely allies begin to unlock the secrets of the crime scene, the team is led into a heart-stopping, do-or-die confrontation.Similar DVD Movies
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