Movie Reviews for Three Kings

Movie Review: I only watched the first few minutes...But that was enough.
Summary: 1 Stars

Maybe, maybe, the film later on might have explored the appalling inhumanity and racism shown by American soldiers in Iraq but who knows...I really was too disturbed at the time to want to continue watching.

Moments from the first few minutes of the film - Iraqi being referred to as "towelhead" by an American soldier...Iraqi POW being shot like a hunted animal at point blank range by an American soldier who clearly does not feel much at all...

Movie Review: What Would Kipling Have Thought?
Summary: 4 Stars

Three Kings is a rip-roaring tale that follows the misadventures of four American soldiers at the end of Desert Storm, as played by George Clooney, Ice Cube, Mark Wahlberg and Spike Jonze. All are good, but the first two were revelations to me. I had never before seen Clooney in a movie, and doubted he could fill the screen. He put my doubts to rest. The guy's a movie star in the best, old-fashioned, big studio sense. He can act, and he exudes star power. Similarly, I had seen Ice Cube do capable work playing one sort of character in contemporary blaxploitation/"urban" pix (Boyz' in the Hood, New Jack City, etc.), but didn't know if he had any range. He does. His endearing, Bible-spouting character was a great challenge he made the most of. The man may now quit his day job.

In exploiting the desert milieu, Three Kings' director David O. Russell successfully mixes bawdy humor, surprises, and tense drama as befitting the movie's theme. The pic's only short-coming is its ending, which I found a bit pat.

Movie Review: I'm torn between hating and liking this one.
Summary: 3 Stars

My Comments:
The reason I am torn over this movie is because it has too many perspectives and too many political messages. At first it wants you to think that the American soldiers who are stealing the gold are just boys being boys. Then the movie turns them into bad guys. But in the end they end up the heroes. All the while the Iraqi civilians are seen as oppressed and in desperate need of help and the Iraqi soldiers are made out to be both human (by being afraid of Saddam Hussein and having suffered dramatic losses) and inhumane for torturing and killing anyone they can. In the end you don't really know who you are supposed to be rooting for which left me a little bothered by the whole thing.

Also, the acting is surprisingly good seeing as how the last time (I believe) Wahlberg and Clooney teamed up - The Perfect Storm - the movie was about as bad as they come. Perhaps the reason why is that they don't really have to do much acting. Clooney isn't too bad, but Wahlberg just has to play a greedy young soldier who has a hidden heart. Ice Cube isn't particularly outstanding, especially with his overly bizarre fascination with 'Christ fire' that never really makes much sense. Spike Jonze, on the other hand, was pretty good at being the rather mindless soldier that he was trying to be.

Admittedly, I liked the story. And perhaps it should get a much higher review because, in a sense, it really does capture something of the picture of the relationship between Iraq and America in the two hour microcosm that makes up the movie - some Americans are greedy, some really want to help Iraqis, some Iraqis are monsters, and some are caring individuals that 'just want to cut hair', have a family, and live their lives.

Overall, I have to recommend the movie because it does keep your attention and even, I hate to say it, makes you think a little bit. Perhaps as I think about it over time I'll feel that it is worthy of a higher rating, but I just can't give it to it today.

(On an interesting side note, I watched this movie at a unique time - the 2003 war with Iraq began just a couple of weeks ago and raised all of the same issues.)

Movie Review: The Golden Rule.....
Summary: 5 Stars

A Gulf War story that's both hard hitting and comical takes a look at four soldier's quest to get something more out of the war than just memories of combat in the desert.

Kuwait has just been "freed" by the American forces and the military personel are rejoicing that their part is over and soon they will be going home. When two soldiers discover a hidden map(and you will cringe when you see where they find it) to millions in gold bullion, that Sadam has ripped off from the Kuwaitis, they along with two others decide it's theirs for the taking. They ditch the journalist assigned to them and stop at nothing to recover and steal this fortune for themselves. Breaking treaties and rules of engagement, and putting innocent people in devastingly dangerous situations they persue their own personal mission.

But along the way they open their eyes to what is going on around them. They see what the people are being subjected to and the devastation that the war and Saddam has wrought. They must decide what is more important in life.They are given pause to think about their own families and how they would feel if this happened to them. Will they risk their own necks and give the gift of freedom to a small group of refugees that has brefriended them or continue on their way to riches?

Although comical through these four main characters, this film in no way makes light of the seriousness of the war and the tragedies occurring in this region.At times it is very violent and graphic in it's depiction of the atrocities. It actually gives an understanding of why we were there and why we are back again.It also reminds us of the sadly unfinished results we left behind the first time around. And even more, it gives us a look at what soldiers from the other side are thinking and feeling as well.

The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze who all seem to hit the mark with the feelings of these soldiers. Written and directed by David O. Russell with innovative photography by Newton Thomas Sigel, it gives a unique perspective on the war. It may also be a very authentic look as some of the co-stars and extras were ex-refugees themselves and expierenced all of these horrors and served double time as advisors to Russell and the actors.

The VHS has a good widescreen picture, nice color and great sound(Dolby Stereo Surround)which does justice to the excellent soundtrack and all the sounds of war. Although this looks to be the same as the " Widescreen Collectors Edition" sold here, on my packaging it is called "Special Widescreen edition". This one also has a behind-the scenes Doumentary on the making of the film(but I can't say for sure that this is the same package.)

The story left me with a deepened awareness but also a renewed feeling of hope.
thanx....Laurie