| Three Kings | | Cast : | George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg | | Director : | David O. Russell | | Studio : | Warner Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | October 01, 1999 | | DVD Released Date : | June 07, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 27, 2005 | | Summary | Sardonic, touching, violent, and more in its various parts | Content
 | It is very difficult to explain what this film is. Yes, it has some funny moments, but the humor ranges from pretty light to very dark with bitter commentary on most aspects of Desert Storm. It is a sardonic and sarcastic film. However, there are also moments of deep emotion (the mother's death with her daughter running to her seeing the mother's blood pouring into the sand) and others of horror and revulsion.
In part it is a heist film, it is also an action film, it is also a war film and an anti-war film (you will be able to project your own views of the war onto this film and say that is what it is about). It is a film commenting on the media, how technology has changed the way wars are fought. (One of the fabulous scenes is when Troy Barlow is taken captive and is put in a holding room that is full of stolen Kuwaiti cell phones - many with some battery charge and still active contracts - so, in a moment of clear thinking he calls his wife at home to have her call his National Guard base with his location. This while a battle rages outside and his captors break into the room to take him to heaven knows what.)
It is also a film about refugees and Sadaam's brutal regime (which is quite interesting given the state of our politics now that we have fought a war in Iraq and removed the brutal dictator as the film seems to advocate we should have done ... ) and how the first Bush's call to remove Sadaam put so many people into miserable situations because we did not back them as the President's words implied we would.
Beware, there is profanity nearly every third word, and some pretty rough violence, and one brief scene involving sexual activity. It is R rated for a reason.
While I do not believe this to be a great film, it has some tremendous scenes that you will never forget. The actors all do a fine job and put solid performances on the screen. These are characters you feel for and will remember as well. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 23, 2005 | | Summary | Hilarious and plenty of action at the same time | Content
| This movie contains good acting with George Clooney, Mark Whalberg, and Ice Cube. This movie takes place at the end of the Gulf War with four soldiers that want to get some money/ gold before leaving. But then things go out of conrol in this very unique movie. What's so unique about this movie is that one minute, it will be absurdly funny and the next, it will be sad and very emotional. That's what seperates this movie from the rest and makes it so neat and special. This movie's got some of the best comedy in a long time and there is also a good deal of good action. There's nothing else I can say as you need to see this movie to believe it. Movies like this don't come along very often and that's why I highly recommend it to everyone. The only downside is that there is a large amount of cuss words in this movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 04, 2005 | | Summary | Meet the "Three Godfathers," the Duke and John Ford | Content
|
Looks like the "Three Kings," which was advertised as the best original screenplay of 1999, resembles the "Three Godfathers."
Wayne (Clooney) and his outlaw friends (Kings' soliders) get greedy, steal gold, and flee into the desert. Along the way they become the "godfathers" of a dying woman's baby (abandoned Iraqi rebels). They then get a conscience and realize they need to throw away their plans in order to save the baby (back to "Kings" abandoned Iraqi rebels). So some of the outlaws (soldiers) unfortunately die along they way.
"Three Kings" is a nice movie but give credit where credit is due. You just can't beat the Duke and John Ford! Ford and the Duke did give credit to the past film versions (5). They even dedicated "Godfathers" to the original star, Harry Carey, of the silent film version.
Get the "Three Godfathers." You'll love it! |
| Rating | | | Date | May 27, 2005 | | Summary | M*A*S*H*E*D | Content
| Not since Hawkeye and Trapper John used humor as an antidote to the horrors of war has a movie been able to recapture that feeling. THREE KINGS is a movie that manages to find humor in a non-humorous setting, but also is able to show us the ridiculous politics of war and how the Gulf War again denigrates the US as a global police force. Our four heroes start out on a rather selfish mission to steal gold bars from Saddam Hussein, but end up being an escort service to the prisoners of war. Tightly directed by David O. Russell, THREE KINGS bristles with some frentic action scenes and some poignant character sketches as well. Spike Jonez is wonderful as the rather mentally challenged member of the team; George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg are heroic and effective; and even Ice Cube manages to evoke some emotional empathy. Although the movie almost collapses on its own sentimentality, THREE KINGS is nevertheless a riveting, enjoyable look at the all too familiar horrors of any war. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 21, 2005 | | Summary | Very Good | Content
| This is the only George Clooney movie where I enjoyed watching him act. There is something about George Clooney as an actor that I found to be distant and insincere: it is as though he is consciously trying to impress somebody, and it always got in my way of really appreciating his movies. However, in this movie, his acting did not get in the way of my enjoyment. The story was compelling, it was beautifully shot, and the actors including Clooney did not stand out themselves. Overall, it was very satisfying. By the way, please do not get turned off by racial/ethnic slurs used in this movie: they serve a purpose and is not used as a vehicle to some crude entertainment. |
|
|
|
|
