Stream it now The Kingdom 2007

 

A movie that seems be like another "EUA heroes against eastern bad guys" become one of the most interesting film from this genre. In first, although the main character is Jamie Foxx's, the Colonel Al-Ghazi steals this place, actually, his death was the highest scene of the movie. And the final phrase "We will kill them all" shows how closer east is from west. Finally, but not least important, the action scenes were fantastics.

Very good movie. Great action scenes. Just enough politics not to get bored.

this was marketed horrendously, it looked like the typical overdone action/iraq movie and i just wasn't interested. i am pleased to say that this movie is not average hollywood b.s. it is actually a very real movie. the very first scene is fascinating and will draw you in. the rest of the movie stands up to the introduction and continues onto a very unique story that is rich, and in depth. don't think this is average, please. it's so much more.

The kingdom is an interesting action movie, but fails to become something more than that. It shows the American arrogance against the Islamculture, even tough it tries to show both sides of the issues. The intro is flashing, the story is quick, but it lacks interesting maincharacters. The Kingdom is a flashy movie, in an interesting and current setting, but doesn't go any deeper than that.

While this film may mainly hang on to sweet action scenes(especially the end action sequence as it is pretty intense) and the cast it still turns out to be a pretty decent thriller.

If you can get past the muddled politics and some conventional storytelling tactics the Kingdom is a film that packs some huge punches. The opening scene is as riveting as anything I've ever seen. The ending gun-fight is just a riveting if occasionally implausible. The acting is solid throughout with Jason Bateman showing a more serious side to his persona and Jamie Foxx as the lead bad-ass, even though his character's rather cliche lines do get on my nerves. Peter Berg does a competent job directing, implementing the overused but still effective hand held camera approach. My favorite moment is at the very end though, after the dust has settled; the last scene raises the film to a level of poignancy it didn't touch during the preceding hour and forty five minutes.

Perhaps my biggest concern with the film was the absurd fictional "setting" placed among the all-too-real modern day Iran. The hyper-intense violence and subject matter is at times too visceral and hard-hitting to be straddling the line of fiction and reality. I wondered if the set-up was a ploy to not only portray the action and violence that carries the film but to also hold ground to heavy-handed if not too controversial political discussion. The whole film seems like a "middle of the road" exploitation of these subject matters, at times seemingly done with a childlike sense of carelessness. A film without an unbiased opinion cannot afford to be "middle of the road" because it will alienate the chance of people taking it seriously.

However this is the feeling I got only at certain moments watching the film. At other times, like the ending, I felt differently about it. The result is an unusual combination of feelings. This is not Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen where the army trapezes around the middle east blowing shit up, but it's also not Hurt Locker or Paradise Lost, films which handle their subject matter with great skill and humbleness. It is a serious film with identity issues, but it still packs it's fair share of visceral thrills and emotional scenes.

For some reason I am always surprised by Jamie Foxx. I never expect anything out of him but he does a great job in almost every movie he is in. The Kingdom is good. (Don't let Jennifer Garner deter you from seeing this movie.) It has good action sequences that are realistic and exciting without being driven be excessive gore or special effects, as is so common in recent movies, and the plot line is suspenseful yet uncomplicated. A very easy movie to watch and very enjoyable too.

The strength of this movie lies in the cast, which is spectacular throughout, all down the line. The action scenes are gripping and intense, the political implications are all too juicy, and even the script is fascinating. It's a 2+ hour war zone styled CSI episode with a bigger budget - that's how great it is.

A stifling and claustrophobic first half makes way for an explosion of action and urban warfare in the 2nd. It may try a little too hard to be clever and profound but the final act's race against time is well worth the wait. Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman are 3 actors I've never warmed to but all three are on top form here, especially the all action Garner.

Another america versus terrorism film. Not as good as ridley scotts body of lies or others but still entertaining. I do find jamie foxx moderately irritating though.