 Solid, entertaining action with a splash of humanity |
| Review Date: December 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jessi S. Clark-white, Veneta, OR |
This movie is a beautiful and stunning rarity: a film where tough, competent, smart characters actually show real human emotions.
One of the investigators is kidnapped and nearly beheaded. He fights fiercely, taking a severe beating but saving his own life by delaying the filmed execution while he's subdued. When rescue arrives he fights his captors, while bound, with a dogged ferocity that leaves no doubt as to his action-hero cred. But in the moments when the blade is at his throat, there is no question that this man is terrified. After his rescue, one of his friends asks if he's all right. The hilarious and utterly truthful way he responds with an expression is one of the best-acted moments in the movie. And when the rest of the team moves in to confront the bad guys, he stays behind, sinking to the floor in quiet shock. A movie that doesn't show the tough action hero immediately grabbing a gun and rushing into battle without blinking gets my vote for something exceptional.
In an intense sequence near the beginning of the film, a young Saudi police officer (Sergeant Haytham) chases down terrorists machine-gunning civilian housing, rams their car, and kills both men in a shootout...a heroic task. In the confusion after the attack, Haytham is suspected of being involved, and a ham-headed General has him subjected to a brutal interrogation. He endures it as though it's something to be expected, but when you see him look at his colonel, Faris Al Ghazi (who is clearly troubled by the process) during the beating, there are tears in his eyes. Simple touches like this throughout the film take ordinary action-film standbys and normal action heroes, and elevates them into something more: believable, exceptional human beings.
When the FBI team receives word of a member killed in the attacks, Jennifer Garner's character starts crying. Throughout the film, she represents the best of tough female-agent norms (watch the fight when she rescues the kidnapped team member - dang!), but also portrays a woman with real female emotions.
There is real conflict and real friendship in the relationship the team, (Jamie Foxx's Fleury) develops with their Saudi "watcher," Faris Al Ghazi, a man who turns out to be a very good cop, a warm friend, and a nuanced human being. Scenes of him and the FBI team leader bonding as they drive through traffic discussing such things as The Incredible Hulk ring true and let the audience in on the careful affection that develops between them.
Al Ghazi is a classically American character, a good cop partnering up with an outsider to solve a crime....an irony considering he's the main Saudi character. But we Americans have a long history of love for that character, and - why not put that to good use? One develops a deep affection for Faris, and surely that can't be a bad thing for millions of Americans to experience.
Faris speaks quietly of 100 people killed who had woken up with no idea they were going to die, and says that if they find those responsible, he doesn't want to question them. He wants to kill them. Fleury agrees, and another step towards a bond of friendship is formed.
The expected is consistently handled with unexpected care. In one scene Al Ghazi informs Fleury that Garner's character will be excluded from an upcoming audiences with the prince that night at the palace - no women allowed. Fleury responds by ordering him to tell her himself. The often brash cop's manner as he opens the conversation with a gently awkward inquiry as to how her hearing is faring after an explosion is a surprising touch.
Is this film politically and socially realistic? I doubt it. But let's face it, this is a Big Hollywood Action Movie. It's a buddy cop film set in Saudi Arabia. But it happens to show human warmth, friendship, and fragility amidst the beatings and gunfights. It shows cultural tensions gradually peel away as respect develops between the characters.
Any movie set in the middle east (or, most movies made in the past couple years!) can be seen as commentary on Iraq, and I can't help but see more of Iraq than Saudi Arabia in The Kingdom. But the Big Hollywood Action edict rescues this from being cloying, preachy political commentary. This utterly American style of filming is almost like a wash of fresh air in such a politicized environment.
|
Great Action Flick - with Depth
|
| Review Date: January 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Andre Heeger, Germany |
O.k., I love Jamie Foxx - and Jennifer Garner - so I expected this to be what I was looking for. And it was, but also so much more.
The story in short: There has been a terrorist attack on an American compound in the Saudi Kingdom. A handful of FBI agents are sent over to search for clues. Although at first they have to learn to deal with the Saudi opposition, they succeed to win over the good guys and together they manage to solve the case.
This sounds very dry. Trust me, it isn't. The film will definitely keep you pinned to the edge of your seat for the 145 minutes.
The action is extremely well done. Of course there is a car chase, but I have never before seen one like this. And I'm usually not a fan of car chases either. This one had me though.
You all know Jennifer Garner has had a few lessons in how to fight, and she's showing off some good results, as does Jamie.
The movie's pace is terrific. It feels natural, never as if constructed.
The characters are well developed. Jamie, Jennifer and especially Chris Cooper use the little space they have perfectly to paint each individual. But also the Saudi military is portrayed in a credible way. Who wouldn't be mad when a foreign nation sends in his troops to solve your case? Add the differences in cultures and you've got a perfect clash. But good people can find a way out and here they do.
(Of course this is an action flick, not a documentary. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the terrorists are one-dimensional, but they have less space to develop depth as do the good guys.)
I will definitely be watching this one over and over again.
The HD DVD transfer is marvellous. Picture, depth, sound, all state of the art.
Specials include a history time line of the Saudi Kingdom which helps you understand the background to some of today's troubles.
The Apartment Shootout scene is awesome. It's intense, ultra violent, bloody, horrifying. They show it from 4 different perspectives. Makes you wish you never get into something like it.
Now that Warner switched to Bluray they say HD DVD is doomed. This one proves what it can contain. Get it! |
Incredible movie, incredible picture and audio
|
| Review Date: December 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Bozster, Phoenix, AZ United States |
First of all I have to address absolute haters of HD DVD that spew constant nonsense as good little trained doggies for Sony corporation and other BDA partners.
This HD DVD / DVD combo is absolute marvel. The price is the same as any other HD DVD and the added benefit of having a SD DVD version to watch in your SUV, your portable player or bedrooms is a HUGE plus. I don't want to buy 5 version of the movie to watch it everywhere. Combos are good for consumer. Even Warner releases that come in combo flavor (SD DVD and HD DVD) cost the same as their inferior Blu-Ray versions. As a consumer, it is very important to say that because the PR campaigns from an inferior format will make unsuspecting customers think that there's somethign wrong with having more for the same money.
And also, this movie works perfectly on my 2 DVDs and 2 HD DVD players.. no problems whatsoever. I never actually had problems with combos too and very little people had any problems that were present were due to authoring problems or replication, but these are pretty rare anyways.
Okay, now when cleared that, I will say that The Kingdom is truly incredible. It touches up on today's situation with middle east, connections with Saudi Arabia and the slow fallout of the tight partnership since a lot of terrorist attacks originated or are linked to Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom is about a team of FBI agents on a special mission to investigate an attack on US camp, but are faced with a whole lot of problems during their investigation. The movie extremely intense, action-packed and the performances of the actors are on par with their reputation, they do a very good job. When you are watching this movie you do feel like you are kind of watching a documentary and it will definitely make you yell "Holy Sh**" a couple of times during the movie's action sequences.
The picture quality and audio are impeccible. You really start appreciating HD DVD when you see Jamie Foxx's face up close and see every pore, every little drop of sweat on his face or when you are surrounded by flying bullets and jaw-dropping sound of explosions.
interactive features are very nice. There's an interactive timeline of American/Saudi alliance about oil, the introduction of Osama Bin laden, information about everything really connected to terrorist attacks too ranging from early 50s as far as I remember to 2003. It's great addition to the movie not to mention web enabled content as a plus to everything and engaging tour and commentaries along with deleted scenes and regular dvd stuff.
I have not seen this movie in the theater and I picked it up as a blind buy, but boy I am glad.. this is a definitely movie for your brand new HD library. |
Exciting Terrorist Thriller!
|
| Review Date: April 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Melvin Hunt, Cleveland,, Texas United States |
This movie starts out with an attack by al-Qaida terrorists on a living
area(compound) for American oil company employees in Saudi Arabia. This occurs during a softball game between the employees. The terrorists are
wearing Saudi police uniforms so they have access to the compound. They
open fire on unsuspecting residents. Innocent victims are mowed down in mass. To top it off a bomb detonates in the compound. This results in 100
American casualties. Over the opposition of the State Department the FBI
places a four man investigative team in Saudi Arabia. This team is led by
Ronald Fleury(ably played by Jamie Foxx). His is assisted by a ranking Saudi police officer. At first the Saudis refuse to cooperate. Finally when cooperation comes forth they start making headway in the case. Fleury
develops a friendship with the Saudi police officer. They also discover that they have terrorist sympathizers in their ranks. There is gunfire and action aplenty in this movie. It also has an ending that will make an impression. Be sure to see this movie. |
the vagaries of hatred
|
| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Judy K. Polhemus, Louisiana |
I wish I could tell you the last words of "The Kingdom" before I wrote another word. Those last words tell a different story. But I am not allowed.
The opening credits are displayed against black and white clips, while a voice-over narrative describes the growing relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia before and after oil was discovered, a relationship going back to early last century. When the compound for American families of American oil business in Saudi Arabia is bombed and over 100 killed, a hand-picked crew of four FBI agents goes to investigate.
As often happens when reasonable people of unfriendly sides work together, friendships are forged, grudgingly then respectfully. That these bonds are set is a testament that men are men, not their trappings, not their national identity, not their religious beliefs, but their common respect for recognized brotherhood.
And what is this kingdom? Saudi Arabia? Islam? Oil power? Brotherhood? Perhaps. I fully expected an action movie and that's what is delivered, but that is not the point. The searching for clues for the mastermind of the bombing, the interviewing, the struggle for more reach are just vehicles for a common bond. Two men, one American, one Saudi, both government officials, begin working together, not against each other to find evidence.
From this point on, whatever the viewer expects to happen doesn't. There is a frenzy of fighting in the zealots' own home turf, with apparently every apartment dweller privy to uzis (or their update) and those guns that launch little flying torpedoes. However, with the team of four Americans and two Saudis working together, the master bomb maker is discovered. But there are consequences.
It is not the conquest that the director goes for. It is the story itself, the characters, their relationship. In fact, it is amazing and productive that an action movie filled with violence can trumpet the glories that lie in men's hearts. "The Kingdom" is all that. |
|
No details are available for this product
No video reviews found for this product.
![Eyes Wide Shut [Blu-ray]](http://www.hdtvworldnews.com/wp-content/themes/flexsqueeze/images/DVD Player.png)
Eyes Wide Shut [Blu-ray]![The Red Piano [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) newly tagged "blue-ray"](http://www.hdtvworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/f781027336SS160_.jpg-150x150.jpg)
The Red Piano [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) newly tagged "blue-ray"
Diamond Viper ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO 256MB PCIE GDDR2 Video Card (Electronics) newly tagged "blue-ray"
Leave a Reply