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The Kingdom- Good Flick
Posted by Duncan on September 29th, 2007
… where the bad guys are still the bad guys.
I really enjoyed this movie. Probably the best movie I have seen this year… hands down.
The opening scene will make you ill. I felt that pit in my stomach that I felt on 9/11 start to edge its way back up. After the first 10 minutes you’ll want to go out and get the bad guys yourself.
Jamie Foxx does a good job as the lead FBI agent on an FBI Evidence Response Team. Cooper, Garner and Justin Bateman are a good supporting cast.
What I thought that the writers, producers, and director did well was show just a smidgen of the complex problem that is the Middle East. The political situation, the cultural situation and the religious situation are all addressed. The one thing that I did find somewhat off was that Jennifer Garner was free to walk around without the full burqa treatment way too much, even in Saudi public. Bull crap. No way that would happen. But then Garner wouldn’t need to be paid for her hotness on screen.. just get another would-be actor in a burlap sack running around like Cousin Itt. Probably wouldn’t sell as many tickets.
And in case I didn’t mention it, the action is pretty good also.
Anybody that has seen Friday Night Lights (the movie), will recognize that the composer of that soundtrack has his fingers in this one, but I think that is refreshing, especially since I don’t have to listen to the pseudo-arabian music usually played when movies take place in the Middle East.
As I mentioned above, the terrorists are never portrayed as the misunderstood poor people following the Religion of Peace. They are portrayed as the child-murdering douche bags that they are. The Saudi police colonel and sergeant are two good examples of the good Muslims who, while they might not love America, don’t necessarily hate us and hate the terrorists lawless brutality towards innocent people more.
I would recommend this movie to anyone, but especially to those who might be somewhat stradling the fence on whether or not there is a war on terror, perhaps it would help them realize it is not just a “bumper sticker slogan”.
September 30th, 2007 at 4:10 am
During and after the Gulf War we were prohibited in bringing our Holy Bibles into Kuwait and Saudi hotels with us on aircrew rest periods. I haven’t heard one Saudi or other arab state official apologize for the 9-11-01 attack on America by 19 evil islamomaniac terrorists. I’ll pass on this obvious pro-arab propaganda film by the Hollyweirdo ‘Death to America’ crowd!
September 30th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Um. Not propaganda by any means. I am not a fan of Saudi Arabia. I thought it was a well made movie where the radical terrorists are portrayed as murderers of innocent women and children, people who teach extreme violence and hatred.
September 30th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Good review Duncan..when I get some time I will go see it.