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-Movie Recommendation- Three Kings
16 years ago
Some wonderful artists well worth your time:
Once more trying a slightly different format. This should clear up any confusion that sometimes arise in these journals. In the event a movie title is too long for the journal title, I'll put part of it up there (enough to recognize it) and the rest down here.
It's the end of Operation Desert Storm, and it's a bit of an odd time for all. As the troops celebrate and the reporters try to wring a few more decent stories out of it all, four soldiers have something else in mind. They're located a map (found in a rather peculiar spot) that shows the locations of Saddam's hidden bunkers. One of which contains millions upon millions of dollars worth of gold bricks, stolen by Iraq from Kuwait. It seems like the perfect chance for them to come out of the desert with something to say for it. But as they go to take the gold, Iraqi citizens try to escape from the oppressive Republican Guard, and soon things spin wildly out of control.
It's a movie that's part comedy (and part satire, if you find the two to be separate things), part war movie, part heist caper, and part character drama. And despite there being a million different ways it all could have fallen apart (and that's ignoring all the behind-the-scenes drama the movie had), it fits together beautifully to make on of the best films of the 90s (currently my new favorite for 1999).
The comedy aspect is neatly interwoven with the rest of the movie (more apparent at the beginning but still present throughout the film), which slowly morphs into drama territory as the men begin to see the real victims of the war. So, yes, it's got a bit of the standard anti-war message all to common nowadays, but this one does it very well, so it doesn't come across as preachy. Plus, it takes great effort to give the enemy some character, some humanity, and turn them into human beings (especially when you look at the freedom fighters).
The colors of the film are pretty interesting, all blended and slightly light (bit of the opposite of what Jarhead is). It gives the film a cool, fitting feel, one that really fits the atmosphere. Plus, the fighting (and especially the explosions) are done in a rather unique way; instead of multiple cameras and constant cutting (giving it an action movie feel), it's all done from one angle, with emphasis on making it seem real and dangerous. And it works, since the movie really isn't an action movie.
The acting is all top-notch, especially from the leads. It's early George Clooney here (back when he was big on ER, and not so much in movies), and he blends right into his role. Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube (yes, Ice Cube) are good in their respective roles, and play off each other well with their constant banter, usually about whether or not Lexus makes a convertible (they don't). And Spike Jonze plays a hick recruit so well it makes you forget the guy is brilliant.
Overall it's an excellent movie, one that I know I'm going to watch over and over again. It's a fresh war movie, a strange comedy, a good heist caper flick, and has a strong, working "know-your-enemy" theme running through it. Definitely one you'll all want to check out.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5-BTvCMjAA
Three KingsIt's the end of Operation Desert Storm, and it's a bit of an odd time for all. As the troops celebrate and the reporters try to wring a few more decent stories out of it all, four soldiers have something else in mind. They're located a map (found in a rather peculiar spot) that shows the locations of Saddam's hidden bunkers. One of which contains millions upon millions of dollars worth of gold bricks, stolen by Iraq from Kuwait. It seems like the perfect chance for them to come out of the desert with something to say for it. But as they go to take the gold, Iraqi citizens try to escape from the oppressive Republican Guard, and soon things spin wildly out of control.
It's a movie that's part comedy (and part satire, if you find the two to be separate things), part war movie, part heist caper, and part character drama. And despite there being a million different ways it all could have fallen apart (and that's ignoring all the behind-the-scenes drama the movie had), it fits together beautifully to make on of the best films of the 90s (currently my new favorite for 1999).
The comedy aspect is neatly interwoven with the rest of the movie (more apparent at the beginning but still present throughout the film), which slowly morphs into drama territory as the men begin to see the real victims of the war. So, yes, it's got a bit of the standard anti-war message all to common nowadays, but this one does it very well, so it doesn't come across as preachy. Plus, it takes great effort to give the enemy some character, some humanity, and turn them into human beings (especially when you look at the freedom fighters).
The colors of the film are pretty interesting, all blended and slightly light (bit of the opposite of what Jarhead is). It gives the film a cool, fitting feel, one that really fits the atmosphere. Plus, the fighting (and especially the explosions) are done in a rather unique way; instead of multiple cameras and constant cutting (giving it an action movie feel), it's all done from one angle, with emphasis on making it seem real and dangerous. And it works, since the movie really isn't an action movie.
The acting is all top-notch, especially from the leads. It's early George Clooney here (back when he was big on ER, and not so much in movies), and he blends right into his role. Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube (yes, Ice Cube) are good in their respective roles, and play off each other well with their constant banter, usually about whether or not Lexus makes a convertible (they don't). And Spike Jonze plays a hick recruit so well it makes you forget the guy is brilliant.
Overall it's an excellent movie, one that I know I'm going to watch over and over again. It's a fresh war movie, a strange comedy, a good heist caper flick, and has a strong, working "know-your-enemy" theme running through it. Definitely one you'll all want to check out.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5-BTvCMjAA
Reply below VVVVVVVVVV
Glad to hear you enjoyed it nonetheless, though 8)