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Three Kings Reviews

1999 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 11,569 members

David O. Russell makes his entry into the major studio big leagues with this electric war dramedy. The charged script, based on a fictional story by John Ridley, is a sly reworking of KELLY'S HEROES that concerns four Gulf War soldiers who discover a map that potentially leads to an enormous stash of gold bullion. Russell gives .. Read more

Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Nora Dunn
Director David O. Russell
Genres Drama

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  • Critics' reviews (6) of Three Kings

    View all
  • 4 stars out of 5

    This superb — though very violent — mix of comedy, drama and action is set at the end of the Gulf War. Hearing a rumour that Saddam Hussein has stashed stolen gold in bunkers, US soldiers George Clooney, Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg embark on a secret field trip with the help of a map they find concealed about an Iraqi soldier's person (you don't want to know where). It seems simple enough: grab the bullion and be rich for the rest of their lives. However, when they encounter Iraqi dissidents being tortured by Saddam's men, the guys reluctantly agree to help them. Wittily scripted by director David O Russell, it boasts terrific performances (especially from Clooney) and takes some well-aimed stabs at the late 20th-century phenomenon of war waged on television. Reckless, gripping and unmissable.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Ironic, blackly humorous drama that manages to take seriously the messy mechanics of war while staying within most of the conventions of a caper movie, and adding some unsettling photographic effects to the genre.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • "...[THREE KINGS is] impudently comic, stylistically aggressive....Clooney, Cube and, particularly, Wahlberg deliver rugged and well-considered turns..."

    • Variety
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Three Kings

    View all
  • 10 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Three Kings

    George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube form a fantastic trio of soldiers brought together in the aftermath of the first Gulf War.

    The most interesting aspect of this film is the way it is shot - in order to demonstrate the dry heat in the desert, the film is shot in bright light and viewers are warned not to adjust their television sets. It works remarkably well - as do the stunts and special effects.

    Whilst Wahlberg is typically cool and popular, it is actually Ice Cube who isn't typecast as a gun-toting war enthusiast but as someone who is actually very peaceful and who plays by the rules.

    The soundtrack takes you back to the early 90's which is also great!

      • lucifer from LONDON
  • 7 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Another average war-time film.

    But, I love the way this is shot, such bright colouration, really good stuff.

    The film itself, solid acting and solid script. I'm fan of Clooney's work, so I enjoyed his performance in this along with 'Ice Cube' who is easily one of the better singers-come-actors around nowadays.

    Well, overall, an involving story that never really lifts off into a great story.

      • Philmster from Middlesex
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Never judge a film by it's cover.....

    When I put this disc into my player, I was expecting a big outlandish gun-hoe movie with loads of explosions, one liner's that make you vomit pieces of your brain, and a ‘put down your guns and spread the love’ sentimental sunset ending. But after the first 10 mins, sadly, my thoughts hadn’t changed. There were loads of guns, god bless America shots and so on, which I was expecting. But then, the film really started to get going and change from the dumb action flick I was dreading to a very sensitive, deep and at times genuinely funny piece of work.

    Firstly, the film looks great. From the overexposed deserts to the dark and gloomy underground caves, Davis O. Russell really hammers home the landscape the film is set in, and some of the other tricks and techniques he uses add some spice to the piece. The sound’s pretty good as well, the booms are especially loud.

    All the main stars are on top form, Clooney’s surprisingly good in a part that his clean cut image is cast against, Wahlberg is very likable and engaging and Ice Cube leaves his type casting of gangster rapper, to put in a really good performance. But the stand out for me by a long way is Spike Jonze. He’s likable, but at the same time massively funny and comical without spoiling the mood of the film, and he gets most of the best lines which be delivers to a tee. All the characters gel thanks to a great script, and though the story is at times basic and at the end unsurprising, you get swept along by their struggle for, as they are all extremely likable.

    As a whole, this is a surprisingly great film, its sharp, intelligent, powerful, harrowing and sadly in today’s climate, topical, but it still manages to be very entertaining as well, and genuinely laugh out load funny. Rent this film now, you won’t regret it!

      • Scott Tierney from Bedfordshire
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Three Kings

    View all
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Never judge a film by it's cover.....

    When I put this disc into my player, I was expecting a big outlandish gun-hoe movie with loads of explosions, one liner's that make you vomit pieces of your brain, and a ‘put down your guns and spread the love’ sentimental sunset ending. But after the first 10 mins, sadly, my thoughts hadn’t changed. There were loads of guns, god bless America shots and so on, which I was expecting. But then, the film really started to get going and change from the dumb action flick I was dreading to a very sensitive, deep and at times genuinely funny piece of work.

    Firstly, the film looks great. From the overexposed deserts to the dark and gloomy underground caves, Davis O. Russell really hammers home the landscape the film is set in, and some of the other tricks and techniques he uses add some spice to the piece. The sound’s pretty good as well, the booms are especially loud.

    All the main stars are on top form, Clooney’s surprisingly good in a part that his clean cut image is cast against, Wahlberg is very likable and engaging and Ice Cube leaves his type casting of gangster rapper, to put in a really good performance. But the stand out for me by a long way is Spike Jonze. He’s likable, but at the same time massively funny and comical without spoiling the mood of the film, and he gets most of the best lines which be delivers to a tee. All the characters gel thanks to a great script, and though the story is at times basic and at the end unsurprising, you get swept along by their struggle for, as they are all extremely likable.

    As a whole, this is a surprisingly great film, its sharp, intelligent, powerful, harrowing and sadly in today’s climate, topical, but it still manages to be very entertaining as well, and genuinely laugh out load funny. Rent this film now, you won’t regret it!

      • Scott Tierney from Bedfordshire
  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One of those rare films that bring all the elements of a watch-able flick together and make it look effortless. Basic plot ? 3 soldiers go hunting for gold stolen from the Kuwaities by Saddam in the 1st Gulf War. The fast paced plot keeps the watcher captivated by using a successful mix of comedy, violence and emotion. One of Clooney?s finest moments and very commendable performance from Wahlberg. Excellent from start to finish ? Rent this film!

      • BEC#3 from SYDENHAM
  • 10 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Three Kings

    George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube form a fantastic trio of soldiers brought together in the aftermath of the first Gulf War.

    The most interesting aspect of this film is the way it is shot - in order to demonstrate the dry heat in the desert, the film is shot in bright light and viewers are warned not to adjust their television sets. It works remarkably well - as do the stunts and special effects.

    Whilst Wahlberg is typically cool and popular, it is actually Ice Cube who isn't typecast as a gun-toting war enthusiast but as someone who is actually very peaceful and who plays by the rules.

    The soundtrack takes you back to the early 90's which is also great!

      • lucifer from LONDON
  • 7 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Another average war-time film.

    But, I love the way this is shot, such bright colouration, really good stuff.

    The film itself, solid acting and solid script. I'm fan of Clooney's work, so I enjoyed his performance in this along with 'Ice Cube' who is easily one of the better singers-come-actors around nowadays.

    Well, overall, an involving story that never really lifts off into a great story.

      • Philmster from Middlesex
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Never judge a film by it's cover.....

    When I put this disc into my player, I was expecting a big outlandish gun-hoe movie with loads of explosions, one liner's that make you vomit pieces of your brain, and a ‘put down your guns and spread the love’ sentimental sunset ending. But after the first 10 mins, sadly, my thoughts hadn’t changed. There were loads of guns, god bless America shots and so on, which I was expecting. But then, the film really started to get going and change from the dumb action flick I was dreading to a very sensitive, deep and at times genuinely funny piece of work.

    Firstly, the film looks great. From the overexposed deserts to the dark and gloomy underground caves, Davis O. Russell really hammers home the landscape the film is set in, and some of the other tricks and techniques he uses add some spice to the piece. The sound’s pretty good as well, the booms are especially loud.

    All the main stars are on top form, Clooney’s surprisingly good in a part that his clean cut image is cast against, Wahlberg is very likable and engaging and Ice Cube leaves his type casting of gangster rapper, to put in a really good performance. But the stand out for me by a long way is Spike Jonze. He’s likable, but at the same time massively funny and comical without spoiling the mood of the film, and he gets most of the best lines which be delivers to a tee. All the characters gel thanks to a great script, and though the story is at times basic and at the end unsurprising, you get swept along by their struggle for, as they are all extremely likable.

    As a whole, this is a surprisingly great film, its sharp, intelligent, powerful, harrowing and sadly in today’s climate, topical, but it still manages to be very entertaining as well, and genuinely laugh out load funny. Rent this film now, you won’t regret it!

      • Scott Tierney from Bedfordshire
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 0 stars

    too much swearing

    There was way too much swearing, we only watched a few minutes, so it was rather disappointing.

      • A customer from Grimsby
  • 4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Five minutes

    Too much bad language in opening scene put me off watching anymore....

      • A customer from york
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Worst ending since Magnificent Ambersons.

    It's taken me about a week to calm down enough to write this review. For about 100 minutes I was beginning to suspect that this was a great film, and then the ending happened. I'm still so disgusted. I know I can't "spoil" the ending in a review, but this ending certainly spoils the film. My advice is hit stop just as we see some desperate people (I'm being deliberately vague) fenced in. The reaction shot of their despair is where this film should have stopped. A clear 7, a masterpiece. Instead... I'm still angry. Or was that the point? To make people angry? Maybe I should see it again...

      • bedouingoose from Northumberland
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    A decent film

    A decent enough film with some good sparky dialogue. However, despite its pretensions it's still far too Hollywood. The three stars all survive and there's never any doubt they'll do the right thing. I was shouting at their friend to run away from them as you just knew there was a bullet with his name on.

    The ending is a complete cop out - pure Hollywood- and it commits the unforgivable sin of being a war film with a feel goodending. In fact the more I think about it the more I don't like it.

      • joe13 from london
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Brilliant film enjoyed this a lot scenery is outstanding as well as the acting.

    If you like stories based around a war theme then this film is for you it does not concentrate directly on the war in kuwait but it skirts around this on another line, funny in places and serious in others good film.

      • wayne99#1 from GLOUCESTER
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Gung-ho rubbish

    The 1991 Gulf War re-written to portray the American forces in a favorable light. Absolute rubbish.

      • A customer from Beverley , East Yorks
  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One of those rare films that bring all the elements of a watch-able flick together and make it look effortless. Basic plot ? 3 soldiers go hunting for gold stolen from the Kuwaities by Saddam in the 1st Gulf War. The fast paced plot keeps the watcher captivated by using a successful mix of comedy, violence and emotion. One of Clooney?s finest moments and very commendable performance from Wahlberg. Excellent from start to finish ? Rent this film!

      • BEC#3 from SYDENHAM
  • Critics' reviews (6)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    This superb — though very violent — mix of comedy, drama and action is set at the end of the Gulf War. Hearing a rumour that Saddam Hussein has stashed stolen gold in bunkers, US soldiers George Clooney, Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg embark on a secret field trip with the help of a map they find concealed about an Iraqi soldier's person (you don't want to know where). It seems simple enough: grab the bullion and be rich for the rest of their lives. However, when they encounter Iraqi dissidents being tortured by Saddam's men, the guys reluctantly agree to help them. Wittily scripted by director David O Russell, it boasts terrific performances (especially from Clooney) and takes some well-aimed stabs at the late 20th-century phenomenon of war waged on television. Reckless, gripping and unmissable.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Ironic, blackly humorous drama that manages to take seriously the messy mechanics of war while staying within most of the conventions of a caper movie, and adding some unsettling photographic effects to the genre.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • "...[THREE KINGS is] impudently comic, stylistically aggressive....Clooney, Cube and, particularly, Wahlberg deliver rugged and well-considered turns..."

    • Variety
  • Ranked #6 in Rolling Stone's "Ten Best Movies of 1999" -- "...An acutely funny and astutely provocative [satire]..."

    • Rolling Stone
  • Having lanced the boil of 'family values' in Spanking the Monkey and Flirting with Disater, former indie director... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...Zeal and inventiveness....It's impossible not to be impressed..." -- 4 out of 5 stars

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    • David O. Russell makes his entry into the major studio big leagues with this electric war dramedy. The charged script, based on a fictional story by John Ridley, is a sly reworking of KELLY'S HEROES ...

Rating breakdown

11,569 Member ratings
  • 100
601
  • 90
791
  • 80
2,142
  • 70
2,349
  • 60
2,731
  • 50
1,296
  • 40
779
  • 30
439
  • 20
288
  • 10
153

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