Date of Release to Theaters: October 1, 1999

Date of Release to Video: Not yet.

Running Time: 115 Minutes

Rated: R (for graphic violence, strong language and some sexuality)

Released by: Warner Bros.

Genre: War/Drama/Comedy

Producer: Charles Roven, Paul Junger Witt, Ed McDonnell

Executive Producer: Kelley Smith-Wait, Gregory Goodman, Bruce Berman

Writer: David O. Russell (based on a story by John Ridley)

Director: David O. Russell

Cast:

Sgt. Maj. Archie Gates: George Clooney

Sgt. Troy Barlow: Mark Wahlberg

Chief: Ice Cube

Conrad Vig: Spike Jonze

Adriana Cruz: Nora Dunn

This review of "Three Kings" is somewhat difficult for me to write because I'm not a big "war movie" fan. And even though there is much more to "Three Kings" than "war," the movie still bothered me a lot. The blood and gore looked very real which made getting into the substance of the movie troublesome for me. I can usually handle watching a movie where the bad guys get it. But, except for some of Saddam's soldiers obeying horrible orders, there weren't any "bad guys" in this movie. Saddam Hussein didn't show up…neither did George Bush, for that matter. So everyone that was "getting it," didn't deserve it. That's what makes "Three Kings" so realistic…and so sad.

It begins at the end of Operation Desert Storm. The war appears to be over, a truce has been called and the American soldiers are very happy and partying hardy. In an unmentionable place on/in an Iraqi man, a map is found leading to the location of gold that Saddam stole from Kuwait. Sgt. Maj. Archie Gates (George Clooney) gets wind of the find and quickly joins and takes over as commander of the three who found it...Sgt. Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), Chief (Ice Cube) and Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze). Their mission…to secretly go retrieve the gold and be back by noon so as not to be missed by their superior officers.

Things actually go better than they had planned as the Iraqi soldiers see what they're doing and don't care. They even help them load up their truck with the gold and tell them to be on their way. One problem…the Iraqi soldiers aren't quite as nice to the Iraqi people…to say the least. So there's the quandary. Do they go on their way and return home to the United States as extremely wealthy men or do they try to stop the horrific slaughter of innocent men, women and children and put themselves at risk in the process? What do you think they'll do?

I believe the movie was extremely well written, directed and acted. Throwing in the comedy every so often helped to ease the reality a little, which was a nice touch. The special slow-motion bullet effects made it very interesting, too. The best scene for me personally in the movie was when Gates was helping an injured soldier. He suddenly, truly became Dr. Ross from ER again. It was like seeing an old friend and for the first time in the movie, I felt safe.

Grade: B+

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