AudioShocker

So, I saw The Kingdom today and it was not a bad movie. Basically, some extremists start some shit in a oil company settlement in Saudia Arabia and Jamie Foxx and his team (Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman) go in to investigate. Along the way they befriend Colonel Faris Al Ghazi who helps them dodge and bend the rules of the Saudia government in order to find the mastermind.

I wouldn’t say that the film is visually stunning or anything. The intro scene is pretty savage as far as unprovoked violence goes. The action scenes are all quick cuts and impacts. I would say the action sequences are on par with the last Bourne movie. The one standout was a prayer scene that really calms you down before the next big action rush.

Colonel Faris’ is probably the best played character in the entire film. A cop concerned with more than just punching the clock, he could easily be the Saudi John McClane. On the lighter side, he quotes the Hulk and Steve Austin as two of the reasons he became a cop.

The Kingdom also marks what has to be Jason Bateman’s first non-comedic role ever. While this is not Teen Wolf Too or anything, Bateman is not expressing any range either. His character is pretty mundane until the end actually.

Timingwise, the movie does not lag much and kept my interest well. The action is well paced and doesent get so thick that you can’t tell what is going on or who is fighting whom. That said, I think the producers must have been nervous enough about the film to lock in Jeremy Piven. Piven plays the same character as on Entourage - just with a Kevlar vest under his $3000 dollar suits.

I don’t think the Kingdom is going to win a bunch of awards, because in the end it is just another action movie. The political statement is well worn territory and much like our administration - it just seems futile. But, if you want to see some dudes get capped, watch Jennifer Garner shove a knife in a man’s crotch, or you just want to watch Jamie Foxx sweat - this could be the movie for you.