 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Kingdom
- Review Date: December 26, 2007
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Intense, bloody look at Mid East violence.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this intense, bloody movie isn't for kids. There are explosions, shootings, hand-to-hand combat, torture, kidnapping, a careening car chase, explicit shots of bloody bodies and body parts, and more. The overall plot and themes are also mature -- terrorism, graphic crime investigation, children at risk and killed, etc. -- and the camerawork is especially chaotic (some viewers may be bothered by its pretty much nonstop movement). Language includes multiple uses of "f--k" (which offends the Saudi police chief) and other profanity.
What's the story?
After civilians are killed in a post-9/11 terrorist attack in Riyadh, the FBI calls in Special Agent Ron Fleury (Jamie Foxx), who quickly assembles crack team -- forensics examiner Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner), explosives technician Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), and intelligence analyst Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman).The team heads to Riyadh, where tensions are high. The Americans bristle at predictable "backwards" thinking from the locals, including efforts to curtail their tough-guy language, conceal Janet's figure, and restrict their access to the crime scene. Ron insists they be allowed to look for evidence, question witnesses, and even go off the compound in order to determine the bombers' identities, though everyone seems to know right away that the head villain is Abu Hamza (Hezi Saddik). To offset the "bad Arab" vibe, the film also includes a very good one, police colonel Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), who inspires Ron to persist. Since the team has only 36 hours to build a case, they work fast and rather ruthlessly, inciting the outrage of local authorities and, apparently, terrorists, who decide to take revenge by exploding cars and kidnapping a team member.
Is it any good?
Equal parts action movie, police procedural, and cross-cultural tolerance lesson, THE KINGDOM boasts charismatic stars and a topical focus. But for all its energy and pyrotechnic brilliance, Peter Berg's new film is strikingly old-fashioned. It didn't have to be this way.
While it's obvious that the team will recover their man, the film underscores his brutal abuse by hooded captors -- just to make sure you know they deserve all bad things coming to them. While the U.S. offensive is supported by the Riyadh police (especially noble Al Ghazi), the focus is on the Americans, who are characterized as fierce, committed, and utterly selfless. Though Ron admits to Al Ghazi that he's aware of his nation's many imperfections, the film seems stuck on this primary points: When push comes to shove, Americans are right.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how violence is portrayed in this movie. Is it realistic or gratuitous? What message is the movie sending about the cycle of violence in the Middle East? Who "wins" in this movie? Families can also discuss how the U.S. FBI team members react to their new environment in Saudi Arabia. Are they respectful or arrogant? How do they get what they want, even when they're supposed to obey local restrictions?
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AGE
Great clean action movie
This is the reality of who and what we are fighting in the middle east. Two out of five stars... come on now. Not only is this a good clean action movie, but it does a good job showing the resolve of our enemies, and thus the resolve with which we must face them. Just because a movie is violent doesn't mean you need to give low ratings
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AGE
Powerful, Violent Mystery-Thriller in Middle East.
This was a very good film. The performances were superb and the direction very well done. It can get confusing at times, but overall, the story seems fairly clear. The action sequences are rough but I have seen much more graphic violence elsewhere.
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AGE
Great
This is a great movie. You should take them to go see it, as long as you let them hear cussing and they can handle depressing bloody action scenes.
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AGE
action movie with a soul
This movie is an incredibly paced action movie. However it goes well past the constraints of any shoot em up. The Kingdom is really an in-depth look at the middle east. It humanizes and villianizes both sides. It allows the viewer to draw their own conclusions. The language and violence are not a big issue for a mature 11 or 12 year old. Any younger and it wouldn't be worth it because they wouldn't understand. This movie will leave you thinking...
peace
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AGE
Uncomfortable Moments
I felt this movie was much better than reviewers gave it credit for. Perhaps it is too contemporary and based too closely on very realistic violent terror incidents to be comforatable watching as entertainment. One extended scene, based loosely upon the beheadings like those of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, had me crawling in my skin. Unrealistic and a bit overblown in it's plot, still very timely and worth watching.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Peter Berg |
| Cast: | Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 27, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | December 26, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of graphic brutal violence, and for language. |
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