The Kingdom

Peter Berg set out to make a movie that shows both sides of the "Saudi Situation" so to speak. He may have started with great intentions, but the end product lacks on several levels. First of all, the hype surrounding Jennifer Garner's performance and role in this movie doesn't help. She shouldn't have even been in the movie to begin with, at least not as part of a select team to go into Saudi Arabia and investigate. That just screams unrealistic. Yes, her one action scene was very good, but her character was all wrong for the storyline, and the end result is her sticking out like a sore thumb in several scenes, taking away from the realism. Rule #1 with making any kind of war movie: make sure it is believable. Jason Bateman provides the background comedy relief. Unfortunately, a lot of his verbal jabs are lost in the background. And again, given the extremely delicate situation they are in, it lacks realism. Jamie Foxx just doesn't get it done. He is delivering an almost carbon-copy of his performance from Jarhead. It just seems like ever since he won his Oscar, it's been downhill (Stealth, Jarhead, Miami Vice) Is he just a good caricature actor (imitating Ray Charles or his character from Dreamgirls), or are there a few more great acting performances buried deep inside him? But the big problem lies definitely within the story. Some parts are very well written and quite effective, but they are too few and far between. There is too much fluff material and not enough depth material. Sure the action scenes are intense, but they would mean that much more if the overall story was better paced and more tightly wound. This is not a bad movie, it's just not a good movie. It could have been so much better, and given the subject matter, it really should have been. I will leave it at that. No point going on and on. This is my opinion and my personal review of The Kingdom.