Critic Reviews
Three Kings (1999) Rank 3 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (216) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Reviews by Score:
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
San Francisco Examiner (Wesley Morris)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
This film is like no other "war film" that I have ever seen. Sure, it does actually take place after the war, and isn't necessarily based on action or heavy machine gun shootouts, but you can still consider it a war movie considering the goings-on in ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
Clooney, Cube, Wahlberg, and Jonze all do an adequate job with their roles, surprisingly, as does Cliff Curtis as Amir Abdulah, the leader of the rebels. Dunn also shows depth as the reporter. The cinema by Newton Thomas Sigel is perhaps the most ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
A quartet of American soldiers in the waning days of the Gulf War find a map that leads to a massive stash of Kuwaiti gold held by Saddam Hussein's forces. Getting the gold proves a cake walk, but Iraqi citizens who counted on the Americans to help in the ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Few are the ways that remain to behave as an original outlaw or antihero in American movies these days. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Netflix (James Rocchi)
Gulf War action-drama with heart, brains and guts falls just short of greatness. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Netflix (James Rocchi)
Lybarger Links (Dan Lybarger)
Three Kings is the rarest sort of action movie. It offers the expected adrenaline jolt, but it also has a surprising amount of heart and intelligence. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Lybarger Links (Dan Lybarger)
Movie Gurus (John Ulmer)
A smart, funny and satirical look at the Gulf War. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Movie Gurus (John Ulmer)
Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Projectionist (Sean Caszatt)
Film Threat (--)
Empire Magazine (--)
Wolfpack Productions (Sujit 'Chief' Chawla)
Movies for Guys
filmcritic.com crowns Three Kings
Black DVD Online
THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW
Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
DVD Review e-zine
MovieFreak.com (Dennis Landmann)
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
It makes for a cool-looking film, but what's the point of it all? In the end, the four soldiers (George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze) have their plans diverted. Altruism comes in to play, and they find they are bound by "soldier's ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
I’d like to see Three Kings again to catch any of the messages that I might have missed, and to see if it has any more power after a second viewing. I’d like to think it was a modern masterpiece, but for now, I’m withholding my judgment. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
As of yet, the only other theatrical motion picture dealing with the Gulf War has been Edward Zwick's "Courage Under Fire", from 1996. So it's amazing, when you think about it, that Russell has so soon found the courage to make a bizarre comedic ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
"Three Kings" tells the story of three soldiers who, after the Gulf War has ended, decide to steal a cache of gold which Saddam Hussein as stolen from Kuwait. George Clooney, still trying to find a starring vehicle to fulfill his leading man potential ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Cinematter (Matt Williams)
It's been eight years since the Gulf War, and so far (aside from a few throwaway gimmicks in the Hot Shots series) only one film, Courage Under Fire, has told a Gulf War story. Courage Under Fire now has company: the new comedy-action-drama-war-heist ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Cinematter (Matt Williams)
Scott Renshaw
There's more than a little irony to the fact that THREE KINGS is just as visually striking as the Gulf War, and nearly as shaky in its substance. The story focuses on a quartet of U.S. Army soldiers eyeing a personal windfall as the war reaches its ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Scott Renshaw
Palo Alto Weekly (Susan Tavernetti)
Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Greg's Previews at Yahoo! Movies (Greg Dean Schmitz)
SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Courage Under Fire was the first American movie about the Gulf War. Since then, there haven't been many others. David O. Russell's Three Kings becomes one of only a few mainstream efforts to venture into this underpopulated cinematic territory. Just as th ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
The Persian Gulf War was a new kind of war -- fought on television, played out in primetime -- one in which American troops, relatively speaking, barely got their hands dirty, letting their high-tech toys do the work for them. Two Hollywood movies have ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Globe and Mail (--)
UTK Daily Beacon (Christina Thompson)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
I am unsure whether Three Kings has much box office potential. Despite having several recognizable names on the marquee, the subject matter may not generate enough interest. The film can be seen on more than one level. For those who ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Dustin Putman
Set immediately following the end of the Gulf War in March 1991, when the infantry is planning to return home to their families, Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), on the eve of retiring from the military, discovers a document that points the way to a ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Dustin Putman
Akiva Gottlieb
"Three Kings" is not really a war movie. It begins just as the Persian Gulf War has come to an end, and the U.S. army is taking their final prisoners of war. As we learn through title cards which appear on the screen, Archie Gates (George Clooney) is a ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Akiva Gottlieb
filethirteen.com
Movies 101 (Robert Glatzer)
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Reviews on the Side (Steven Lekowicz)
kids-in-mind
Four Gulf War soldiers find a map showing where Saddam Hussein may have hid millions of dollars in gold bullion stolen from Kuwait, and off they go on a treasure hunt. With George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, Nora Dunn, Cliff Curtis and ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at kids-in-mind
The Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
3 Black Chicks ("The Diva")
Movie-Vault.com (Dan Smith)
Penrith Netcom Movie Reviews
Salon (Jeff Stark)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
allesfilm.com (Balazs Barnucz)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
MovieMaze (Thomas Straßer)
Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews (Harry Knowles)
AmateurHomeTheater.com
Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Salon (Andrew O'Hehir)
Bursting with energy and style it can barely contain (and sometimes can't), David O. Russell's Desert Storm caper flick "Three Kings" is one of the most exciting Hollywood action films in years, and the best Vietnam movie since "Apocalypse Now." Sure, ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Salon (Andrew O'Hehir)
Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
I recommend the film for its unusual, high-rev style and its often bizarre sense of humor. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Scott Renshaw's Screening Room (Scott Renshaw)
Engages and enlightens. ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Scott Renshaw's Screening Room (Scott Renshaw)
txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
World Socialist Web Site
The Squiz: Cine Philes ("Guido Mezzabotta")
Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
THREE KINGS has a fabulous first hour. Daffy, daring, and as black as any of the great war satires. The second hour starts sucking pretty quickly, due to political posturing, a drastic reduction in momentum, and an excess of screen time for a grating ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
I have to admit that I didn't really want to watch this film. Despite the fact that everyone and his brother put it on their top ten lists, I didn't have any desire. I don't like George Clooney (let me correct that; I didn't like him). I didn't care for ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
culturevulture.net (Les Wright)
Ever since the days popular German novelist Karl May placed his Old West characters Chief Winnetou and Old Shatterhand in situations ranging from the antebellum South to the opening of the Cherokee Strip, the American western has held a very special ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at culturevulture.net (Les Wright)
eFilmCritic
It has a distinctive look and feel, an atmosphere of burnout and chaos; it launches at a high energy level and generally stays there. The buzz, however, wears off fast. As with Natural Born Killers, the roughhouse style leaves an afterimage, but the ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at eFilmCritic
LowComDom Online Film Reviews
DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
Reel.com DVD review (Pam Grady)
In Film Australia
The New York Times - Family Movie Guide (Peter M. Nichols)
Tucson Weekly (James DiGiovanna)
Black Flix (Laurence Washington)
Movie Geek Central
Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Harvey's Movie Review (Harvey O'Brien)
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
Movie ram-blings (Ram Samudrala)
MovieJuice! Satirical Review of "Three Kings"
Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
Kino (Alessandro Bencivenni)
culturevulture.net, Choices for the Cognoscenti
In the closing days and immediate aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, George Bush made a monumental humanitarian error by calling on the Iraqi people to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Interpreting Bush’s insistent and repeated calls as a promise of aid, tens ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at culturevulture.net, Choices for the Cognoscenti
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
eye WEEKLY (Gemma Files)
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Houston Community Newspapers (Gary Brown)
The Text This Week Movie Concordance
DVD Verdict (Nicholas Sylvain)
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
Philadelphia City Paper (Cindy Fuchs)
Blunt Review with Emily Blunt
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Political Film Society
Anchorage Press (Brenda Sokolowski)
The Boston Phoenix
not coming to a theater near you (Rumsey Taylor)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Phantom Tollbooth
Steve Baker: Barfly Magazine
Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
While rounding up Iraqi prisoners after the cease fire during the Gulf War some GI's find a treasure map sticking out of an Iraqi soldier's butt. Under the leadership of Special Forces Captain Archie Gates they embark on a simple plan (remember last ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
The Filmsnobs (Stephen Himes)
As of Thursday, March 20, 2003, we are. The United States' second foray into Iraq has begun, ostensibly to stabilize a war-torn Middle East and to liberate the Iraqi people. Diplomacy has run its course; nations that had been united behind American ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at The Filmsnobs (Stephen Himes)
Steve Rhodes
Set on a day just after the end of the Gulf War, the plot is the ageold one about gold and greed. During the endofwar festivities among the jubilant American troops, some of them are still on the job rounding up the captives. One of the prisoners has a ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Steve Rhodes
Reviews by John (John Haywood)
Frankie Paiva
But when they break into a bunker where the gold is, their consciences catch up with them. Iraqi troops come in and slaughter most of the people, they also begin to attack the Americans. The group decides to help all of the people they can, get then out ...read the complete Three Kings movie review at Frankie Paiva
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