MovieChat Forums > Three Kings (1999) Discussion > Can We Finally Admit This Is a Bad Movie...

Can We Finally Admit This Is a Bad Movie?

posted 17 years ago by Fenrir-5
35 replies | jump to latest

Besides the fact that the plot really points out the self-hating conundrum that is liberal America - if you don't help the Iraqi minorities you're bad, if you do help them you're bad - this movie is just so poorly executed on so many levels. The leaping from gigantic fireballs. The C4 on the football. Jumping out of the car and not getting killed by the mine. The pretentious camera trickery with the pointless blurry scenes and 'looking up at the fast-moving sky' nonsense.

Even the characters and speeches are ridiculous. The Iraqi lecturing us on how America made Michael Jackson turn himself white (?), Nora Dunn's overacting, the standard, ignorant Hollywood portrayal of a redneck, and on and on.

Why did we pretend this movie was any good, anyway?

[–] ASturge-1 17 years ago

Oh god, you're pathetic.

This film is good.
But you're not worth the effort explaining why.

"this movie is just so poorly executed on so many levels. The leaping from gigantic fireballs. The C4 on the football. Jumping out of the car and not getting killed by the mine. The pretentious camera trickery with the pointless blurry scenes and 'looking up at the fast-moving sky' nonsense. "

Congratulations on saying pretty much *beep* all.

[–] disco_jonny 17 years ago

Amen to that

Megatron must be stopped...no matter the cost.

[–] filtersweep 17 years ago

I guess there is no accounting for taste. I find the movie to be without focus--- it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. Aside from that, it is full of clichés. It is blatantly manipulative in the absence of real character development. I could go on and on--- but in my OPINION, it is meant to be digested as entertainment, so I don't feel compelled to hold it to high standards. Calling it the "best" movie in years is absurd.

[–] bocalu99 17 years ago

ahahaha to original poster- im just wondering what you think is a good movie...i too agree that it is futile to try to explain to you why this movie is one of the best in recent years...aesthetically pleasing and meaningful stylistic choices, hilarious political and social satire (all historically accurate by the way), and a general commentary on the absurdity and hypocrisy of modern warfare- especially the first Gulf War. It's not liberal America- any reasonable person knows that whole conflict was (and still is) a disgrace.

[–] Fenrir-5 17 years ago

It is funny that you claim 'any reasonable person' would agree with your idiotic position, since the vast majority do not. In fact the primary complaint after the first Gulf War was that we didn't do enough in Iraq.

But I am curious, in a sort of clinical way, as to the root of your delusion. What, exactly, do you find disgraceful about the first Gulf War? The fact that our ally was invaded and we went to their aid?

There is nothing disgraceful in particular about the Gulf War, which is the reason this movie is so ineffective. There was no statement to be made. Or did you not notice that all the characters do is engage in the pointless empty-questioning of 'why are we here' and 'what are we doing'. Do you not find it revealing that these are the same questions hysterical people babble to themselves?

You act as if being ideologically opposed to war is intrinsically a good thing. It's not. It's just contrarian and naive.

[–] sync_303 17 years ago

this is some of the weakest trolling on the internet fenrir.

you'll have to try harder.

[–] DasBuch99 17 years ago

I agree with the OP...this movie was still a Hollywood exploit of the Gulf War.

[–] liutenantsalt 16 years ago

>>You act as if being ideologically opposed to war is intrinsically a good thing. It's not. It's just contrarian and naive.
<<

You mean as opposed to deluding yourself that everything is some liberal-controlled conspiracy?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Emanuel_5 12 years ago

by Fenrir-5 (Wed Feb 27 2008 01:24:30)
Ignore this User | Report Abuse
UPDATED Wed Feb 27 2008 01:25:26
Besides the fact that the plot really points out the self-hating conundrum that is liberal America - if you don't help the Iraqi minorities you're bad, if you do help them you're bad - this movie is just so poorly executed on so many levels. The leaping from gigantic fireballs. The C4 on the football. Jumping out of the car and not getting killed by the mine. The pretentious camera trickery with the pointless blurry scenes and 'looking up at the fast-moving sky' nonsense.

Even the characters and speeches are ridiculous. The Iraqi lecturing us on how America made Michael Jackson turn himself white (?), Nora Dunn's overacting, the standard, ignorant Hollywood portrayal of a redneck, and on and on.

Why did we pretend this movie was any good, anyway?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RE: Most movies are either made to send a message or entertain. Very few do both well. You deconstruct this film as if you are in a classroom without answering the basic question: did it entertain you? If not, shut the F--- Up and leave the room! As for your response, it seems pretty ideological and simplistic. No one is accursing you of holding "bad" views. I think what the film was pointing out i was the conflict american soldiers faced- their job was to get rid of Sadam and leave, yet they saw it was neccessary to also train Iraquis to defend themselves. The 3 stars illustrated real soldier's dissalusionment over defending and leaving iraquis to fight alone without proper training.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

To answer your question above: I agree with your assessment that the primary complaint about the first Iraq war was our quick withdrawel. The disgrace wasn't the war itself as much as it was the pulling out without training the either country's freedom-seeking citizens. Not to get off topic of the film but another disgracefull aspect of the war was it's partial intent: to get some form of control over oil. Emty questioning?? Every question is empty…..that's why its a question. If you knew the answer then it wouldn't be empty, it'd be full….and pointless to ask. LoL.

[–] enzo_Q 11 years ago

Fenrir-5: "There is nothing disgraceful in particular about the Gulf War"

this is the most idiotic statement ever. I have iraqi friends who lived through two of your wars. ask them.

this movie is brilliant.

[–] moose101 17 years ago

the main historical event this movie highlights is the betrayal of the iraqi's in the south (and north) by the coalition forces and the US in particular. Bush senior and the CIA encouraged them to rise up against saddam's weakened army. it was implied that help would be forthcoming if they just showed they were ready to fight. so they started a rebellion, but then the US changed its mind. the iraqi army was allowed to fly helicopters in the north and south which facilitated the slaughter of thousands of innocent people.
so its not about helping or not helping. its about saying ure going to help but then changing ure mind and not helping, with tragic consequences.

but i know ure point was to say u didnt enjoy the movie. thats ure opinion. but talking about "self-hating liberal america" suggests that u believe the US government or military has never done anything wrong, which is entirely ignorant if u look at history. ure not any less patriotic if u admit that a policy is or was wrong.

[–] krakhouse 16 years ago

moose101, nicely said.

The way I see it, is that we weren't retreating, we were just attacking in a new direction.

[–] DrFriedGold 16 years ago

Is it so hard to write *you're*?

[–] safaribacardi 16 years ago

You're right about the cliches, OP. I'm gettin' sick of seein' leaders of anti-Saddam rebellion movements with Bowling Green educations and business experience as cafe owners. I mean, think outside the box and make them helpless and smelly.

[–] liz-322 16 years ago

I must say, I feel this movie is sadly underrated and has never gotten the credit it deserves. I think it was marketed wrong- didn't they kind of make it look like a comedy in the previews?

[–] ASturge-1 16 years ago

Hey Fenfir, are you a redneck?
Going to be voting for John Mccain this November?
Going to go lynch some minorities?
I bet you like country and western music, and *beep* your cousin.

[–] liutenantsalt 16 years ago

>> the standard, ignorant Hollywood portrayal of a redneck, and on and on. <<

Well gosh, take a wild guess as to why Billy-Bob here didn't like the movie.

[–] king_of_bob 16 years ago

What are you talking about, Iraqi minorities? They're Iraqi. They aren't a minority in their own country.

This post gets an Epic Fail. It's a shame too, I like your screen name.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] edwardboyko 16 years ago

i thought it was decent. little too flashy for my taste

[–] grossefidelityanything 16 years ago

god I hate you fenrir.

"My 1 wish more than peace, wealth, or family is to have a dead on christopher walken impression"

[–] desifir667 16 years ago

great