"The Kingdom" (2007)

Starring Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. Directed by Peter Berg. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan.

This movie was really good. I actually enjoyed it quite nicely. It was the second of two movies I watched today, but I wanted my first review to be of a movie I LIKED.

"The Kingdom" is about four FBI agents who travel to Saudi Arabia to investigate a violent terrorist attack against a US stronghold. They are forced to work within the strict rules the Saudis place on them and are "babysat" constantly by two Saudi policemen.

First off, I will admit that there are parts where one must suspend belief just a little bit to accept what is happening. NOTHING big, but a few procedural things, I suppose. But that is the way with any action/drama movie.

The action was awesome. The story was well-written. The cinematography was brilliant and the sound-editing was excellent. If you're going for a well-rounded action/drama/thriller, this is a good one to check into.

The picture it paints, not only of a few specific lives in Saudi Arabia but of a developing friendship between different people, is a beautiful one. On one side it shows the Saudi policeman forced to look after four Americans in an area and a time where they wear a target on their backs wherever they go. The other side shows the FBI agents, frustrated with the situation and anxious to complete the investigation and catch those who did it.

This movie was honestly the first since Caleb and I watched "Match Point" (2005 - Woody Allen) together that I had a really great feeling afterward... the feeling that I DIDN'T just waste two hours of my life.

My verdict: this movie gets my thumb up. I'd watch it again tomorrow.