DVD Review: The Kingdom

There's something quite charming about Hollywood terrorist films. They have such naïve storylines that they could happily sit next to a North Korean propaganda film in terms of believability.

The Kingdom is no exception, and has all you would expect from a big-budget anti-terror film; guns, explosions, a crack team of FBI agents who bend the rules to get what they want, and Jennifer Garner running around in a tight army top.

The film starts with bomb attacks in Western compounds in Saudi Arabia, and the local police have trouble trying to work out what happened. But don't worry, help is at hand when a small FBI team led by Jamie Foxx are sent there to obviously come to the bottom of the problem.

In the meantime a group of Islamic baddies decide that they need to kill the Americans, but the A-list American actors manage to find out where their base is and attack them. In all the mayhem, Jennifer Garner's maternal instincts kick into action and she gets all broody when seeing some Arab children - so needless to say they save the day.  

The Kingdom is pretty much like every war film made in Hollywood, except with a few more subtle camera shots and better lighting.  

The Kingdom tries to address several subjects; to get Westerners to understand that Muslims can be nice guys too, that there are homegrown terrorists in Saudi and that the Saudis are pretty crap at stopping them… none are particularly jaw-dropping conclusions.

It's pretty jingoistic and xenophobic stuff but if we haven't already killed the storyline for you The Kingdom is out on December 26 on DVD, if you're wondering what to do with those HMV vouchers your Nan got you for Christmas.  

[story by Paul McLoughlin]