new dvd release of Three Kings
08-16-04, 11:37 AM
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new dvd release of Three Kings
Per this morninng's NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/movies/16warn.html
Will include new documentary
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/movies/16warn.html
Will include new documentary
08-16-04, 12:02 PM
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An underrated film (even if it is a takeoff of Kelly's Heroes), and one of the first times that I began to respect George Clooney. Held off on this relatively cheap disc a couple of times, and now I know why!
Anybody care to repost the article (since you need to create an account)?
Anybody care to repost the article (since you need to create an account)?
08-16-04, 12:10 PM
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'Three Kings' Director Plans Documentary on Iraq War
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: August 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 - Joining in Hollywood's latest penchant for political documentaries, the filmmaker David O. Russell is completing a documentary about the Iraqi war that is to be shown ahead of his 1999 movie "Three Kings" during a theatrical rerelease planned for the fall.
Warner Brothers is financing the $180,000 project, which involves interviewing Iraqi refugees who acted as extras in "Three Kings," the caper about the 1991 Persian Gulf War (starring George Clooney), and American veterans of the current war in Iraq.
"It will look at both sides of the war, people who feel good about the war, who believe in the mission, people who feel bad," said Mr. Russell, speaking at the Santa Monica editing room where editors are working in 24-hour shifts to complete the film before the November election.
The rerelease of "Three Kings'' is planned as part of a promotion for a new DVD of the film, which will also include a longer version of the documentary. Juan Carlos Zaldivar and Tricia Regan are co-directors of it with Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell said the documentary had a political purpose, but only in the sense of trying to inform people about a major electoral issue. "I thought I could perhaps make a difference before the election, let people see the situation, how Iraqis wanted to get rid of Saddam, but also show what war does to people," he said. "When I talk to veterans, they have a chance to cry. It's traumatic; it tears you up to see people shot, and then you're supposed to come home and just blend back into the community? The Army doesn't want to acknowledge the human cost of the war machine."
Mr. Russell said he had been pushing Warner Brothers to rerelease "Three Kings," which had only moderate success at the box office in 1999, but which has received belated acclaim for its prescient depiction of the moral dilemmas of the war in Iraq.
"People would keep saying to me, ' "Three Kings" is so timely,' so I thought it would be interesting to re-release it, and to check in with the people who pertained to the movie literally, or in some relative way," he said.
The movie, a dark comedy also starring Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube, is about a group of soldiers who sneak off at the end of the 1991 gulf war to find gold bullion hidden by Saddam Hussein. Along the way they encounter Shiite rebels and refugees fleeing Mr. Hussein's wrath, whom they have strict orders to ignore. Eventually the soldiers abandon their quest for the gold to help the refugees escape the country.
The fictional story turned out to have many parallels and connections to the current conflict, even the theft. The filmmakers have tracked down and interviewed soldiers who were caught trying to steal millions of dollars from a Baath Party cache of some $700 million in United States bills found in Baghdad last spring.
One of the soldiers accused of the theft was nicknamed "Clooney" by his friends. In the documentary interview, former Sgt. Matt Novak emotionally described the culture of greed and confiscation that he said characterized the entire present war. Mr. Novak, who was drummed out of the Army, has also told his story in The Los Angeles Times.
He said he was commonly asked to take cars, DVD and video players, computers and other valuables from Iraqi civilians for military use. He described finding warehouses filled with expensive watches or clothing much like what Mr. Russell depicted in "Three Kings" but also rooms filled with marijuana and cocaine.
Mr. Russell said that he opposed the current war, but that some part of him wanted to believe the larger effort of establishing democracy there could be achieved.
"Twenty percent of me takes it seriously and thinks this might possibly be what they need," he said, referring to Iraqis. "In some ways it's too soon to tell. We need 50 years to see."
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: August 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 - Joining in Hollywood's latest penchant for political documentaries, the filmmaker David O. Russell is completing a documentary about the Iraqi war that is to be shown ahead of his 1999 movie "Three Kings" during a theatrical rerelease planned for the fall.
Warner Brothers is financing the $180,000 project, which involves interviewing Iraqi refugees who acted as extras in "Three Kings," the caper about the 1991 Persian Gulf War (starring George Clooney), and American veterans of the current war in Iraq.
"It will look at both sides of the war, people who feel good about the war, who believe in the mission, people who feel bad," said Mr. Russell, speaking at the Santa Monica editing room where editors are working in 24-hour shifts to complete the film before the November election.
The rerelease of "Three Kings'' is planned as part of a promotion for a new DVD of the film, which will also include a longer version of the documentary. Juan Carlos Zaldivar and Tricia Regan are co-directors of it with Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell said the documentary had a political purpose, but only in the sense of trying to inform people about a major electoral issue. "I thought I could perhaps make a difference before the election, let people see the situation, how Iraqis wanted to get rid of Saddam, but also show what war does to people," he said. "When I talk to veterans, they have a chance to cry. It's traumatic; it tears you up to see people shot, and then you're supposed to come home and just blend back into the community? The Army doesn't want to acknowledge the human cost of the war machine."
Mr. Russell said he had been pushing Warner Brothers to rerelease "Three Kings," which had only moderate success at the box office in 1999, but which has received belated acclaim for its prescient depiction of the moral dilemmas of the war in Iraq.
"People would keep saying to me, ' "Three Kings" is so timely,' so I thought it would be interesting to re-release it, and to check in with the people who pertained to the movie literally, or in some relative way," he said.
The movie, a dark comedy also starring Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube, is about a group of soldiers who sneak off at the end of the 1991 gulf war to find gold bullion hidden by Saddam Hussein. Along the way they encounter Shiite rebels and refugees fleeing Mr. Hussein's wrath, whom they have strict orders to ignore. Eventually the soldiers abandon their quest for the gold to help the refugees escape the country.
The fictional story turned out to have many parallels and connections to the current conflict, even the theft. The filmmakers have tracked down and interviewed soldiers who were caught trying to steal millions of dollars from a Baath Party cache of some $700 million in United States bills found in Baghdad last spring.
One of the soldiers accused of the theft was nicknamed "Clooney" by his friends. In the documentary interview, former Sgt. Matt Novak emotionally described the culture of greed and confiscation that he said characterized the entire present war. Mr. Novak, who was drummed out of the Army, has also told his story in The Los Angeles Times.
He said he was commonly asked to take cars, DVD and video players, computers and other valuables from Iraqi civilians for military use. He described finding warehouses filled with expensive watches or clothing much like what Mr. Russell depicted in "Three Kings" but also rooms filled with marijuana and cocaine.
Mr. Russell said that he opposed the current war, but that some part of him wanted to believe the larger effort of establishing democracy there could be achieved.
"Twenty percent of me takes it seriously and thinks this might possibly be what they need," he said, referring to Iraqis. "In some ways it's too soon to tell. We need 50 years to see."
08-16-04, 12:11 PM
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I might consider double dipping on this one if the extra features are worthwhile (and to get rid of the snapper). Could you post that article though for those of us who aren't registered to read it?
edit: that was quick service for that article
edit: that was quick service for that article
Last edited by kingtopher; 08-16-04 at 12:13 PM.
08-16-04, 12:11 PM
#5
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Originally posted by Abob Teff
Anybody care to repost the article (since you need to create an account)?
Anybody care to repost the article (since you need to create an account)?
):
'Three Kings' Director Plans Documentary on Iraq War
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: August 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 - Joining in Hollywood's latest penchant for political documentaries, the filmmaker David O. Russell is completing a documentary about the Iraqi war that is to be shown ahead of his 1999 movie "Three Kings" during a theatrical rerelease planned for the fall.
Warner Brothers is financing the $180,000 project, which involves interviewing Iraqi refugees who acted as extras in "Three Kings," the caper about the 1991 Persian Gulf War (starring George Clooney), and American veterans of the current war in Iraq.
"It will look at both sides of the war, people who feel good about the war, who believe in the mission, people who feel bad," said Mr. Russell, speaking at the Santa Monica editing room where editors are working in 24-hour shifts to complete the film before the November election.
Advertisement
The rerelease of "Three Kings'' is planned as part of a promotion for a new DVD of the film, which will also include a longer version of the documentary. Juan Carlos Zaldivar and Tricia Regan are co-directors of it with Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell said the documentary had a political purpose, but only in the sense of trying to inform people about a major electoral issue. "I thought I could perhaps make a difference before the election, let people see the situation, how Iraqis wanted to get rid of Saddam, but also show what war does to people," he said. "When I talk to veterans, they have a chance to cry. It's traumatic; it tears you up to see people shot, and then you're supposed to come home and just blend back into the community? The Army doesn't want to acknowledge the human cost of the war machine."
Mr. Russell said he had been pushing Warner Brothers to rerelease "Three Kings," which had only moderate success at the box office in 1999, but which has received belated acclaim for its prescient depiction of the moral dilemmas of the war in Iraq.
"People would keep saying to me, ' "Three Kings" is so timely,' so I thought it would be interesting to re-release it, and to check in with the people who pertained to the movie literally, or in some relative way," he said.
The movie, a dark comedy also starring Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube, is about a group of soldiers who sneak off at the end of the 1991 gulf war to find gold bullion hidden by Saddam Hussein. Along the way they encounter Shiite rebels and refugees fleeing Mr. Hussein's wrath, whom they have strict orders to ignore. Eventually the soldiers abandon their quest for the gold to help the refugees escape the country.
The fictional story turned out to have many parallels and connections to the current conflict, even the theft. The filmmakers have tracked down and interviewed soldiers who were caught trying to steal millions of dollars from a Baath Party cache of some $700 million in United States bills found in Baghdad last spring.
One of the soldiers accused of the theft was nicknamed "Clooney" by his friends. In the documentary interview, former Sgt. Matt Novak emotionally described the culture of greed and confiscation that he said characterized the entire present war. Mr. Novak, who was drummed out of the Army, has also told his story in The Los Angeles Times.
He said he was commonly asked to take cars, DVD and video players, computers and other valuables from Iraqi civilians for military use. He described finding warehouses filled with expensive watches or clothing much like what Mr. Russell depicted in "Three Kings" but also rooms filled with marijuana and cocaine.
Mr. Russell said that he opposed the current war, but that some part of him wanted to believe the larger effort of establishing democracy there could be achieved.
"Twenty percent of me takes it seriously and thinks this might possibly be what they need," he said, referring to Iraqis. "In some ways it's too soon to tell. We need 50 years to see."
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: August 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 - Joining in Hollywood's latest penchant for political documentaries, the filmmaker David O. Russell is completing a documentary about the Iraqi war that is to be shown ahead of his 1999 movie "Three Kings" during a theatrical rerelease planned for the fall.
Warner Brothers is financing the $180,000 project, which involves interviewing Iraqi refugees who acted as extras in "Three Kings," the caper about the 1991 Persian Gulf War (starring George Clooney), and American veterans of the current war in Iraq.
"It will look at both sides of the war, people who feel good about the war, who believe in the mission, people who feel bad," said Mr. Russell, speaking at the Santa Monica editing room where editors are working in 24-hour shifts to complete the film before the November election.
Advertisement
The rerelease of "Three Kings'' is planned as part of a promotion for a new DVD of the film, which will also include a longer version of the documentary. Juan Carlos Zaldivar and Tricia Regan are co-directors of it with Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell said the documentary had a political purpose, but only in the sense of trying to inform people about a major electoral issue. "I thought I could perhaps make a difference before the election, let people see the situation, how Iraqis wanted to get rid of Saddam, but also show what war does to people," he said. "When I talk to veterans, they have a chance to cry. It's traumatic; it tears you up to see people shot, and then you're supposed to come home and just blend back into the community? The Army doesn't want to acknowledge the human cost of the war machine."
Mr. Russell said he had been pushing Warner Brothers to rerelease "Three Kings," which had only moderate success at the box office in 1999, but which has received belated acclaim for its prescient depiction of the moral dilemmas of the war in Iraq.
"People would keep saying to me, ' "Three Kings" is so timely,' so I thought it would be interesting to re-release it, and to check in with the people who pertained to the movie literally, or in some relative way," he said.
The movie, a dark comedy also starring Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube, is about a group of soldiers who sneak off at the end of the 1991 gulf war to find gold bullion hidden by Saddam Hussein. Along the way they encounter Shiite rebels and refugees fleeing Mr. Hussein's wrath, whom they have strict orders to ignore. Eventually the soldiers abandon their quest for the gold to help the refugees escape the country.
The fictional story turned out to have many parallels and connections to the current conflict, even the theft. The filmmakers have tracked down and interviewed soldiers who were caught trying to steal millions of dollars from a Baath Party cache of some $700 million in United States bills found in Baghdad last spring.
One of the soldiers accused of the theft was nicknamed "Clooney" by his friends. In the documentary interview, former Sgt. Matt Novak emotionally described the culture of greed and confiscation that he said characterized the entire present war. Mr. Novak, who was drummed out of the Army, has also told his story in The Los Angeles Times.
He said he was commonly asked to take cars, DVD and video players, computers and other valuables from Iraqi civilians for military use. He described finding warehouses filled with expensive watches or clothing much like what Mr. Russell depicted in "Three Kings" but also rooms filled with marijuana and cocaine.
Mr. Russell said that he opposed the current war, but that some part of him wanted to believe the larger effort of establishing democracy there could be achieved.
"Twenty percent of me takes it seriously and thinks this might possibly be what they need," he said, referring to Iraqis. "In some ways it's too soon to tell. We need 50 years to see."
08-16-04, 12:17 PM
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After reading about that documentary, I'm sold. Sounds great, especially if David O. Russell is doing it. I loved this movie when it was in theaters (and saw it twice there, which is a rarity for me) and have enjoyed it many times on DVD as well, but I'd be more than happy to upgrade when it is rereleased.
08-16-04, 02:25 PM
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Wow. This was my first DVD, and for about a week the only one I had. I listened to all the commentary and watched it about a million times. I would double dip strictly out of nostalgia!
08-16-04, 02:26 PM
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Another great bonus would be the footage Russell shot of going to the White House theater for a screening of the movie. I recall seeing this from the documentary "All the President's Movies" from last summer on Bravo. Anybody remember this?
I seem to recall there was a great bit showing Clinton telling Russell about some hot chick he had just met and then we hear Russell's disgust of how Clinton had just escaped impeachment over issues relating to keeping it in his pants and he still hadn't learned his lesson. Very funny.
I seem to recall there was a great bit showing Clinton telling Russell about some hot chick he had just met and then we hear Russell's disgust of how Clinton had just escaped impeachment over issues relating to keeping it in his pants and he still hadn't learned his lesson. Very funny.
08-16-04, 02:59 PM
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Originally posted by auntiewinnie
Another great bonus would be the footage Russell shot of going to the White House theater for a screening of the movie. I recall seeing this from the documentary "All the President's Movies" from last summer on Bravo. Anybody remember this?
I seem to recall there was a great bit showing Clinton telling Russell about some hot chick he had just met and then we hear Russell's disgust of how Clinton had just escaped impeachment over issues relating to keeping it in his pants and he still hadn't learned his lesson. Very funny.
Another great bonus would be the footage Russell shot of going to the White House theater for a screening of the movie. I recall seeing this from the documentary "All the President's Movies" from last summer on Bravo. Anybody remember this?
I seem to recall there was a great bit showing Clinton telling Russell about some hot chick he had just met and then we hear Russell's disgust of how Clinton had just escaped impeachment over issues relating to keeping it in his pants and he still hadn't learned his lesson. Very funny.
Anyway, I blindly pre-ordered the first release and was not disappointed. Very good film, hard to categorize or pidgeonhole, which is part of it's strength. The first DVD release had some decent extras; not sure if I'll double dip on this one.
08-16-04, 03:02 PM
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Liked the movie but I'm really getting sick of the double-dips Think I'm going to start netflixing them instead since it's mostly changes in special features which I usually only watch once anyway.
Think I'm going to start netflixing them instead since it's mostly changes in special features which I usually only watch once anyway.
08-16-04, 03:24 PM
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Originally posted by Kromax
Wow. This was my first DVD, and for about a week the only one I had. I listened to all the commentary and watched it about a million times. I would double dip strictly out of nostalgia!
Wow. This was my first DVD, and for about a week the only one I had. I listened to all the commentary and watched it about a million times. I would double dip strictly out of nostalgia!
08-16-04, 06:29 PM
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I'll definitely be double-dipping this. The documentary on the current war sounds thoughtful and even-handed, and I'd love to see more material pertaining to the first war (not to mention the movie).
08-16-04, 06:43 PM
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This is what gets me about George Clooney. Here we had him in a film depicting the plight of the Iraqi Shiite refugees, but now that we went in to finish the job that this movie depicts the war in which we didn't...George Clooney is against it. Doesn't make sense. It's like he didn't learn a damn thing while filming it. And the fact they used real Iraqi refugees is even more confusing into why Clooney was against the current war.
08-16-04, 07:22 PM
#20
Unfortunately, George "without-a"-Clooney is an actor. Nothing more. And much less.
08-16-04, 08:04 PM
#21
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Originally posted by Mike Lowrey
This is what gets me about George Clooney. Here we had him in a film depicting the plight of the Iraqi Shiite refugees, but now that we went in to finish the job that this movie depicts the war in which we didn't...George Clooney is against it. Doesn't make sense. It's like he didn't learn a damn thing while filming it. And the fact they used real Iraqi refugees is even more confusing into why Clooney was against the current war.
This is what gets me about George Clooney. Here we had him in a film depicting the plight of the Iraqi Shiite refugees, but now that we went in to finish the job that this movie depicts the war in which we didn't...George Clooney is against it. Doesn't make sense. It's like he didn't learn a damn thing while filming it. And the fact they used real Iraqi refugees is even more confusing into why Clooney was against the current war.
08-16-04, 10:19 PM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
I rented this long ago and have nearly picked it up about a million times. I'll pick this one up.
08-17-04, 02:07 PM
#24
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Originally posted by scott1598
will there be a new transfer or added DTS? (not sure if the original has it or not)
will there be a new transfer or added DTS? (not sure if the original has it or not)
08-17-04, 02:24 PM
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Originally posted by Mike Lowrey
This is what gets me about George Clooney. Here we had him in a film depicting the plight of the Iraqi Shiite refugees, but now that we went in to finish the job that this movie depicts the war in which we didn't...George Clooney is against it. Doesn't make sense.
This is what gets me about George Clooney. Here we had him in a film depicting the plight of the Iraqi Shiite refugees, but now that we went in to finish the job that this movie depicts the war in which we didn't...George Clooney is against it. Doesn't make sense.