I haven’t written a movie review in more than a decade. I think the last one I did was for the school paper. But I got to see a sneak preview for the movie “The Kingdom” tonight. And since it doesn’t open until the end of September, and there aren’t really any other reviews out there, I thought it would be fun to add mine.

The Kingdom is a must-see. The action is pulse-pounding. The jokes hit almost perfectly. The drama is smart, and not forced. The factual context for the movie appears to be pretty on point.

On vacation last week, I read the book Through Our Enemies Eyes, an analysis of bin laden and terrorism in general written by the former head of the CIA’s bin laden unit. An amazing, eye-opening book. Republican or Democrat, the book shatters the perceptions you (likely) held on the “War on Terror” and the Middle East. The book is (also) a must read. Given this immersion into the Middle East, and the analysis of jihad and terror, the movie likely resonated all the more.

Since I’m on a Mid-East kick right now anyway (partially research for my book), I’m probably also delighted that more movies are coming out that will make people wonder a little more about what’s going on over there. I’m shocked every day at how little people know and understand about the region, our involvement, and where it seems to going. Well, I guess I shouldn’t be shocked. Every time I read something new, I’m shocked at how little I knew before. In the clip I posted yesterday with Obama in it, I think he had it right. The political dialogue we’re exposed to in this country are typically around inane soundbites and petty issues. Serious foreign policy and domestic policy nuance hardly gets discussed. It’s not understood. And that’s pretty crazy considering we have to live with the consequences…

Given that this is devolving into a rant, I’m going to end the post and if I can post a proper movie review later, I will. Maybe this is why I haven’t written a movie review in over a decade!