We went to the nearby mall yesterday to see The Kingdom. Where better than so close to the Kingdom (aka Saudi Arabia) to see the movie that is getting such heavy promotion on the tube. Going to the movies on Eid Al Fitr weekend, I didn’t know what to expect for crowds. For the 4 p.m. early showing there were very few people in the ticket line. Even so, the line was somewhat “flat” (most lines in the region have more width than depth) and as usual served in a leisurely manner. Tickets were 30 AED each ($8.40), about what I’d expect to pay in a US metro area. All seats are assigned and when you buy your ticket you also pick your seat from a chart like just like buying a theater ticket for a play or concert.
The theater has 21 screens so my significant other scoped the location of screen number 2 while I went to the concessions. After a false start getting in the “crepes only” line, I moved to another line where drinks were sold. Again, a short line only one deep by 4 wide. The person in front of me was getting nachos with all the fixings, 2 popcorns, and drinks (71 AED [~$19.88–very familiar movie food prices]) which overwhelmed the system and required a second person (always available) to bring me my 2 waters.
Entering the theater was a step back in time. There were ushers with flashlights to check your ticket and lead you to your assigned seat. The theater was not nearly as small as I’m used to seeing in a 21 screen multiplex and the seats were pretty comfy. Projection quality was not what I would have expected in a location that otherwise typically keeps the latest technology to show they are leading edge. Most of the upcoming attractions had been out for quite some time and at least one had even been on the in-seat entertainment list on a recent trans-Atlantic Delta flight.
(Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the movie, this paragraph contains content!) The Kingdom, starring Jamie Fox, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman is about four FBI agents who go to Saudi Arabia to investigate the bombing of an expat living compound near Riyadh. In their search for the mastermind behind the bombing, they become targets of their targets. Those that like shoot-em-up fast action with blood, snarky dialog and transparent plots won’t be disappointed. Never will you have to wonder, “What just happened?” The camera action is fast so that the action becomes exaggerated. In all honesty though, I never once wondered how much longer the movie would last. On that basis alone it is great escape entertainment though not recommended to those with queasy stomachs or those who abhor violence – even or especially in movies. Sticklers for plausibility are warned to leave their analysis of reality at the door. The entire movie was subtitled in Arabic for the local audience. ALL spoken English was accompanied by subtitles. However, when the characters were speaking Arabic, there were no English subtitles (this did not seem to make the plot difficult to follow for most of the theater audience ;~). Viewers in the US may have a different experience!
I was not surprised that the theater emptied as soon as the credits began to roll. But it was interesting to see the patrons start streaming out before the movie was over. Many did not feel compelled to stick around once the main ending was revealed just to see minor subplots tied up and the stars in some final cameo scenes. As is the habit of my significant other, we stayed in our seats to watch the credits roll. While we were sitting there, an army of workers came in with plastic bags to clean up the mess--which, I have to say, was much less than in most western theaters. When we finally stood up after the credits disclosed that the movie was shot in Washington, DC and Abu Dhabi, UAE the projectionist stopped the film making it pretty obvious that they were watching and waiting for us to leave. (The obsession with turning off everything electrical including the wall switches in your house and the headlights on your car a subject for another time.)
All in all, an interesting afternoon at the movies. Next time, I’m getting the nachos!
http://www.thekingdommovie.com/
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