King of the Sands (2013) User Reviews

Amazing Movie

[issam-manssour · 9/10 · 10 December 2013]

This is one of the best movie produced recently across the entire Arab countries. This Movie broke all taboos put by Saudi regime regarding the Saudi royal family which ruled the Najd since long time and destroyed any kind of civilization exist before.

This is the first movie dared to talk about King Abdu al Aziz who found the Saudi kingdom after fighting with Al Rashid Family which was ruling Najd.

Very true story and amazing direction by Najdat Anzor.who is one of the best director in Arab countries and already directed many movies/TV series which treated very sensitive Subjects.

Great Movie.

Excellent

[bassel-issa · 10/10 · 14 December 2013]

The movie is one of those that deal with what considered Taboo, and a real history that has been covered for ages. and hidden between lines of books that few that were able to read or to know about. the movie is not fantasia or a vision of the director or the writer, but it is a real documentary, and i think the scenes are fair, no exhilaration at all. it brings a hidden history to screen with accurate details.

revealing the truth of king who built his kingdom using series of killing, betraying.

a brave director, a brave writer.

I should say the Truth uncovered for public with this Movie.

learn more about the medieval Kingdom

[nadermann1999 · 10/10 · 11 December 2013]

Finally, a movie that gives insight into the bloody history of the Al-Saud royal family of Saudi Arabia. People interested in modern politics and events and want to learn more about the medieval Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - where women cannot drive, and where extreme poverty exists side by side with extreme wealth in this oil rich country named after the oil-wealth embezzling Saud family (i.e. the richest royal family in the world) - would do well to watch this film to understand the mindset behind this nation which is a prolific financier of international terrorism and Islamic fanaticism, as has become evident from events in recent decades in Afghanistan, 9-11 and in Syria.

One word: Amazing!

[the-mosawi · 10/10 · 25 January 2014]

King of the Sands is one of the most insightful movies I have ever seen. It will give the viewer a full control of what to think of the Al-Saud family who has been controlling Saudi Arabia for many many years now. It tells the story of how they started their empire and how they renamed a country that was previously called "Hijaz" to "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". It also brought to my attention that this country is the only place on Earth that is named after a ruling family. The acting is superb and the production value is very impressive despite the fact the director - following the footsteps of "Hitchcock" - produced this movie with his own money, with no external funding what so ever. I really enjoyed the movie and found it both educational and entertaining.

The director's motivation in making the movie

[saracen_count · 1/10 · 10 September 2015]

This is obviously a political motivated movie. The only reason this movie was made was because the Syrian director is a supporter of the Assad regime, and he didn't like the Saudi stance towards the civil war in Syria (anti-Assad). Plus, the Saudis before that knew his stance, so they banned him from working on the pan Arab channels. He also announced he will not work with Syrian actors from the opposition. About the film, it didn't make sense that someone will talk like that (Abdulaziz), it felt like a cartoonish evil character. Furthermore, the way that Ibn Saud's campaigns are almost like pillaging and bloodthirsty fake fundamentalists is very cliché when you know that Najdat Anzour's famous works were historical fantasy Arab series; so it fits his previous works. Also, trying so hard to draw obvious references to 9/11, or the London 7/7 bombings, just to link them with Ibn Saud, is obviously trying to steer the audience to only see the character in one spotlight, which is isn't good. And why the sex scenes in a supposedly 'historical' movie? It's beyond me. Strangely enough the lead actors were Italian. Did Najdat Anzour run out of English or even Arab actors? Not a good idea. There are many more to say about it, but in conclusion: It is a cartoonish and dubious in character, acting, and away from history, which is a wasted opportunity because of the political motivated stance behind it. I am saying a wasted opportunity, because no one did an English movie (without the Italians please) about the foundation of Saudi Arabia. Maybe the director gets at least a star from me for the idea, other than that, the whole thing is a sad state.

Must see; great movie

[goldenshuttle · 9/10 · 27 February 2014]

This movie exposes that fact that tribal leaders in that desert spare no chance to conquer wealth and power regardless if it goes in line with moral values or not. Very entertaining and eye opening indeed. It makes you wonder if the west is really supporting freedoms in the world or after money and oil. It also raises questions how far Bedouins can twist religion and make it a tool to harvest lives and shed blood so easy. the evil kingdom as the movie suggests remains evil as we speak, forces women to hide their faces and forbids them from driving. It uses oil wealth to train and breed suicide bombers around the world including 911 crimes against US innocent people. With oil wealth, they buy protection of the west to run the most uncivilized social system on the planet.

Where to get this movie from?

[louaisalama · 15 November 2019]

I searched this movie in all Arab countries even Syria cannot find it ? All people telling it is prohibited 🚫 why ?????

about King of the Sands

[mruqai · 1/10 · 4 February 2014]

Is there a historical person loves people because he fought Or a demon or a thief rights ? I do not think so ,If this film is true ? There was a revolution, murder and the death and devastation in every country in Saudi Arabia But it seems This film ,It is a cry heard from only wants Kingdom will continue to stand their men to respect the rights of each other, And the rights of others anywhere , The right is always right , And wrong always wrong Thanks to God , Then thanks to this man , We respect the freedom of opinion of the writer and director , In the life of this man did not kill a kid or old man Was wise Intelligent Masterful negotiation Transfer his Country from chaos and backwardness to progress and success , Believe me a bad persons falls in the end thanks

A revealing history of king Abdel Aziz

[afzalr-66017 · 9/10 · 7 November 2023]

It's an excellent recap of the colonial mid-east, post WW1.

It gives the viewer a good short history of a ruthless desert sheikh's rise to power to eventually make himself king.

Abdul Aziz became king of the current Saudi clan through murder, mayhem & arms from the British.

The British were the real power behind the rise of the al-Saud clan through St John Philby, a top British intelligence officer. He made a deal with the Sauds which made them sovereign over the Arabian peninsula in return for their loyalty to the British crown.

These secret colonial deals have contributed to the post WW2 Israel-Arab conflict that plagues us to this day.