"What is Jerusalem worth?" one character asks another at one point in the film. "Nothing," the other one responds, and then with a knowing grin, adds "Everything." "Kingdom of Heaven" is Ridley Scott's epic story set during the Crusades, where Christian knights and peasants from every corner of Europe converged on Israel in an attempt to control the Holy Land and fend off the Arab tribes that once help power over the region.
A young blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) is approached by Sir Godfrey (Liam Neeson), his father from an illegitimate relationship, who is heading back to Jerusalem and wants his son to accompany him. Fighting in the Crusades is said to be an atonement for ones sins by the Church, and Balian wishes to save the soul of his wife, a suicide.
Along the way Godfrey is mortally wounded, and he bestows his title to Balian, his only heir, charging him with the duties of knighthood. Balian completes his father's journey to Israel, meeting up with the other Christian factions that control the city of Jerusalem. Baldwin IV (Edward Norton), the king of Jerusalem, fears for the future of his kingdom. Terminal due to leprosy, the king wishes to maintain peace with Saracen king Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), whose forces outnumber the Crusaders 10 to 1.
The Knights of Templar, fanatics in Baldwin's courts who frequently raid Arab caravans, are in danger of upsetting the balance and launching a war. The passing of Baldwin soon puts one such Templar, Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas), becomes the new king due to his marriage to Baldwin's sister Sibylla (Eva Green), and plots to unleash his new acquired forces on Saladin. However, his campaign is a disaster, which leaves Balian in charge of defending Jerusalem.
Scott is certainly a director who knows how to mount an epic, probably the best since Cecil B. Demille, and "Kingdom of Heaven" certainly has all the right elements in place for a grand historical film. The direction, set design and costuming are all elegant and make for awesome medieval story.
But the movie also suffers from some PC tampering as well. Based loosely on a true story, the movie seems fit to change around some of the details to make certain characters more noble than they probably were. We're shown a Holy Land where Muslims, Christians and Jews co-exist peacefully, except for the more extremist elements in the Christian and Muslim camps. Balian in particular is shown to be fairly open-minded for his time, but in real life Balian had little problem killing the Muslims within his own walls. The film's a bit far-fetched but perhaps not completely unrealistic, still it doesn't ring true for the era.
Acting is fairly decent across the board. Thanks to his work in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Troy," Bloom can play the epic role in his sleep. What he lacks in dramatic range he makes up for with charisma. Jeremy Irons's presence is welcomed as Tiberias, one of the few Christian lords in the film not wrapped up in fanaticism, and Norton's role, while small, provides a tragic look at how decent ideals may have sustained the kingdom.
As Sibylla, Green seems to exist for the purpose of a trite and ultimately meaningless romantic entanglement with Balian, as well as to move the plot along in spots. Massoud on the other hand brings a sense of silent power to his role as Saladin, giving the character strength and decency at times but also a devious streak as well.
"Kingdom of Heaven" presents some excellent fodder for the summer audiences. The battle sequences are epic, with trebuchets decimating walls, arrows and swords flying and body counts mounting on both sides as both the Crusaders and Saracens battle for control of Jerusalem. Both desires for power, religious extremism and prejudice flow from both camps, and modern audiences can't help but sigh that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
"Kingdom" has to deal with the fact that over the last five years audiences have been assaulted with historical epics and the idea has worn out its welcome. The movie features fine storytelling and high ideals, but ultimately succumbs to melodrama. We're left with a story about how possible peace between religious groups was subverted by power-hungry zealots on both sides. If the movie wasn't so knowingly winking at the audience while wallowing in crowd-stirring speeches, it might have been a finer film. What exists instead is an above average spectacle which should enliven audiences but leave them with little new to think about.
A young blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) is approached by Sir Godfrey (Liam Neeson), his father from an illegitimate relationship, who is heading back to Jerusalem and wants his son to accompany him. Fighting in the Crusades is said to be an atonement for ones sins by the Church, and Balian wishes to save the soul of his wife, a suicide.
Along the way Godfrey is mortally wounded, and he bestows his title to Balian, his only heir, charging him with the duties of knighthood. Balian completes his father's journey to Israel, meeting up with the other Christian factions that control the city of Jerusalem. Baldwin IV (Edward Norton), the king of Jerusalem, fears for the future of his kingdom. Terminal due to leprosy, the king wishes to maintain peace with Saracen king Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), whose forces outnumber the Crusaders 10 to 1.
The Knights of Templar, fanatics in Baldwin's courts who frequently raid Arab caravans, are in danger of upsetting the balance and launching a war. The passing of Baldwin soon puts one such Templar, Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas), becomes the new king due to his marriage to Baldwin's sister Sibylla (Eva Green), and plots to unleash his new acquired forces on Saladin. However, his campaign is a disaster, which leaves Balian in charge of defending Jerusalem.
Scott is certainly a director who knows how to mount an epic, probably the best since Cecil B. Demille, and "Kingdom of Heaven" certainly has all the right elements in place for a grand historical film. The direction, set design and costuming are all elegant and make for awesome medieval story.
But the movie also suffers from some PC tampering as well. Based loosely on a true story, the movie seems fit to change around some of the details to make certain characters more noble than they probably were. We're shown a Holy Land where Muslims, Christians and Jews co-exist peacefully, except for the more extremist elements in the Christian and Muslim camps. Balian in particular is shown to be fairly open-minded for his time, but in real life Balian had little problem killing the Muslims within his own walls. The film's a bit far-fetched but perhaps not completely unrealistic, still it doesn't ring true for the era.
Acting is fairly decent across the board. Thanks to his work in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Troy," Bloom can play the epic role in his sleep. What he lacks in dramatic range he makes up for with charisma. Jeremy Irons's presence is welcomed as Tiberias, one of the few Christian lords in the film not wrapped up in fanaticism, and Norton's role, while small, provides a tragic look at how decent ideals may have sustained the kingdom.
As Sibylla, Green seems to exist for the purpose of a trite and ultimately meaningless romantic entanglement with Balian, as well as to move the plot along in spots. Massoud on the other hand brings a sense of silent power to his role as Saladin, giving the character strength and decency at times but also a devious streak as well.
"Kingdom of Heaven" presents some excellent fodder for the summer audiences. The battle sequences are epic, with trebuchets decimating walls, arrows and swords flying and body counts mounting on both sides as both the Crusaders and Saracens battle for control of Jerusalem. Both desires for power, religious extremism and prejudice flow from both camps, and modern audiences can't help but sigh that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
"Kingdom" has to deal with the fact that over the last five years audiences have been assaulted with historical epics and the idea has worn out its welcome. The movie features fine storytelling and high ideals, but ultimately succumbs to melodrama. We're left with a story about how possible peace between religious groups was subverted by power-hungry zealots on both sides. If the movie wasn't so knowingly winking at the audience while wallowing in crowd-stirring speeches, it might have been a finer film. What exists instead is an above average spectacle which should enliven audiences but leave them with little new to think about.