Genres: Action | Drama | History | War Countries: Germany | Spain Actors: Martin Hancock Gravedigger Eva Green Sibylla Michael Sheen Priest Brendan Gleeson Reynald Nathalie Cox Balian\'s Wife Jeremy Irons Tiberias Edward Norton King Baldwin Eriq Ebouaney Firuz Jouko Ahola Odo David Thewlis Hospitaler Liam Neeson Godfrey Philip Glenister Squire Orlando Bloom Balian Bronson Webb Apprentice Kevin McKidd English Sergeant Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Village Sheriff Steven Robertson Angelic Priest Marton Csokas Guy de Lusignan Alexander Siddig Nasir Directors: Ridley Scott IMDB Rating: 7 out of 10 (54041 votes)

Storyline

Taglines: 

Plot Summary: 

Ridley, Ridley, Ridley. I enjoyed your “Gladiator” and marveled at your ability to make the past come alive, so it pains me to say “Kingdom of Heaven” is no “Gladiator.” It’s not even a “Troy.” It’s better than Oliver Stone’s “Alexander,” but that’s not saying much.

Audiences have become jaded by all the hype surrounding these ‘epic’ films. The ‘next big thing’ turns out to be the next big-budget bomb far too often to take any of this epic blockbuster nonsense seriously anymore. I say stick a fork in this type of film, at least for now. Moviegoers have been burned a lot recently and it’s time to give the genre a rest. The powers that be in Hollywood should consider revisiting it only when someone in Hollywood comes up with a fresh take on the past.

THE STORY

Orlando Bloom stars as Balian, a simple blacksmith who is in mourning over the recent suicide of his wife. Liam Neeson briefly co-stars as Godfrey of Ibelin, the father Balian never knew. After tracking down his long-lost son, Crusader Godfrey asks Balian to join him and his men as they head home to Jerusalem. Balian quickly agrees (apparently he isn’t thrilled with his job as a blacksmith).

Once on the road, the Crusaders have a run-in with the law and the battle leaves Godfrey fighting for his life. Despite the fact he doesn’t know his father from a sack of potatoes, as Godfrey lies dying Balian quickly picks up his father’s cause. Balian, now a knight and the sole beneficiary of Godfrey’s men and lands, is charged with protecting the helpless, safeguarding the peace, and serving the leprosy-afflicted King Baldwin. Balian must defend Jerusalem against the Muslims and try to stop the Crusaders who want a war. And he also must find time to fall in love with King Baldwin’s married sister (Eva Green).

I know that in order to show what may have been the actual progression of events, “Kingdom of Heaven” would have to be a four hour movie. That’s a given. However there’s something seriously wrong with the flow of the story that ended up onscreen. The movie is almost unwatchable as much of the explanatory scenes appear to have been left on the cutting room floor. I would have gladly sat through at least another half an hour of this film if it meant I would have been able to come away from the movie with a better understanding of these characters and their motivations.

The rise of Balian from a blacksmith to the leader of the army of Jerusalem in such short order (the film leads you to believe it occurred over just a few days) makes no logical sense. We’re expected to believe this kid who knew his powerful dad for all of 10 minutes of screen time, suddenly has the knowledge of someone who has been fighting battles and barking orders to battalions of men all of his life? This blacksmith, in just a matter of days, picks up the ability to orchestrate battle strategy that is on the level of commanders who’ve been practicing the art of war for decades. Sorry, but no. Where, when and how did he pick up these skills? The guy must have had a lot of time to think while pounding out horseshoes, but I can’t swallow his speedy evolution from smithy to military leader. It just doesn’t make sense.

While I don’t want to beat the illogical plot argument to death, there’s a particular scene that defies explanation. Godfrey of Ibelin, this fierce, intelligent man who cared deeply for his fellow human beings, lived outside the city of Jerusalem for what we have to assume was his entire adult life. But it takes pretty boy Balian all of two seconds once he inherits the land to determine what’s missing is water. Excuse me? Are we to assume Godfrey just never got around to figuring out he needed to dig a few wells to help his people? This scene is the focus of at least 10 minutes of screen time, so Scott must have felt it was important to show the audience Balian’s compassion for the people who crossed his father’s land. In actuality, all the scene does is drive home the fact the plot has enough holes for a herd of elephants to pass through.

Another disappointment has to do with the love story that’s inserted in the film. As expected, Orlando Bloom gets to bed a beautiful woman. What’s not expected is that after a 2-3 second scene of the two about to make love, that’s it. You’ve got a half-dressed Orlando Bloom and the sexy Eva Green crawling into bed and you don’t show anything? What a tease you are Mr. Scott.

THE ACTING

“Kingdom of Heaven” is an action flick masquerading as a character-driven drama. Scott hired a talented group of supporting players but he could have hired no-name actors and it would have had the same effect. The problem is we’re never allowed to get to know anyone other than Balian, so we don’t care whether they live or die or just simply fade away. Jeremy Irons and Liam Neeson are both wasted, as is Brendan Gleeson. The best acting job in the movie is done by Edward Norton and you don’t even get to see his face.

Bloom’s onscreen love interest, Eva Green (who was terrific in “The Dreamers”), is pretty and I’m guessing that had there been another 30 minutes of so included in the film, we would have actually come to understand what drove her to Balian’s bed so quickly. As for our leading man, the “Lord of the Rings” cutie isn’t given many lines and has to use only two different facial expressions over the course of the film. Because this is a Ridley Scott epic, comparisons to “Gladiator” are inevitable. Ultimately what it boils down to is the fact Bloom is no Russell Crowe and that’s a shame. Crowe could carry a film like this. Bloom just seems lost at sea without a lifejacket.

TO SUM IT UP

While the battle lines have been drawn outside the theater over Ridley Scott and “Kingdom of Heaven” screenwriter William Monahan’s interpretation of Muslim leader Saladin’s behavior and the filmmakers’ portrayal of the Crusaders, I’m judging this film solely on its artistic merit – not its historical accuracy. As a movie, “Kingdom of Heaven” is a mishmash of interchangeable heroes and villains and is loaded with confusing characters. The set design is spectacular and the battle scenes are gory and fierce, but overall “Kingdom of Heaven” is a big letdown.

Rebecca Murray
Hollywood Movies Guide

Plot Keywords: 

Downloads