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Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - FILM ONLY REVIEW
Certificate: 15 (UK), R (USA), 15A (Ireland) Running time: 145 minutes (there is also a director's cut at 194 minutes)
Writer: William Monahan Director: Ridley Scott
Main cast: Balian - Orlando Bloom Godfrey - Liam Neeson Guy de Lusignan - Marton Csokas Nasir - Alexander Siddig Sibylla - Eva Green Tiberias - Jeremy Irons King Baldwin - Edward Norton Saladin - Ghassan Massoud
"Kingdom of Heaven" is the latest historical epic from Ridley Scott, he of "Gladiator" fame (as the DVD packaging and posters like to remind us). I liked "Gladiator" for all its faults - and I would probably liked it a good deal more if I had known that "Alexander", "Troy" and "King Arthur" were in my future - and I was hopeful of something equally absorbing in this offering. It initially looked bravely relevant to be releasing a film depicting the conflict between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East at such a sensitive time, but the reality was that this film did what any self-respecting politician would do: sidestep the issues, bore anyone listening, and divert attention away from history using power and visual spectacles. Jerusalem, Saladin tells Balian, is "everything and nothing" and I think that pretty much sums up this film: it was better than nothing, but not everything it could have been by a long way.
The year is 1184, and somewhere in deepest France we meet the hero of our story, a humble but hunky blacksmith by the name of Balian (Orlando Bloom). Outcast from his village due
to the recent suicide of his wife, the blacksmith broods in his workshop while his wife is buried in shame for her sin. As Balian moodily works in his forge, however, a mysterious stranger returning from a crusade in the Holy Land rides into his village, looking for horseshoes and his long-lost illegitimate son. Conveniently, he finds both his needs fulfilled in Balian. This stranger is Sir Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), and being of noble stock, offers to restore Balian to his legally dubious inheritance and whisk him off to Jerusalem where he can find honour and glory in abundance. Balian (evidently still feeling moody) initially declines this offer, but after inadvertently murdering the local priest in a fit of forge rage, changes his mind and duly travels off with Godfrey to seek adventure and penitence.
So far, so convenient. Unfortunately, Godfrey dies on route to Jerusalem - although not before knighting Balian, and turning him into a brilliant military tactician and master of swordsmanship via a single fencing lesson that covers nothing more than "hold your sword high". Still, Godfrey's death seems to work in Balian's favour, as he arrives in Jerusalem with remarkable little effort - charming everyone he meets on the way, including a Saracen warrior called Nasir (Alexander Siddig) - and is instantly accepted with delight as Godfrey's son and heir by his friends and followers. Wasting no time in claiming his inheritance (an arid land he transforms into a lush and prosperous oasis via an irrigation project), Balian is soon dining with the leprous Baldwin, King of Jerusalem (Edward Norton), and honouring the memory of his dead wife by seducing the King's married sister Sibylla (Eva Green). This last act angers chief baddie Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas), who happens to be Sibylla's husband and heir to the throne. The Jerusalem that Balian has arrived in is more than just a city: at this time is a Christian kingdom captured during the first Crusade and held/ occupied (depending on your perspective) by European soldiers seeking wealth and glory as much as for religious reasons. The kingdom is divided between Baldwin's party, led by Tiberius (Jeremy Irons), who have brokered an uneasy peace with Saracen leader Saladin (Ghassan Massoud); and the war mongering Knights Templar (who I'm sure you will remember from "The Da Vinci Code") led by Guy, who wish to break the peace. The Templars know that the death of Baldwin is imminent, and that they merely have to bide their time until Guy can claim the throne to get their nefarious ends…with only Balian to stand in their way.
There is no doubt that "Kingdom of Heaven" looks fantastic. The sweeping battle scenes are truly impressive, and an incredibly detailed large-scale set was built to realistically recreate what the medieval city of Jerusalem would have looked like. I thought both the cinematography and set design were top notch. Likewise, the pixellated soldiers who populated the CGI backgrounds in the major battles were extremely natural and hard to distinguish from what the real thing in a cast of thousands would have appeared like (unlike in some films, where you see the join). The music may not have been as powerfully memorable as in "Gladiator" but it certainly added an impressive historical ambience to the production (although not enough for me to buy a copy of the CD).
So what was wrong with it? Firstly, I had huge problems with the casting of Orlando Bloom as Balian. There are the obvious physical traits - someone as slight and effeminate as Orlando may be great for playing an elf, but is completely unrealistic as a blacksmith. Admittedly blacksmiths may be few and far between these days, but take it from me, if you are doing something that physical all day that you would be a good deal more beefy in the arm region than Mr Bloom. Then there is the fact that he has yet to develop the full acting range necessary to take the lead with what should be a character expressing an array of emotions. Balian's wife dies and he looks moody. Balian inherits wealth and power, and he looks moody. Balian gets the chance to bed a beautiful princess and he looks moody. Balian is hardly a great character to begin with, though - he is far too passive, falling into one situation after another - and the stunted portrayal given by Bloom makes it virtually impossible to care about him or what he does. Having said that, I was intrigued by how he was handily equipped with all the skills he needed throughout the film on demand (blacksmith, farmer, irrigation expert, diplomat, military tactician, general, politician…) despite the fact that he grew up as a medieval peasant, and would have been lucky if he had knowledge of basic literacy. But we are meant to forget about all that because dull old Balian just wants to be good.
My second problem is in the handling of the politics. While this is Hollywood history, and can therefore be expected to be simplified and manipulated to fit the needs of plot, it's New Labour style multicultural message and incessant moralising get tedious after a while. While showing an interpretation of the crusades that is sympathetic to the Muslim perspective is to be welcomed, such a dull lecture as was given in "Kingdom of Heaven" will doubtless go unnoticed by many people, as they had fallen asleep or ceased to care about what happens.
Ultimately, "Kingdom of Heaven" isn't really a bad film - it is just that it is not a very good one. It is a triumph of style over substance, a soulless and distinctly unexciting experience that may be easy on the eyes, but at 2.5 hours long is rather harder on the backside. This could have been the thinking man's "Gladiator", but instead was the cinematic equivalent of Shredded Wheat: worthy but tasteless.
Not recommended (unless you are really bored).
www.kingdomofheavenmovie.com/
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Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of ... more
the Crusades for years to come.Kingdom of Heavenis greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom)...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: This is fictionalised history, set between the 2nd and 3rd Crusades - shortly before the time of King Richard the Lionhearted - Balian of Ibelin was historically "the defender of Jerusalem" Disadvantages: It was a harsh, superstitious time - the film highlights this through its bloodiness; although not "anti-God" the film is somewhat anti-religious. NOT FOR THE QUEASY - very gory!
jesi 18.06.2005 (18.06.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kingdom Of Heaven (DVD)
Advantages: This is fictionalised history, set between the 2nd and 3rd Crusades - shortly before the time of King Richard the Lionhearted - Balian of Ibelin was historically "the defender of Jerusalem" Disadvantages: It was a harsh, superstitious time - the film highlights this through its bloodiness; although not "anti-God" the film is somewhat anti-religious. NOT FOR THE QUEASY - very gory!
jesi 18.06.2005 (18.06.2005)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kingdom Of Heaven (DVD)
![Kingdom of Heaven (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2005]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78516049.jpg "Kingdom of Heaven (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2005]")
![Kingdom of Heaven [DVD] [2005]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78505779.jpg "Kingdom of Heaven [DVD] [2005]")
![Kingdom Of Heaven (2 Disc Special Edition) [2005] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78501343.jpg "Kingdom Of Heaven (2 Disc Special Edition) [2005] [DVD]")
Dec 4th, 2007
exceptional by (5%):
very helpful by (94%):
helpful by (1%):
![The Kingdom of Heaven [DVD] [2007]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/88540117.jpg)
