Kingdom of Heaven

Posted on | May 9, 2005 | 2 Comments

Satisfaction, that is what I felt leaving the theatre after watching this movie. I wish I could tell you that each frame, each moment of my attention was a slave to the film, but I can’t. Why? Well, you see, there’s always the asshole. This time they came in a pair, in the form of an older couple. Two seats away, constantly buzzing in my ear, they explained the whole movie to each other in loud, hushed tones. So, unfortunatly, I was distracted the whole time. D finally shushed them, which did seem to quiet them down, but the movie was really ruined for me. If you go to a theatre, don’t fucking talk! Thank you…

Okay, back to the movie. This is based on historical fact. I didn’t realize that until D and I watched a special on the making of the movie. It’s a sublte and interesting story. Balin of Ilbelin was the man that defended and then negotiated the surrender of Jerusalem in 1187 A.D. What’s interesting is that its truly a story about tolerance. There are no true bad guys here (well they are, but they get their dues, and they are part of the Knights Templar who were bloody lunatics anyway) both the Christians and the Muslims are portrayed with equal brutality and respect. These were times of horrific war. And there are no punches pulled in the violence aspect of the film, which I am sure would make some people ill. Personally, I don’t like the whitewashed PG mentality of the country. War is violent, cruel and irrational. To portray it any other way would be tempering the impact that it should have. So, this is a violent, bloody film with a moral message of tolerance. A strange pairing, no?
As for the cast, you really can’t ask for better. Orlando Bloom is starting to grow on me as an actor. I really liked him in LOTR (but I am so in love with those movies its sick) and Pirates. He does a good job here. He doesn’t possess the presence of Jeremy Irons or Liam Neeson, but he tries. There are memorable characters throughout the film, but I think that Neeson steals it. Actually, let me take that back, Ghassan Massoud, the actor that plays Saladin really cements the story. You feel sympathy for his plight, and can read the struggle for tolerance in the furrowed lines in his face. He’s a joy to watch.
All in all I really liked this film. The historical innacuracies did not detract all that much from the story itself (the only person that didn’t exist at the time of the story was Godfrey, and the king died a year before the film’s start, but who’s counting?). Actually, its inspired me to take a second look at the Crusades….time for some bookstore shopping!

Comments