Kingdom of Heaven is a movie, much like King Arthur, that needs to be viewed more than once and preferably the Directors Cut when you see it for the second time, for there is much left unexplained, even after 2.5 hours.
There is no doubt that the movie is a visual feast. It is beautiful to watch and i marvelled at the skill and mastery of Ridley Scott. This movie, although tagged and advertised as the next Gladiator is not that, i don't think that there can ever be, but there is something here that i found infinitely intriguing. Something that captivated me, even when in the back of my mind many unfolding scenes seemed to leave me unsatisfied.
The movie begins with the funeral of a woman we learn is Balian's (Orlando Bloom) wife. We learn that her suicide after the death of their child is what has driven our soon-to-be hero to the depths of depression as he has committed himself to spend his days repenting for her sin. Enter the father he never knew Godfrey (Liam Neeson) and the story begins. The entry of this character already sets the scene for the Directors Cut. We know too little about Godfrey, his importance to the King, his role within the struggle at the time, his lack of involvement with Balian, and his sudden return to recruit his son - all which is never really answered and explored, leaving a crucial hole in the story. Circumstances arise and after initial refusal, Balian joins his father on the journey to Jerusalem.
From here the story escalates as Godfrey dies and Balian is left to take up the mantle his father left behind. I never understood his ready acceptance thereof. This is not really explored. We then enter the realm of the royalty. We are introduced to the other players. Jeremy Irons, a strong performance, but again poor character development. He later disappears altogether. The Princess of Jerusalem, Sybilla, another character poorly developed. I never understood her role, her instant love for Balian, and the choices she later makes, by handing her husband the crown, then repenting for something that we all knew was a mistake from the very beginning. Eva Green struck me as really beautiful as the Princess, but with so little a role in terms of character development, i was left unfulfilled by her purpose in the movie.
We follow Balian as fate takes him to his ultimate destiny - fighting for the people. Orlando Bloom surpassed my expectations in the role, shouldering his first real leading role. He always struck me as an actor with very little meat. A pretty face who happened to be cast in movies that made his name even bigger, without really proving what he is capable of. He surprised me here. I thought that he was really good as the withdrawn, somewhat apart, the loner character that Balian comes across as. i was drawn in my his quiet nature and strong dialogue. There was something about him that to me shouted a newfound maturity as an actor. Although a far cry from being at the peak of his game, this is his strongest performance to date. I glimpsed some of the shifty eye-movements that Bloom is famous for (especially in Troy) but they were easily overlooked. I think that at times his character did lack a little emotion - his relationship with Sybilla for example didn't really move him from his quest - but this i think was more the Director and Writers problem, not Orlando's. Overall i was impressed. After having read numerous reviews that he was the weakest link in the movie, i was surprised that i disagreed. No Russell Crowe or Viggo Mortensen rousing the armies to battle, but he gave it a great try.
I found the demise of Guy an anti-climax as well. Besides the final humiliating ride on a horse, we never really delve into his demise, and never have the satisfaction of seeing him get what he deserved.
I also think that the underlying message involving the Muslim/Christian battle speaks very eloquently to our times, and was dealt with in a tasteful manner that was not overkill to the viewer, keeping it as light as the movies ultimate message would allow.
However, overall, i felt this movie didn't flow very well. There seemed to be a shifty feel, not a nice smooth pace maintained to the conclusion. The movie itself will be better viewed with the Directors Cut, perhaps allowing for all the developments that there was no time for.
Having said so much about how much i disliked, i still left the cinema intrigued by the story and the characters. I liked the movie, despite all the reservations. The cinematography was brilliant and i was really drawn in by good performances from Bloom and the supporting cast.
I think that this is one movie you will have to make up your own mind about. Reviews are all conflicting and range from outright hate to devotion. I think there is something for you here, you just have to find it. Its worth a watch.
7/10
There is no doubt that the movie is a visual feast. It is beautiful to watch and i marvelled at the skill and mastery of Ridley Scott. This movie, although tagged and advertised as the next Gladiator is not that, i don't think that there can ever be, but there is something here that i found infinitely intriguing. Something that captivated me, even when in the back of my mind many unfolding scenes seemed to leave me unsatisfied.
The movie begins with the funeral of a woman we learn is Balian's (Orlando Bloom) wife. We learn that her suicide after the death of their child is what has driven our soon-to-be hero to the depths of depression as he has committed himself to spend his days repenting for her sin. Enter the father he never knew Godfrey (Liam Neeson) and the story begins. The entry of this character already sets the scene for the Directors Cut. We know too little about Godfrey, his importance to the King, his role within the struggle at the time, his lack of involvement with Balian, and his sudden return to recruit his son - all which is never really answered and explored, leaving a crucial hole in the story. Circumstances arise and after initial refusal, Balian joins his father on the journey to Jerusalem.
From here the story escalates as Godfrey dies and Balian is left to take up the mantle his father left behind. I never understood his ready acceptance thereof. This is not really explored. We then enter the realm of the royalty. We are introduced to the other players. Jeremy Irons, a strong performance, but again poor character development. He later disappears altogether. The Princess of Jerusalem, Sybilla, another character poorly developed. I never understood her role, her instant love for Balian, and the choices she later makes, by handing her husband the crown, then repenting for something that we all knew was a mistake from the very beginning. Eva Green struck me as really beautiful as the Princess, but with so little a role in terms of character development, i was left unfulfilled by her purpose in the movie.
We follow Balian as fate takes him to his ultimate destiny - fighting for the people. Orlando Bloom surpassed my expectations in the role, shouldering his first real leading role. He always struck me as an actor with very little meat. A pretty face who happened to be cast in movies that made his name even bigger, without really proving what he is capable of. He surprised me here. I thought that he was really good as the withdrawn, somewhat apart, the loner character that Balian comes across as. i was drawn in my his quiet nature and strong dialogue. There was something about him that to me shouted a newfound maturity as an actor. Although a far cry from being at the peak of his game, this is his strongest performance to date. I glimpsed some of the shifty eye-movements that Bloom is famous for (especially in Troy) but they were easily overlooked. I think that at times his character did lack a little emotion - his relationship with Sybilla for example didn't really move him from his quest - but this i think was more the Director and Writers problem, not Orlando's. Overall i was impressed. After having read numerous reviews that he was the weakest link in the movie, i was surprised that i disagreed. No Russell Crowe or Viggo Mortensen rousing the armies to battle, but he gave it a great try.
I found the demise of Guy an anti-climax as well. Besides the final humiliating ride on a horse, we never really delve into his demise, and never have the satisfaction of seeing him get what he deserved.
I also think that the underlying message involving the Muslim/Christian battle speaks very eloquently to our times, and was dealt with in a tasteful manner that was not overkill to the viewer, keeping it as light as the movies ultimate message would allow.
However, overall, i felt this movie didn't flow very well. There seemed to be a shifty feel, not a nice smooth pace maintained to the conclusion. The movie itself will be better viewed with the Directors Cut, perhaps allowing for all the developments that there was no time for.
Having said so much about how much i disliked, i still left the cinema intrigued by the story and the characters. I liked the movie, despite all the reservations. The cinematography was brilliant and i was really drawn in by good performances from Bloom and the supporting cast.
I think that this is one movie you will have to make up your own mind about. Reviews are all conflicting and range from outright hate to devotion. I think there is something for you here, you just have to find it. Its worth a watch.
7/10