Film Review of Kingdom of Heaven
Year: 2005 Reviewer: Chris Docker
Except for easily pleased fans of Orlando Bloom (who gets his shirt off at one point), prepare to be at least a bit disappointed. In this historic epic over the battle over Jerusalem during the Crusades, director Ridley Scott throws the occasional glance to contemporary issues. We are reminded that it was the Christians picked the first fight when it came to the conflict between Islam and Christianity, for instance. One side, Saladin and his advisors, are treated quite respectfully - whereas the Christian clergy are mostly corrupt. The night-time assault on Jerusalem (by the Muslims) has some visual similarity to the U.S. 'shock and awe' campaign on Baghdad; and Bloom spouts the occasional line to remind us that the Kingdom of Heaven is in the head and the heart, and one of conscience, not one of bricks and mortar. A better film, at a time when control of Jerusalem is one of the most pressing international issues of the day, might have been capable of sparking discussion as to whether the holy city should be administered internationally for all faiths by the United Nations, but its faltering script, wooden acting and a depth that goes no further than a few trite phrases, means it has to rest its case more on whether it has value as entertainment.
Kingdom of Heaven is not a terrible film, and it is beautifully shot. There are photogenic battle scenes (some of the aspects of rendering vast armies probably built on Lord of the Rings special effects), photogenic moonrises, photogenic desert scenes, photogenic slow-motion warriors with the sun glancing off the camera lens. As a reminder of a half forgotten period of history it fills a space. The attempts to appease a Muslim audience, however, seem badly researched (though they may appease the Christian need to feel 'good and charitable'); Orlando Bloom looks as if he could barely lead a party of tourists to the edge of the Dead Sea, much less inspire and command vast armies. He does not yet have the consummate acting skills of Russell Crowe's Gladiator and rarely looks anything more than an actor walking about on stage. Starting life as a blacksmith, Balian, his personal traumas impel him onward to virtuous bravery, yet we see no expression of deep emotion beyond the need for battle. He learns to be a master swordsman during a few minutes before his battle, yet manages to survive unspeakable dangers in combat with barely a scratch. When he sets out from his village to embark on his quest, one is almost reminded of his earlier LOTR portrayal as Legolas, but his story here is devoid of depth or conviction in its slender story. That the whole thing survives for 2 hours 25 minutes (after cuts) is more a testament to the amount of dollars poured into it than the amount of attention it merits from an audience.
Rating: 5/10
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