Kingdom of Heaven


Starring: Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Edward Norton, Eva Green
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, War
2005

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) is crushed after his wife commits suicide. Soon after, his estranged father (Liam Neeson) shows up and invites him to travel to Jerusalem with him. In Jerusalem, Balian finds a fragile peace existing between the Christians and the Muslims, and those on both sides who will do anything to end the peace and resume the wars.

Review:

Tim: I am so disappointed that this film wasn't received better and didn't do better at the box office. I love historical epics and I'd be very interested in seeing more set during the Crusades. I also have some disappointment in the film itself. A historical epic directed by Ridley Scott? I was expecting another Gladiator, and that is a mistake, because Gladiator, this ain't.

This film is a little short on drama. Historical epics desperately need drama, emotion, and humanity, and this film needs more of all three. We are just never pulled into the characters or the story, and this greatly hurts the experience.

Orlando Bloom is good in the starring role, but his ability to carry a movie must seriously be called into question here. He might act pretty well, but with no stronger costar to turn to and everything riding on his shoulders, he crumbles a little. Liam Neeson is excellent. I really like his recent streak of these small, powerful supporting roles. Jeremy Irons is remarkably likeable in the role. I also love Edward Norton's role- watch closely for him, because he is easy to miss. Eva Green might be the least impressive love interest I have ever seen. She just wrecks the film.

Kingdom of Heaven is a solid film and it is about the Crusades. I sincerely hope this film's disappointing box office will not prevent similar films from being made.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down