Kingdom of Heaven

⭐9.5/10

Now THIS is a movie made for me. I should first explain that this movie has two very distinct versions. The theatrical version released to bad reviews and kinda flopped at the theatres. The director's cut, on the other hand, is considered by most to be a different movie altogether. I can't comment on the original, but I agree that the director's cut is nearly a masterpiece in my books, and I have no idea how they cut an hour from it. 

So this movie deals with the Crusades, which all of my adoring readers will remember I read a book on this winter. I've basically always been obsessed with the Middle Ages, but I don't think I've seen a movie quite like this. The commitment to realism really stands out to me, with not just the settings and costumes, but the habits of the characters, and their beliefs and attitudes. Obviously I have no idea, but this felt well-researched and realized. 

This movie is also a true epic. This cut is super long, but the length adds a lot. You get to live in this world for 3 hours and by the end I think you really understand it. It takes place mostly in the middle-east and is a very unique time in history. Lots of cultures gathering and colliding, beliefs are at odds, the politics are fraught. It's the perfect period for all these moments that lend themselves to cinema. 

I think the thing that will stand out to most are the combat scenes, and yeah, they are amazing. They are so grand, so chaotic, so brutal. There is one scene, the "tell my master that Jerusalem has come" scene, that made me feel a sense of scale and majesty that I haven't felt since watching Return of the King. Invoking that hallowed film is the best compliment I can pay, and yet I thought of it often. (The scene itself is actually maybe a little silly. Nobody noticed 200k people marching in an open dessert?)

Of course, in that movie, it's the characters that change everything and bring up the stakes. Obviously this movie can't match that, and the main character, Legolas of the Greenwood, is not amazing in this. He gives a good effort, but I think this role is kinda beyond his capabilities. He is sexy though! Indeed he and Eva Green make quite the match. 

I guess the last thing I'll mention, along with Orlando Bloom's over-earnest performance, is that this movie is generally very earnest. In fact, it's maybe a little too on-the-nose and could do with a touch of subtlety. This is very clearly Ridley Scott's own personal religious conviction, but you know what? I was fine with it. It's mostly very balanced, painting medieval Christianity and Islam with pretty fair strokes, having good and bad guys, and people using religion for good and bad purposes. I thought it was probably a pretty good representation of the attitudes many shared, or at least it made for a good movie. Saladin was an interesting character in the book I read, and I thought he was probably pretty fairly portrayed here. Also, the way they pronounce his name is cool every time. 

So ya! Honestly this is one of my favorite movies that I've seen this year. It is brutal, it is flawed, and at times it's even a little silly. But I totally dug it and can't think of a medieval movie that I liked more. I totally recommend it, but recognize it's not for everyone. 

Oh! Also the music was incredible. Mystical old-sounding catholic music? Amazing. Also Edward Norton's character was great, though he could have maybe tried to do the accent. 

Okay NOW I'm done.