Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Also known as "The Crusades"
Overall Score: 9 out of 10

Starring: Martin Hancock, Michael Sheen, Nathalie Cox, Eriq Ebouaney, Jouko Ahola, David Thewlis, Liam Neeson, Philip Glenister, Orlando Bloom, Bronson Webb, Kevin McKidd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Steven Robertson, Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig

Director: Ridley Scott

Running Time: 145 minutes

US MPAA rating: R
UK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Drama, Romance, War

The year is 1186, between the Second and Third Crusades. Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) returns to his native France to invite his illegitimate son Balian (Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith, on a holy mission in Jerusalem. Eager to escape personal bereavement and to find forgiveness for his own sins, Balian joins his estranged father - but before they ever reach Jerusalem, Godfrey is gravely injured, and knights Balian before dying. Balian finds a precarious peace in the Holy Land. By treating all races and religions with fairness, the good King Baldwin (Edward Norton, unrecognisable behind mask and make-up) and his loyal general Tiberias (Jeremy Irons) have managed to maintain a truce with Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), the equally wise ruler of the mighty Syrian army of Saracens - but Baldwin, crippled by leprosy, does not have long to live, and the Muslim-hating Knights Templar, led by power-hungry Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas) and his cruel lieutenant Reynald de Chatillon (Brendan Gleeson), are engaged in a covert campaign of terror. As it becomes inevitable that the Saracens will march in overwhelming numbers against Jerusalem, Balian, helped by Baldwin's sister Sibylla (Eva Green), must call on all his strategic prowess and high ideals to save what is truly valuable in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The latest film by director Ridley Scott (who was himself recently knighted), 'Kingdom of Heaven' at first seems to be the bastard offspring of his previous blockbuster

It's Got: Liam Neeson and Brian Gleeson effectively reprising, but vastly improving upon, their respective rôles in 'The Phantom Menace' and 'Troy'; Orlando Bloom proving at last that he is more than just a pin-up; spectacular sets and cinematography; and a moral seriousness that, unusually for these times, seeks to improve its viewers, not to mention the world.

It Needs: To integrate the romantic subplot better (although Eva Green gives it her best); and, given its subtle portrayal of human good, to make its wicked characters less cartoon-like (at times Marton Csokas seems to be doing a Tim Curry impression).

Alternatives: 'Saladin', Gladiator, '1492: Conquest of Paradise', Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace

Summary: A powerful spiritualist epic that beats 'Gladiator' hands down in the Colosseum of ideas. Overall Score: 9 out of 10

Review Date: 2nd May 2005