Kingdom of Heaven
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Orlando Bloom, David Thewlis, Liam Neeson, Eva Green, Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig, Brendan Gleeson, Ghassan Massoud , Jeremy Irons, Edward Norton, Edward Norton
Rated: R for strong violence and epic warfare
Parental notes: There is quite a bit of violence here, and while it’s not as gruesome as some R-rated films out there, it’s still plenty gory. Youngsters should be kept away, but mature teens can probably handle it.
Ridley Scott struck gold with “Gladiator,” and seems to be hoping to do so again with “Kingdom of Heaven.” Both are huge, historical epics with lush attention to detail and plenty of drama. Unlike “Gladiator,” however, “Kingdom of Heaven” is a film with religion at its heart, and Scott’s modern, secular take on historical events is likely to infuriate several groups of people: deeply religious Christians, deeply religious Muslims, and deeply passionate historians of the Crusades.
The story follows Balian (Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith who has lost his wife and child. When crusader Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) appears on his doorstep to reveal himself as Balian’s father and invite the young man back to Jerusalem with him, Balian is tempted. When he commits a terrible sin in a moment of rage, he decides to travel to Jerusalem with his father and seek forgiveness. Godfrey knights Balian, and when Balian reaches Jerusalem, he is given land and a position of power under King Baldwin (Edward Norton). Balian sets about improving the lives of the people who till his land and proves time and works to be a perfect knight in spite of having lost his faith.
Baldwin is an unusual king for Christian-occupied Jersualem. He has been deformed by leprosy, and though Christian, he gives no on-screen signs of being particularly religious. He has tried to make Jerusalem a place which can be shared by followers of all three faiths that view it as holy. Swathed in pale garments, bandages, and a silver mask, he is a powerful figure. His sister Sibylla (Eva Green), married to the intemperate and fanatical Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas), is equally powerful, at least to Balian. This being a Hollywood film, there has to be at least a bit of a love story, and Balian and Sibylla’s passion provides that.
Things begin to fall apart when the Knights Templar, led by Reynald (Brendan Gleeson) and supported by Guy, start making raids on vulnerable Muslims. They attack pilgrims, merchants, and anyone on the move. Baldwin attempts to bring them under control and works to keep the peace with Saracen leader Saladin (Ghassan Massoud). Saladin’s advisors, or at least the deeply religious ones, want him to fight. The point here is hard to miss: heavily religious people are violent and intolerant while agnostic or otherwise less religious people are the voice of reason. Indeed, the only person who openly declares his religion and is not painted a violent and irrational is Godfrey’s friend the Hospitaler — but he is a tertiary character at best. It’s a surprisingly modern and secular way to view the Crusades.
By the time the Templars have succeeded in pushing Saladin far enough for him to attack, Balian is the de facto leader of Jerusalem’s defenses. His speech before the huge final battle is a perfect example of just how modernized this film is: “Which is more holy,” he asks those gathered to defend the city, “the wall? The mosque? The sepulcher? Who has claim? None has claim. All have claim!