Kingdom of Heaven

I watched the director's cut and I liked it.

I got the directors cut and watched it recently.

It remains a deeply flawed film, with not nearly enough back story or build up to Balian or his abilities, with the audience left to fill in that this guy, because he is a blacksmith, is experienced with warfare, even though there’s a scene with him learning how to fight for what appears to be the first time.

Pacing is a bit difficult, sometimes feeling too slow other times breezing through so much at once it causes whiplash.

But it’s pretty and fun and definitely worth a watch.

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It remains a deeply flawed film, with not nearly enough back story or build up to Balian or his abilities, with the audience left to fill in that this guy, because he is a blacksmith, is experienced with warfare, even though there’s a scene with him learning how to fight for what appears to be the first time.

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would have been a great movie if everything about Bailan was different

if nothing else, it's a pleasure to look at

He’s an audience POV type character who should’ve had some scenes cut. Sicario was brought up on the board in the last day or so, Kate is that type of character only there’s no bloat with her scenes and the movie was better for it.

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He’s an audience POV type character who should’ve had some scenes cut. Sicario was brought up on the board in the last day or so, Kate is that type of character only there’s no bloat with her scenes and the movie was better for it.

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Kate was also notably out of her depths and didn’t know what the frick was going on.

Balian ran the damn war.

ETA: I actually looked up on ChatGPT why Balian was such a Mary Sue or whatever that term is.

Basically, it said that a lot of the explanation was unsaid and is mostly that he was “noticeably smarter than other characters“ so he apparently could learn warfare quickly, he had prior experience as a siege engineer in a different war, which apparently is more tactical than most modern audiences appreciate, and as a blacksmith, he actually would have been much more experienced in warfare than almost anyone else, despite the fact that they do not explain that in the movie.

All of that sounded like a bunch of hogwash to me.

It is a great movie. One of my favorites.

After watching last night I was glad that I moved to the media room and watched on the big screen. Beautiful but gritty look at the panoramic landscape. Lots of holes left unfilled in the story that could have been much better. Balian's character was very shallowly played by Orlando Bloom. No lead up to his character, his personal loss of his wife could have been the built up with some backstory scenes of them together to create some emotional connection to the character with the viewing audience. Liam Nelson chews up his character in his usual gruff Liam Neeson style as the father, Godfrey. Jeremy Irons was completely underused as Tiberius. Some of the scenes were amazing and while I streamed it last night, I plan to order the movie and watch in again but in 4K Blu-Ray for the full effect. Some of the fight scenes and the vision of Jerusalem were amazing.

I can't imagine how bad it was with 45 minutes cut out for the theatrical release. I barely understood the storyline sequencing leading up to the historical sacking of Jerusalem and how Balian went from being a blacksmith to a wartime leader with amazing swordsmanship. Guess he spent time in a pirate ship before he becomes a blacksmith?

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Another incorrect depiction of the Crusades. Depicting Christians as evil, backward invaders, and the Muslims as enlightened, friendly natives. A load of complete horseshite.

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The Crusaders were evil, backwards invaders. Many of them destroyed attacked European towns and cities on their way to the Levant. The Muslims were also evil, backwards invaders. The fight over the Holy Land wasn't about religion; It was about empire.

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Another incorrect depiction of the Crusades. Depicting Christians as evil, backward invaders, and the Muslims as enlightened, friendly natives. A load of complete horseshite.


The Crusaders were evil, backwards invaders

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And you sound like a moron who knows nothing about history.