What's the board's opinion of "The Kingdom of Heaven"?

I see memes of it on insta a lot. I've been meaning to watch it too

I liked it a lot and have rewatched it several times. If you watch it, make sure you watch the director's cut, which is 40-50 minutes longer than the theatrical release. I've never seen the original release but I've read the director's cut is a much more complete film.

I left the theater saying "it seems like they cut a lot out of that movie and it feels like another movie is in there"

Then the director's cut was released, and it all made sense

Gotta watch it as the Director’s Cut though. It feels thin without it.

Director's Cut is fantastic

Very rewatchable for me

I don't understand the hate for my OP. It is a very historically inaccurate movie that goes out of its way to make Christians look terrible. Were there atrocities committed by Christians during the Crusades? Absolutely. But the way they portrayed some of the Christians in this movie - such as the Patriarch and Reynald of Chatillon - was straight up character assassination. The latter's death was so much more bad arse historically than how he went out in the film.

Saladin accused Reynald of many crimes (most of which were false) and demanded he convert to Islam or die. He refused to convert to Islam and so Saladin had him beheaded. Most of what we know of Reynald's life comes from hostile Arab sources from the period.

I saw it and was underwhelmed given the hype

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I don't understand the hate for my OP. It is a very historically inaccurate movie that goes out of its way to make Christians look terrible.

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The director's cut might be the last really good epic film, but you're correct.

I don't know if anyone listens to Julian Dorey's podcast, but he had on a guest recently to talk about the Knights Templar and the Crusades, and they briefly discussed Kingdom Of Heaven. The guest said he had only seen the theatrical cut, but was still able to point out the lack of historicity.

I mean, it's Ridley Scott. He's known for taking artistic license in his historical dramas, and then getting pissy and defensive when it gets called out.

I would totally murder Guy and be the new King if it meant sexy time with Eva Green. Anyone who wouldn't is a liar.........or a perfect knight.

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My history could be off cause it's been years but wasn't Guy a good guy dude just an awful King?

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He definitely wasn't a good ruler but we have little to go on regarding his actual conduct as a human being. One thing we do know, however, is that he wasn't trying to start a holy war against Saladin as is portrayed in the film. He was trying to do the opposite in fact.