Kingdom of Heaven --- one hell of a movie (in a good and bad way)

© 20th Century FOX

Title:
Kingdom of Heaven (A-)
PH Release Date:
May 4, 2005
Actors:
Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Martin Csokas, Edward Norton
Director:
Ridley Scott
Story and Screenplay:
William Monahan
Editor / Music:
Dody Dorn / Harry Gregson-Williams
Design / Photography:
Arthur Max / John Mathieson
Producer:
Ridley Scott
Studio:
20th Century FOX


© 20th Century FOX

“It is not what you are born to be, but what you have in yourself to become”


If you think that’s the only aphorism you’ll find in this movie, you’re awfully mistaken. This film was close to becoming a 2 and a half hour special episode of the 700 Club. But notwithstanding that fact, I actually found this movie pleasant, and as far as current bioepics are concerned, pleasant is good.

Orlando Bloom stars (but not necessarily the center of it all) as Balian, a name I wasn't able to remember not because of my inabiltity to store key information but because the character was so weak. I honestly had to wait for the closing credits which by the way was weirdly arranged, just to catch his name and the rest of the supporting cast. He is suppose to be this man in mourning towards the suicide of his wife, and tries to find some salvation for her by accepting his father's offer who's none other than a baron of guess what city--- Jerusalem: the Kingdom of Heaven. He finds out it's all a fluke but finds himself defending that city afterwards. There's a lot more going on in this movie but it would take me years to tell them all, so i say just watch it.


© 20th Century FOX

Ridley Scott is an extremely great visual director. Most of the time he knows what he’s making except for some moments when he just completely lose idea of what he’s doing. That scene where Orlando got somewhat lost in the sea and resurrected from the shipwreck and gallivanted along the obviously draining dessert was just appallingly told. I don’t know if they ran out of films but it was so hurried that it appeared comical. It completely lost the whole momentum of the movie that he worked terribly hard for to establish.

I did not watch this movie because of Orlando, or to make it clearer, I didn’t find this movie nice for the sheer presence of Orlando. In fact, I think he needs a lot of work, but if his sole purpose is to induce the female in body and mind to see this flick, it worked. The I’m-so-helpless-I-wanna-cry-on-your-shoulder look that he has will surely make girls go gaga all over him. Believe me, I saw it. But in complete fairness to him, the effort was there, though it wasn’t enough.


© 20th Century FOX

I do find it completely weird how I like the first part of this movie so much cuz I am not a great fan of Liam Neeson (don’t be mistaken, I recognize that he’s a good actor) but those scenes where he was included were the strongest points of the movie. It was not predictable, it was well-phased and well shot. And then came his death and the dreaded sea sailing scene followed. Another standout was Edward Norton's character. I didn't know it was him since he's trying to be the man in the iron cast and all, but it's him playing that part of King Baldwin IV. I think it would have been so much better if the story revolves around him more: his sickness and true concern for the welfare of others, is a sure nice premise.


© 20th Century FOX

The fight scenes were great. It’s definitely different from Gladiator and it’s good to know that some combat scenes that came with obvious conclusions were abridged. I mean, it’s tough enough to sit through a 2-hour movie let alone see a battle go on forever when you know exactly how it’s gonna end. The production design, cinematography and editing were all good. The sound sometimes feels prematurely directing that it becomes humorous, just like what happened to that single and quick love scene. C’mon, that’s what fans wanna see. He was spared in Troy why not flaunt it now?

The supporting cast was good, though a much attractive and charismatic female may have made the scenes much more believable and interesting. Brendan Gleeson loves being hated. Jeremy Irons loves being the powerless good man. David Thewlis gave an "Alan Rickman" type of performance which was nothing less than great. And Velivor Topic was not much of a topic in the entire duration of the flick.


© 20th Century FOX

This movie is a sure visual treat. I am not sure as to what the message of this movie really is, cuz I was lost with all of the exchanges of proverbs. It tried to discuss a lot if issues that are important, but are not as easy to understand and digest especially when it comes in the form of a two and a half hour movie. The intentions were sincere and great, if it's simply to make people aware of these issues with religionn then they succeeded, but if they're trying to do something beyond that, i'm afaraid they failed. The pathway to heaven surely is difficult, the movie didn't reach it but it's cetainly not on its way to hell.

Grading Sheet:
Story - 17%
Screenplay - 14%
Direction / Execution - 18%
Acting - 18%
Technical Aspect - 19%
Total: 86% = A-