Kingdom of Heaven by Sir Ridley Scott

[Goemon]

So has anbody but me seen this movie yet?

www.themoviebox.net/movies/2005/IJKLM/KingdomOfHeaven/trailer.php&e=9833


Gladitor has to be one of my fav. movies every and it was great so see another epic by this excellent director. If you like mature epic war movies with great acting and dialouge like me i defiantely recomend it. I'm going to see Starwars Episode 3 later today and i'll post my non spoiler opinions on it when i return.

I don't wanna be a pesemist but for Some reason i highly dought i'll like it as much as Kingdom of Heaven.

[flan_man]

Absolutely horrible. I can't put it in another way. There are so many things that totally ruined this movie for me.

The dialogues are one thing. They really go down the drain at times. Even Orlando Bloom doesn't know what to do with them, so he just pulls a sad, burdened face and hopes for the best. Russell Crowe pulled the same face in Gladiator, but at least he had some really interesting dialogue to go through. Maybe it also has something to do with Bloom's lack of experience when it comes to parts like this one, but I'll leave that to the experts.

The characterisation is another thing. Again, if you compare with Gladiator, Maximus was a character that you could familiarise with and feel empathy for. It just didn't work with the character that Bloom was supposed to portray. His ethics are all screwed up. He supposedly goes by this ethical code that he proclaims to live by, but if that really is the case then some of his actions really are unforgiveable and what's even worse: hard to understand.

Another complaint I have with many of the characters is that there is little or no background information, and they appear out of nowhere. It's as if they are just dropped in the story. I swear that when Liam Neeson introduced himself to Bloom, I heard the line "Luke, I am your father". But as opposed to Star Wars' solid part before getting to this scene, Kingdom of Heaven almost immediately throws it into your face.

The only saving grace for me was the solid acting from veterans like Jeremy Irons and Edward Norton, and the gorgeous settings of course.

Gladiator was excellent, but stuff like Troy, King Arthur and this Kingdom of Heaven just ruins everything.

[Kazuya_UK]

Not seen the movie, but I might just take your advice and steer clear of it flan . Maybe it's one I'll rent when I have nothing else to do... Gladiator is awesome, but I too wasn't fond of Troy/King Arthur really, and it looks like I'll feel the same about Kingdom of Heaven...

Kaz

[Goemon]

flandrien said:

The characterisation is another thing. Again, if you compare with Gladiator, Maximus was a character that you could familiarise with and feel empathy for. It just didn't work with the character that Bloom was supposed to portray. His ethics are all screwed up. He supposedly goes by this ethical code that he proclaims to live by, but if that really is the case then some of his actions really are unforgiveable and what's even worse: hard to understand.

I do agree with you in a way with some of the events that that took place considering the main characters ethics but i think Bloom in a fine actor and just cause he doesn't seem like someone that would get the lead role in such a big movie and he isn't some big mature looking dude like Russell Crowe that shouldn't be held against him.

Alot of people imo totally shut their mind that an actor can't be good in a certian type of role just cause that actor looks physically fragile or hasn't played a lead role before.

It isn't a perfect movie but is definately better then alot of recent epics imo.

[flan_man]

goemon said:

Alot of people imo totally shut their mind that an actor can't be good in a certian type of role just cause that actor looks physically fragile or hasn't played a lead role before.

I certainly wouldn't judge his performance based on size and muscle definition. I mean, Michael Keaton was a great Batman for me. ;D Now that we're on it though: I don't think the extra weight he had to gain (20 pounds I heard) was added to the right places. Too much weight to gain in too little time? It didn't really matter to me. It's the crusades so men are wearing armour most of the time anyway.

Experience is something that has to grow, which was why I left it out in the open if his (for me) rather pale performance in Kingdom of Heaven was because of lack of experience when it comes to parts like this or because he simply doesn't have the qualities to excell in various roles. Time will tell.

I did love him as Legolas. That part really fitted him and you could see he was fully into it. Kingdom of Heaven... I don't know. If you would give me some of the lines he had to go through, I wouldn't feel too hot either. Whenever I watch an epic movie, I try to imagine that I'm one of the people that is being spoken to. Would the speech really convince and motivate me given the high chance of dying? Hm, the least you could say is that I had severe doubts. I am rather sceptical.

[fusion24]

as if i did not hate the section in my history class, but the crusades. nah! but anyway he did follow the history well. i credit him for that, just that he chose the wrong history of the world to do.