There aren’t many good films made on the Crusades that are worth one’s time. But one film that is worth every second spent on it is Kingdom of Heaven (2005). The film was directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. The film takes place during the events that led to the Third Crusade. It mainly focuses on the Balian of Ibelin who fights with the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin to defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The film boasts a star cast consisting of Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, David Thewalis etc. But what stole the screen was Edward Norton’s role of King Baldwin IV. He played the role like he was meant for playing it. His role was appreciated by many critics who called it to be ‘phenomenal’. Though the film has often been criticized for lack of depth, many also claimed it to be a great watch. Robert Ebert claimed the film’s message to be even greater than that of Gladiator.
The film is unmatched for its cinematography, especially for that of the wars. The portrayal of the period, the customs and details of the time is commendable. The film delves deep into the politics of the time while maintaining the subtlety of a film and not making it boring. The actors play the roles very accurately, and Edward Norton quite immortalizes Baldwin IV through his role.
The film must be watched for its great treatment of The Crusades and the development of Christianity. The bonding between Baldwin and Saladin is very nicely depicted. The film overall, is a great watch if you like period films.
The film is available to rent in Prime Video and Apple TV. For a relaxing and thrilling Sunday, you can go ahead and rent the film to enjoy the great epic of Scott.
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