KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
'Legolas' goes to Jerusalem and shows how a simple blacksmith can become General George S. Patton overnight (peasants sure know their artillery)!
2-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2005)UK-Spain-US-Germany/FOX/Rated R] - (2 hrs. 25 min.)[NOTE: 4-disc Director's cut DVD is 3 hrs. 14 min.]
Directed by Ridley Scott
Screenplay by William Monahan
Lead characters/Cast
Balian - Orlando Bloom
Sibylla (wife to Guy de Lusignan) - Eva Green
Tiberias - Jeremy Irons
Guy de Lusignan - Marton Csokas
Supporting characters/Cast
Hospitaler - David Thewlis
Reynald - Brendan Gleeson
Priest - Michael Sheen
Godfrey - Liam Neeson
King Baldwin (masked leper) - Edward Norton
Review:
Before giving this film the thrashing it richly deserves I would like to state that the one highlight of the film was actor Marton Csokas portrayal of the French knight 'Guy de Lusignan', a character equally despicable and hilarious in his pretentiousness. Be sure to look out for Csokas' next film "Asylum" in select theaters, he's as good an actor in that film as he is a scene-stealer in this one.
Orlando Bloom is a good perfromer also, but this is the type of film that demands a superstar, or at least a young Peter O'Toole in the making. Sadly (as borne out by "Elizabethtown"), Bloom is still a supporting actor in terms of technique/star quality.
Edward Norton ducks any blame by wearing a mask for the whole movie?
Orlando needs a real leading man like Johnny Depp or a Viggo Mortensen to bring the best out in him on the big screen, but in this film he is the sole star. Left to carry too many scenes in this historical epic all by his lonesome proves a burden to heavy for him to shoulder.
Nice try-no cigar ex-'Legolas', as unfortunately, you bit off a bit more than you could chew with this one (who's your agent? Fire him/her). Maybe Brad Pitt could have pulled it off with newly created muscular body, but then again, how many of these horse-epics do we really need anyway? (re: "Troy")
Genre fans may tolerate the weak casting and certainly anyone who sympathizes
with the Muslim idea of a totally free Jerusalem should certainly agree with political ideas being doled out in heaping measures (Zionists should bypass this one completely).
Worth a DVD rental or a dollar/2nd run theater visit at best. Keep your expectations low for maximum enjoyment. It's certainly watchable for action fans with plenty of explosions courtesy of the supposedly primitive artillery.
Ah, c'est la guerre!
MORE cast:
Sultan Saladin - Ghassan Massoud
Nasir - Alexander Siddig
Mullah - Khaled Nabawy
English Sergeant - Kevin McKidd
Almaric - Velibor Topi
Patriarch - Jon Finch
Templar Master - Ulrich Thomsen
Village Sheriff - Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Richard Coeur de Lion - Iain Glen
SOUNDTRACK INFO from IMDb.com
Please note that songs listed here (and in the movie credits) cannot always be found on CD soundtracks. Please check CD track details for confirmation.
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"LE ROI RENAUD DE GUERRE REVINT"
Traditional
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"VIDE COR MEUM" - Written by Patrick Cassidy
Performed by Danielle De Niese and Bruno Lazzaretti
Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Music Inc.
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"THE CROW DESCENDS" - Written and Performed by Graeme Revell
Courtesy of Cherry Lane Music
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"RANNANU (SING WITH JOY)"
Traditional Arranged by Christopher Moroney
Performed by San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble
Courtesy of World Library Productions, the music and liturgy division of J.S. Paluch Company Inc.
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"CITY OF ANGELS" - Written and Performed by Graeme Revell
Courtesy of Cherry Lane Music
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"SAZ VA AVAZ NAHOFT" - Written by Hossein Alizadeh
Arranged by Homayoun Shajarian, Kayhan Kalhor
Performed by Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Hossein Alizadeh, Kayhan Kalhor and Homayoun Shajarian Courtesy of World Village Music
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"JESU MEINE FREUDE" - Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by The Hilliard Ensemble
Courtesy of ECM Production from the album Morimur
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"FAMILY FEUD" (from BLADE II) - Written by Marco Beltrami
Courtesy of New Line Productions, Inc.
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"CHANSONETA FARAI, VENCUT" - Written by Raimon de Miraval
Performed by Ensemble Convivencia Courtesy of Bella Musica/Antes Edition
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"LIGHT OF LIFE (IBELIN REPRISE)"
Vocals and Lyrics by Natacha Atlas Natacha Atlas performs courtesy of Mantra Recordings
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"VALHALLA" - Written and Performed by Jerry Goldsmith
Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures
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"EPITAFIO" - Written and Performed by Luis Delgado
Courtesy of Nubenegra
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"BALANSIYA" - Written and Performed by Luis Delgado
Courtesy of Nubenegra
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"CHANTERAI POR MON CORAGE" (director's cut only)
Composed by Guiot de Dijon
Performed by Estampie (from the album 'Crusaders: In Nomine Domini')
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"Saa Magni" (director's cut only) - Performed by Omou Sangare
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records/World Circuit
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"Nunc Gaudeant Materna" (director's cut only)
Performed by Women's Voices of Sequentia
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