Kingdom Of Heaven on DVD (2005)

David Hewkin from YORKSHIRE ENGLAND , 08/05/2005

This film host a star studed cast

and the film lives up to this. The effects especially the battle scenes are without doubt out of this world. The story/plot is both acceptable and understandable.From the start it is gripping and holds your attention straight away ( avoid the toilet dash) whilst two and a half hours long it seems like one hour.Without disclosing the plot the movie portrays the battle between the various religeous nominations and the fight for the control of Jerusalem. A good portrail of the religeous beliefs but also the need and rights to control. overall two many key performances too mention ( eNglish fans watch for SPIDER from coronation street)

  66 out of 102 people found this review helpful

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Rehan from London , 07/01/2006

It’s no surprise that this film was made by a successful director of advertisements: everything and everyone is improbably glossy – a medieval blacksmith with Orlando Bloom’s skin and hair and articulacy, honestly! – and it bears about as much connection to reality as the average shampoo commercial does; indeed the multiplicity of candles in more than one scene is reminiscent of nothing more than a naff music video or an ad for chocolates.

In keeping with a certain current earnestness it tries very hard to be even-handed towards Muslims and consequently has Christian characters spouting forth all manner of anachronistically tolerant views. The clumsy introduction of a hopelessly unconvincing love interest would put a Disney cartoon to shame (shades of a travel agent’s ad here). The battle scenes, while not stinting on the gory aspects, were staged scarcely more impressively than a Channel 4 historical-documentary reconstruction. Without the resources of a cinema screen (and this film flopped even as a cinematic release for a reason) I can’t imagine any reason to sit through this nonsense.

  34 out of 46 people found this review helpful

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ThursdayNext from Warwickshire , 07/05/2005

Orlando Bloom in his third siege in as many years (Lord of the Rings, Troy) - and he is certainly getting better at battle tactics. Accomplished direction from Ridley Scott, impressive battle scenes, Jeremy Irons as a grizzled cynic...and little plot or character to keep you interested.

Bloom is surprisingly ok as the super-nice knight fighting for peace and equality (it's not what you were born into, it's your actions, bla bla bla). Shiny hair and inspirational speeches about Jerusalem belonging to people of all religions just don't have the visceral impact of Russell Crowe's Gladiator (although perhaps the film should be watched by leaders in Israel and Palestine if no-one else).

Understandably reluctant to make Saladin and his muslims the baddies, Scott opts for the villain of choice for many recent films, the French. Although if they didn't keep repeating their names, you would be hard pressed to work out that they were French at all. Those who call for holy war on both sides are shown as the bad guys while those who fight for peace like Bloom are the goodies, intended as a message for George Bush, perhaps.

The princess Sybilla is a complete waste of screen time, and the 'romance' between her and the man whose wife has recently comitted suicide is contrived, unconvincing and distasteful.

Watchable, but not memorable.

  31 out of 37 people found this review helpful

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Keeley from Wickford, Essex , 24/07/2006

This film was brilliant. Blown away by the location, the fight scenes were amazing and the scenery was breathtaking. Orlando Bloom was superb, he was believeable and likeable, I have to say it did remind me of Lord of the Rings but in a good way. The film was nearly two and a half hours long but you got so caught up with the magic that it felt like an hour. All performances were excellent, well worth seeing.

  37 out of 65 people found this review helpful

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