KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

[TheSorcererwiththeCosmicKey]

went to Kingdom of Heaven last night, and since i'm a huge fan of these type of pictures: full blown epics, i loved it. Of course, i could see why someone would not like it. First off, I was most impressed by: the sets and the costumes are awesome, like all of Ridley's Scott's other films, "black hawk down', ' gladiator' you are seriously thrown back into the time that he is trying to create and in this picture, you can feel the Crusades and you feel it.

Much has been in the presses about how the film would portray both religions, Christianity and Islam. However, both are given fair portrayls, ideologies, yet highlights the dangers of fanatical followers of both of the religions.

I know there are a lot of Orlando Bloom detractors out there, personally I thought his performance as Balian was pretty good. He is definitely no Russell Crowe or Mel Gibson type epic hero, but I think that was the plan. I think Scott wanted a quiet hero type. However, the whole relationship with Eva Green's character is sort of thrown around, she's great to look at, but their whole relationshuip was as i mentioned '' thrown together.'

All in all, my favorite scenes were: Balian taking on several knights at once, Balian counter-attacks vs. Saladin, when Baldwin the leper king and Saladin come face to face infront of both of their armies, pure awesome, when Baldwin slaps the * out of the * Reynald played by Brendan Gleeson, and when Balian kisses his sword, before he goes into battle.

Speaking of Baldwin, the leper king, he is played by the great Edward Norton, however, Norton goes throughout the whole film in a mask, due to the fact that his illness severely scared his face.

[The Iguana]

Similarly here - if it portrays Saladin consistent with the myths of the noble enemy that European court romances portrayed him as for over a millenia, well, that won't bother me either.

It doesn't bother me much either - not nearly so much as the mindless bashing of the Church and the noble ideals that did inform many of the crusaders which Ridley Scott engages in.

[Natural Law]

Even with perfect motives history is made by imperfect beings..... yup, a pi$$er.

[Tungenchek]

grunt... now you got me thinking....not a good thing for me sometimes...LOL

Actually if I recall correctly at least one of the Childrens Crusades never ever reached the Holy Land or fought the Muslims... I think they were butchered and sold into slavery along the way...by various nefarious dudes.

or sumpin like that.

But I aint sure for sure...and have to get to my yard work...will look it up later... :o)

[Stonewall Jackson]

I still find it hard to believe that people can be so ignorant of history. Anyone with half a brain who has even remotely looked at a chapter of a high school history book on this time period should be able to figure out that the Muslim armies in Spain were still very much a threat to Europe when the Crusades were launched. These lengthy campaigns had two objectives; first to try and restore the Holy Lands to Christian control, and second to force the enemy to pull back some of its forces threatening to sweep through Southern France and into the heart of Europe. Several of the kings at this time (Richard the Lion-Hearted for one) realized the dire situation Europe was facing, but they knew that they would have a difficult time convincing their vassal lords to gather together their forces and go fight and die to defend a rival European king's land. If, however, they could offer these same vassal lords the opportunity to fight for a greater religious purpose and include the possible opportunity for them to increase their wealth and political stature, then they might stand a chance.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"...I am not about to take seriously a new arrival at Free Republic..."

So by your standards, since I've been around more than a year longer than you, I can in good conscience tell you to get over yourself.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Thanks...I'll it for free on cable. They won't get dime one from me."

So, what are the cable rates in your area?

Michael Frazier

[ClaireSolt]

Sounds flawed, but it is about time we revisit the crusades history and stop letting Islamicists flog us with it, To the poster that called the Crusaders barbarians, I suggest a review of the 12th century renaissance.

[68 grunt]

And you reminded me that there was more than one 'childrens crusade'. Yup, a pi$$er.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

Those poor souls in the Children's Crusade were preyed upon by everyone they met along the way, Muslim or not.

Michael Frazier

[OK]

That is about right. The Islamic invasion of Europe was stopped in the year 732 at Tours by Charles Martel in what is now France, and again in Kosovo by the Serbs in the 14th century.

The Crusades were part of the still ongoing and larger war for Europe between two incompatible belief systems.

[jocon307]

"So maybe his hairstyle in LOTR was for real!"

LOL! Maybe so!

[Publius6961]

So by your standards, since I've been around more than a year longer than you, I can in good conscience tell you to get over yourself.

Who are you?
Regardless, if it makes you feel self-important, by all means, knock yourself out.

As for the puerile "I have been here longer than you", those are your words, not mine.
If you can't grasp the distinction, keep up the good work.
I got a fly-swatter.

[tophat9000]

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=4467

[LibWhacker]

I'm dying to see it for the sets and costumes alone. Love stuff like that. But as long as reviewers are saying things like "it's Osama bin Laden's version of history," I know I won't be spending a dime on it!

[TightyRighty]

Jeez, wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

[SaltyJoe]

"I believe that Orlando Bloom is gay."

Many actors may have had to perform sexual favors for an older male in the entertainment business to get themselves into the business. It would be horrifying to abandon such men to homosexuals if these same men want to drop their perverted past. Nobody should be pressured by sexual harassment. It's not limited to just women.

Googling "Orlando Bloom gay" will unearth a plethora of homosexual sites screaming for Orlando to "come out the the closet" in spite of his stating that he has a girlfriend. I don't know what the truth is about Orlando or his past. I hope that fabrication be avoided.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Who are you?'

I'm the freeper who smacked you down for belittling another Freeper's opinion because he/she hasn't been here long.

You're the Freeper who accused me of doing the same thing you did. What was it you said about grasping distinctions?

So, slick, what are you going to do with the fly-swatter you got?

Michael Frazier

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Barbarians at the gate, no thanks.

[Restorer]

Anyone with half a brain who has even remotely looked at a chapter of a high school history book on this time period should be able to figure out that the Muslim armies in Spain were still very much a threat to Europe when the Crusades were launched. These lengthy campaigns had two objectives; first to try and restore the Holy Lands to Christian control, and second to force the enemy to pull back some of its forces threatening to sweep through Southern France and into the heart of Europe.

Not accurate.

The Muslim armies in Spain at this time were generally in retreat. They hadn't been into France for several centuries. They had also recently been defeated in southern Italy and Sicily.

The Muslims at this time had also been split into warring independent states for many centuries. For Christians to attack Egypt or Palestine to force Muslims Spanish armies to change their behavior would make as much sense as a Muslim army attacking Russia to relieve Christian pressure on Spanish Muslims.

[Steve Van Doorn]

“The subject of the movie is not Saladin.”

I unfortunately seen the movie. Saladin was portrayed as a hero and a victim trying to defend his people and his land.

The battle scenes where pathetic, they always shown Saladin using superior tactics to the western tactics.