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.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

For so also was it in the time before the Jews had deposed God, for God's kingdom was in Israel, and the nations around about it were kingdoms of the Enemy...

(note: I say Enemy, not enemy...)

[Steve Van Doorn]

"I am not about to take seriously a new arrival at Free Republic waxing poetic about Mass-Murderer propaganda."

We need to back off on attacking new comers. Please before you attack check their previous writings.

[longtermmemmory]

What is it with the anonymous pro-"kingdom of heaven" posts?

It seems someone is trying to gin-up word of mouth on FR.

It is a PC movie which cowered to CAIR over softening the islamic characters.

[what's up]

The Crusades were launched in resonse to a plea from Christian Byzantiums for help. The Muslims were attacking and advancing into their territory as well as killing christians making pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

If Byzantium fell, western christendom would have been threatened. Thus, the Crusades. The Muslims were the imperialists who had taken great swaths of territory. The Crusades were the time when Christians would finally make an attempt to get it back.

[hosepipe]

[ 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. ]

One must know about each to critic either or both..
Do you?...

Few people (I know) even know that Islam is not a religion or even a cult but a GANG.. A virtual Gang.. Like any urban gang.. A tribal system which is a gang.. with "colors" and everything.. The crusaders were only a little better but they were a smig better... More like a Mob instead of a gang..

[Americanexpat]

You got that exactly right.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"Like any urban gang."

Since there are over a billion Muslims, I'd say that is one big honking gang.

I don't care whether they are called a religion, a cult or a gang. Too many of them have shown that they are willing to kill my family so I view them all as likely enemies.

Michael Frazier

[TheSorcererwiththeCosmicKey]

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


I seem to remember Balian outsmarting him in several of his counter-attacks.

[rwfromkansas]

Certainly true. But, the Muslims weren't exactly nice either.

Both sides had their faults.

If this movie shows that, I will see it.

[rwfromkansas]

Other reviewers say Saladin is portrayed as a man blood-thirsty for revenge.

I guess the only way I will decide is to see it for myself.

[Steve Van Doorn]

You mean when crusaders used Ballista’s to knock down the Mobile Assault Towers? That is the only time I can remember the crusaders actually doing something right in the movie, but that wasn’t much. The crusaders was protrade as a bunch of mind numb monsters.

In real life Saladin slottered and inslaved all those he could find. He didn't let the crusaders leave peacefully.

The crusaders was protrude in the move as a bunch of mind numb murderous monsters, even the main actors where murderous.

[Steve Van Doorn]

"reviewers say Saladin is portrayed as a man blood-thirsty for revenge."

this is true after he became the victim. He was analogues to William Wallace in bravehart but not pumped up that much.

[William Terrell]

The movies main communication seems to be that Islam and Christianity are equal and are both good except for a few misguided extremists in each giving them a bad name.

Movies burn their communications into your attention with intense vicarious experiences. I'd think those that are on the fence or ignorant would come away with that communication. Problem is that most folks don't know much about the crusades.

I hear people using references to movies all the time and so do I. It seems to usually be a line that states our own beliefs well, but I wonder if those beliefs were so much there before we saw the movie and saw the line delivered.

Rev 17:8 ". . .when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

[hosepipe]

[ Since there are over a billion Muslims, I'd say that is one big honking gang. ]

Not all muslims are Muslims like not all christians are Christians..

Only worse..

Muslims faceing the <-sillyness of Islam, face challengeing their cultures and face being rejected by their familys, friends, and in some cases face death at the hands of those very same people....

Apostasy(leaving Islam) is punishable by death. Mohammed said, "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him." ,Surah Vol. 9:57

Islam has a strong murderological base... ACT LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT OR DIE!...
and they are as serious as a heart attack.. maybe cancer.. Muslims will KILL their OWN loved ones over their religion.. They will think nothing of you or I.. They have the humanity of a scorpion.. or Black Widow Spider.. Thats is Muslims do, remember, NOT all Muslims are Muslims.. Some, maybe most, are caught in a catch 22 situation.. It really is a social disease..

[Zechariah11]

Excellent post. Thanks for the info.

[Zechariah11]

You're boring. Go away.

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"You're boring. Go away."

It's getting close to bedtime so I think I will go away.
See you tomorrow.

Michael Frazier

[Ciexyz]

I too am looking forward to seeing this film for free from the library.

Whether I see it at the cineplex depends on word of mouth from conservative friends. Will I be upchucking from any supposed portrayals of the Muslims as noble heroes? That would spoil the entire movie for me.

That said, I loved Gladiator and saw it approx. ten times on the big screen. When it came out on DVD, I was disappointed at seeing it on a small screen, which took away the epic atmosphere of the film. Some movies must be seen on the big screen to appreciate their grandeur.

[marajade]

"Some movies must be seen on the big screen to appreciate their grandeur."

You need a better home theater set up.

[Ciexyz]

I rewatched "Troy" on DVD recently and was impressed with the film. I remember reading comments both pro and critical when the film first came out, but all in all, I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to see a decent epic. And yes, it stars Orlando Bloom as a very pretty Paris.