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Kingdom of Heaven
2005 144 min United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain R 16+
★6.8
Drama, Action, Adventure, History, War
Director: Ridley Scott
Trailers
Description
After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.
Budget:
$130M
US Gross:
$47.53M
Worldwide:
$218.37M
Starring
Orlando Bloom
Actor
Eva Green
Actor
Liam Neeson
Actor
Awards
European Film Awards 2005
— Audience Award – Best Actor
Goya Awards 2006
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
Kingdom of Heaven is widely regarded as a visually stunning historical epic that excels in production design and large-scale battle sequences. While the film is praised for its thematic depth regarding faith and conflict, the central performance and narrative structure remain significant points of contention among viewers.
| Production | Ridley Scott’s masterful production design and cinematography create an immersive, authentic atmosphere through vivid landscapes and elaborate set pieces. | |
| Acting | The film features standout supporting performances, particularly from Edward Norton and Ghassan Massoud, who bring gravitas to the historical setting. | |
| Score | Harry Gregson-Williams provides a powerful and evocative score that effectively captures the ancient, solemn tone of the Crusades. | |
| Theme | The narrative explores complex themes of religious tolerance, agency, and human morality, elevating the material beyond typical historical fiction. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Orlando Bloom are sharply divided; some find his portrayal of Balian grounded and authentic, while others criticize him as charismatically flat and physically unconvincing. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is a frequent target of criticism for its rapid, at times incoherent pacing and its liberal, often confusing departure from actual historical events. | |
| Editing | The drastically different lengths of the theatrical and director’s cuts create a divide in viewer experience, with many feeling the shorter version suffers from poor editing and lost narrative context. |