Yet another historical epic with little attention to history and an improbable superman protagonist. In Kingdom of Heaven, Orlando Bloom plays a french blacksmith with an English accent who after a brief and interrupted sword training session, is apparently equipped for knighthood and leading the defense of a city under siege from the forces of Saladin. Now, if you can swallow that, you shouldn't have any real problems with KoH, however, if that statement made you shudder, please avoid imbibing this movie.
Script aside, It certainly looks impressive, bringing that epic feel we've come to expect from a Ridley Scott flick. With impressive costumes and sets bringing to life the middle ages, the only thing really ignored were the people IN the costumes, living IN the Middle Ages. Characters are thrown on screen with little more introduction than, I'm sneering I must be Bad! This is a quick and easy way to point out the villains to us.
I had similar issues with Gladiator, why can't characters in these period pieces just BE the regular Joe? Gladiator can't JUST be a gladiator, he has to be a deposed Roman general with vengeance on his mind, because a guy that does bloodsport for a living just wouldn't be interesting enough. So here with Bloom's Jack-of-all trades blacksmith, who inexplicably knows desert irrigation, military tactics, and oratory while wooing a queen and looking pretty. Obviously, a less grandiose tale, while retaining the set pieces, etc. just wouldn't cut it with today's audiences I guess.
Script aside, It certainly looks impressive, bringing that epic feel we've come to expect from a Ridley Scott flick. With impressive costumes and sets bringing to life the middle ages, the only thing really ignored were the people IN the costumes, living IN the Middle Ages. Characters are thrown on screen with little more introduction than, I'm sneering I must be Bad! This is a quick and easy way to point out the villains to us.
I had similar issues with Gladiator, why can't characters in these period pieces just BE the regular Joe? Gladiator can't JUST be a gladiator, he has to be a deposed Roman general with vengeance on his mind, because a guy that does bloodsport for a living just wouldn't be interesting enough. So here with Bloom's Jack-of-all trades blacksmith, who inexplicably knows desert irrigation, military tactics, and oratory while wooing a queen and looking pretty. Obviously, a less grandiose tale, while retaining the set pieces, etc. just wouldn't cut it with today's audiences I guess.