JustWatchWhat is Kingdom Of Heaven About?
Kingdom Of Heaven is a historical epic set during the medieval period. It depicts the events leading up to the siege of Jerusalem in 1187, mostly told from the perspective of Balian of Ibelin, a crusader noble who led the defence of the city.
Our Honest Kingdom Of Heaven Review
The word ‘epic’ gets thrown around a lot in film reviews and has lost some of its power, but it’s the best way to describe Ridley Scott’s Kingdom Of Heaven. This movie is full of dramatic scenery and massive battle sequences involving thousands of people, and it’s also really long!
The standard version is almost three hours long, and the director’s cut is even longer. If you want to watch it all in one go, take the day off.
This is grandiose filmmaking on a magnificent scale, and it’s deeply involving. You can almost feel the weight of medieval armour and the scorching desert heat, while the political machinations of the crusades are surprisingly accessible.
Orlando Bloom puts in his best performance as Balian, a blacksmith with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and it climaxes in one of the most remarkable battle scenes ever put on film.
The standard version isn’t perfect and has a few crucial subplots edited out, but the director’s cut is Ridley Scott’s masterpiece. All of the Kingdom Of Heaven actors do a grand job, and while both versions are worth seeking out, we’d recommend the extended film; it’s incredible.
What Do the Critics Think of Kingdom Of Heaven?
Kingdom Of Heaven received mixed reviews. Journalists spoke favourably about the battle scenes and cinematography, but found the story confusing.
The director’s cut however, received almost universal praise. It was described as a more complete film, and the inclusion of several subplots was said to flesh out the story
- “To say that Scott did a beautiful job directing Kingdom of Heaven would be true, but it wouldn’t convey the nature of the achievement.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle (standard version).
- “Mostly uninvolving; a movie you admire for its craft rather than enjoying for its passion.” – Tom Keogh, Seattle Times (standard version).
- “The battle sequences here are actually worth the cost of admission, and there is exemplary supporting work by Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Edward Norton and especially Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud as the legendary Muslim leader Saladin.” – Lou Lumenick, New York Post.
- “Dramatically, the problem is it’s a lot easier to root for someone battling tigers and gladiators than it is to cheer on a guy wondering about the meaning of life. This is why Waiting for Godot has never been made into a summer movie blockbuster.” – Tom Long, Detroit News.
- “The added 45 minutes in the Director’s Cut are like pieces missing from a beautiful but incomplete puzzle.” – Phil De Semlyen, Empire Magazine (director’s cut).
Did the Movie Kingdom Of Heaven win any Awards?
Yes, the film received several award nominations in late 2005 and early 2006. It won:
- Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects In A Motion Picture at the Visual Effects Society Awards.
- Outstanding Original Score for Harry Gregson-Williams at The Satellite Awards.
- Composer Of The Year for Harry Gregson-Williams at the Hollywood Film Awards
Cast & Crew of Heat
Sir Ridley Scott was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, so there’s a good chance that England’s former Monarch was a fan of Alien (1979). That film is incredible, and it’s even more impressive when you consider it was only his second directorial effort.
Orlando Bloom spent a significant portion of the early 2000s swinging swords at people in historical and fantasy epics. Prior to Kingdom Of Heaven, he appeared in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001 – 2003), Pirates Of The Caribbean (2003), and Troy (2004). He must have been sick of swashbuckling by the time they finished filming.
Only a year after Kingdom Of Heaven was released, Eva Green received widespread fame when she played James Bond’s love interest in Casino Royale (2006). She tends to alternate between Hollywood and French cinema and reportedly enjoys playing “dark, twisted” characters more than heroes.
Fun fact; ‘Jeremy Irons’ is an anagram for ‘Jeremy’s Iron.’ The former voice of Scar the Lion plays Balian’s noble mentor in Kingdom Of Heaven, the Marshal Tiberias. The character is based on Raymond III of Tripoli, but his name was changed to avoid confusion with another character.
Ed Norton’s role as King Baldwin was originally kept secret. He wears a mask for the entire film, but the intonation of his voice and the physicality of his body language are remarkable. He almost steals the show, yet his face isn’t seen at all.
Ghassan Massoud is a veteran Syrian actor and filmmaker who has been active in the film industry since 1987. He reunited with Ridley Scott for Exodus: Gods And Kings in 2014, but his performance as Saladdin is his most memorable.
Fun Facts About Kingdom Of Heaven
- Orlando Bloom put on 20 pounds of muscle to play Balian of Ibelin.
- Saladdin and the Arabic people are frequently referred to as ‘Saracens,’ but there were no tribes of this name in real life. It is a distorted version of the French word ‘sarazin,’ whose origins have been lost to history but may have been influenced by the Arabic word ‘saraki,’ meaning ‘east.’ Saladdin was a Kurd and fielded an army of Kurds, Turks, Egyptians, Yemenis and other religious volunteers.
- Ridley Scott reluctantly cut 45 minutes of footage from the film. This was because the studio felt it was too long and complex. He has since disowned the standard version and considers the director’s cut to be the definitive edition.
Themes of Kingdom Of Heaven
Kingdom Of Heaven is set against the historical background of the crusader era, specifically the events leading up to the 1187 Siege of Jerusalem and the start of the Third Crusade. It revolves around themes of religious conflict between the Islamic and Christian worlds. It has been interpreted as an exploration of interfaith conflicts in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, filtered through the lens of a medieval war.
How Does Kingdom Of Heaven Compare to Ridley Scott’s Other Work?
Well, it doesn’t have much in common with Alien (1979). There aren’t any dribbling monsters with acid for blood, and Jones the cat is conspicuously absent, but it does share similarities with a few of his other films.
For example, it is reminiscent of Gladiator (2000). Like Kingdom Of Heaven, that film was a historical epic which involved a lot of sword-based violence. However, it was set in the days of the Roman Empire rather than the crusades, and was more of a streamlined revenge flick.
Kingdom Of Heaven spends more time on political scheming and explores a wider cultural backdrop. Plus, Orlando Bloom’s Balian was more of a quietly practical war leader, whereas Russell Crowe’s intense Maximus was a bombastic hero.
They are however, both better than Robin Hood (2010), which was comparatively disappointing. It could also be compared to his equally grandiose Napoleon (2023), another historical biopic with a lengthy run time. That one has more cannons and fancy hats though.
Iconic Scenes from Kingdom Of Heaven
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Edward Norton lobbied for the part of King Baldwin and asked not to be credited. His name was missing from the theatrical release and wasn’t added until it came out on DVD.
- David Thewlis plays a Hospitaler Knight in this film and while researching for the part, discovered that his London flat was built on the remains of their headquarters.
- Three 60-foot-tall siege towers were built for the climactic battle scene. They were filmed from multiple angles, and the shots were edited together to create the impression that there were far more. All three were made using period-specific technology.
- The chain mail armour was created by the Weta Workshop, who previously created similar armour for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. All of these films featured Orlando Bloom.
What’s the Soundtrack Like for Kingdom Of Heaven?
The score by Harry Gregson-Williams is almost as epic as the film itself. It’s a mix of choral music, instrumentals, and big orchestral pieces. Fittingly, a lot of it feels like something you might hear if you walked into a Cathedral in 1187.
Best Quotes from Kingdom Of Heaven
- “The whole world is in chess. Any move can be the death of you. Do anything except remain where you started, and you can’t be sure of your end.” – King Baldwin discusses the complexities of life.
- “When I was sixteen, I won a great victory. I felt in that moment I would live to be a hundred. Now I know I shall not see thirty.” – King Baldwin considers his fate.
- “A king does not kill a king. Were you not close enough to a great king to learn by his example?” – Saladdin shows mercy.
- “Nothing, everything.” – Saladdin on what Jerusalem means.
- “What is Jerusalem? Your holy places lie over the Jewish temple that the Romans pulled down. The Muslim places of worship lie over yours. Which is more holy? The wall? The Mosque? The Sepulchre? Who has claim? No one has claim. All have claim!” – Balian rallies the city’s defenders as Saladdin’s army approaches.
- “I once fought two days with an arrow through my testicle.” – Godfrey of Ibelin makes viewers wince.
What People Are Asking About Kingdom Of Heaven
Kingdom Of Heaven is available for streaming on Disney+ and can be purchased on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Yes, he was. The film shows him remaining in Jerusalem while the crusaders march to war, but the real Balian was present at the battle. He survived and managed to escape back to the city, where he organised the defences. As the film doesn’t show the battle, the story was altered so that they wouldn’t have to explain how he escaped.
It’s deliberately left ambiguous. David Thewlis plays a Hospitaler knight, but his name is never mentioned, and his motivations aren’t explained. There are a few minor hints in the director’s cut that he may be a supernatural character, such as an Angel.
Of course, the cast is rounded out by notable actors like Martin Csokas as Guy de Lusignan, Brendan Gleeson as Reynald De Chatillon, and Alexander Siddig as Imad ad-Din al Isfahani. There are also cameos by Michael Sheen as an obnoxious Priest and Liam Neeson as Balian’s father, Baron Godfrey.
SPOILER WARNING
The film ends with Balian negotiating the surrender of Jerusalem to Saladdin, in exchange for the safe passage of the Christian population. He then returns to France with Sibylla (who renounces her claim as Queen) and a few years later is approached by some crusading English knights. They offer him the chance to join Richard the Lionheart’s army, but he declines.
There is also an extra scene in the director’s cut where Balian fights a duel against Guy de Lusignan.
Cast & Crew
Director(s)
Ridley Scott
Top Cast
Martin Hancock, Michael Sheen, Nathalie Cox, Eriq Ebouaney
