81 out of 119 people found the following review helpful:

GREAT FILM FANTASTIC ACTION

David Hewkin from YORKSHIRE ENGLAND, 8th May, 2005

This film host a star studed cast and the film lives up to this. The effects especially the battle scenes are without doubt out of this world. The story/plot is both acceptable and understandable.From the start it is gripping and holds your attention straight away ( avoid the toilet dash) whilst two and a half hours long it seems like one hour.Without disclosing the plot the movie portrays the battle between the various religeous nominations and the fight for the control of Jerusalem. A good portrail of the religeous beliefs but also the need and rights to control. overall two many key performances too mention ( eNglish fans watch for SPIDER from coronation street)

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39 out of 51 people found the following review helpful:

Wholly unconvincing holy nonsense

Rehan from , 7th January, 2006

It’s no surprise that this film was made by a successful director of advertisements: everything and everyone is improbably glossy – a medieval blacksmith with Orlando Bloom’s skin and hair and articulacy, honestly! – and it bears about as much connection to reality as the average shampoo commercial does; indeed the multiplicity of candles in more than one scene is reminiscent of nothing more than a naff music video or an ad for chocolates. In keeping with a certain current earnestness it tries very hard to be even-handed towards Muslims and consequently has Christian characters spouting forth all manner of anachronistically tolerant views. The clumsy introduction of a hopelessly unconvincing love interest would put a Disney cartoon to shame (shades of a travel agent’s ad here). The battle scenes, while not stinting on the gory aspects, were staged scarcely more impressively than a Channel 4 historical-documentary reconstruction. Without the resources of a cinema screen (and this film flopped even as a cinematic release for a reason) I can’t imagine any reason to sit through this nonsense.

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35 out of 41 people found the following review helpful:

More King Arthur than Gladiator

ThursdayNext from Warwickshire, 7th May, 2005

Orlando Bloom in his third siege in as many years (Lord of the Rings, Troy) - and he is certainly getting better at battle tactics. Accomplished direction from Ridley Scott, impressive battle scenes, Jeremy Irons as a grizzled cynic...and little plot or character to keep you interested.

Bloom is surprisingly ok as the super-nice knight fighting for peace and equality (it's not what you were born into, it's your actions, bla bla bla). Shiny hair and inspirational speeches about Jerusalem belonging to people of all religions just don't have the visceral impact of Russell Crowe's Gladiator (although perhaps the film should be watched by leaders in Israel and Palestine if no-one else).

Understandably reluctant to make Saladin and his muslims the baddies, Scott opts for the villain of choice for many recent films, the French. Although if they didn't keep repeating their names, you would be hard pressed to work out that they were French at all. Those who call for holy war on both sides are shown as the bad guys while those who fight for peace like Bloom are the goodies, intended as a message for George Bush, perhaps.

The princess Sybilla is a complete waste of screen time, and the 'romance' between her and the man whose wife has recently comitted suicide is contrived, unconvincing and distasteful.

Watchable, but not memorable.

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38 out of 66 people found the following review helpful:

History made fun

Keeley from Wickford, Essex, 24th July, 2006

This film was brilliant. Blown away by the location, the fight scenes were amazing and the scenery was breathtaking. Orlando Bloom was superb, he was believeable and likeable, I have to say it did remind me of Lord of the Rings but in a good way. The film was nearly two and a half hours long but you got so caught up with the magic that it felt like an hour. All performances were excellent, well worth seeing.

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Kingdom of Heaven

A Customer from Brechin, 24th February, 2010

What I saw of it was good. There was plenty of action centred around a part of real history, and not fantasy. I particularly liked the 'Pilgrims Guide' facility that explained how the film differed from historical fact. It shows how intolerant the early 'Christians' were to other religions. 'Kill a Saracen and you will have a place in Heaven'. Hmmm. Very Christian. Even sanctioned by the Pope for God's sake ! The Saracens did at least respect the rights of other religions, and were tolerant towards them. Before the 'Crusaders' came along, Jerusalem was quite cosmopolitan. Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, and Coptic Greeks and Arabs, all worshipped there. Crusading Knights slaughtered black Coptic Christians, purely because they weren't white. The incident was witnessed by Marco Polo and his father. Things haven't changed much.

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Avoid this version.

Richieclean from , 14th February, 2010

Ridley Scott applies his meticulous style to the Crusades, specifically the siege of Jerusalem, with disappointing results. While the cinematography, production design and action sequences are first class, the movie lacks impact. Many would find the prospect of Orlando Bloom as a battle-hardened warrior difficult to swallow, and the story promises more than it delivers. There is good news however; in the Directors Cut Bloom's character arc is fleshed out and made more convincing, and the plot complexities previously hinted at are developed & brought to the fore. Seek out this version for a genuine five star experience.

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Kingdom of Heaven

polwie from , 10th February, 2010

I think that the idea of the film was to show the power of two religions: Christianity and Islam and relations between them. But I have watched something different and I do not agree with this as “ historical truth”. In addition, suddenly, a blacksmith becomes a perfect knight and master of war strategy. Very funny, really. And dialogues? Better to turn off. If any director and screenwriter wants to be PC, it will never be good for any film I will not watch this film again, however, I have given 2 stars for decorations, clothes and music.

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Feels longer than the Crusades themselves

Noseyjoe from , 9th November, 2009

Oh dear maybe I just don't understand the idiom, but I thought I'd give Ridley Scott another chance and see if he couldn't come up with something intelligent and educational about the Crusades, or even lend them a new relevance in these days of religious intolerance. OOPS! As a history lesson it's probably about as good as Carry on up the Khyber, though of course that was a work of prescient genius about today's Afghanistan. Anyway suffice to say that a jobbing Chippendale (or possible refugee from Bon Jovi) heads to the Holy Land and finds love with an out-of-work beautician who's a bit stroppy to start with and a bit sloppy with the eye-liner but, against a backdrop of CGI effects and ketchup-caked battle scenes every 15 mins (set your watch), they find luurrve. But I suppose this is what I get if I upgrade my sound system and want to get the 'surround sound experience'

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