Kingdom of Heaven

2005 Drama

Ridley Scott directed this epic-scale historical drama inspired by the events of the Crusades of the 12th century. Balian (Orlando Bloom) is a humble French blacksmith who is searching for a reason to go on after the death of his wife and children. Balian is approached by Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), a fabled knight who has briefly returned home after serving in the East. Godfrey informs Balian that he is his true father, and urges the blacksmith to join him as he and his forces journey to Jerusalem to help defend the holy city. Balian accepts, and he and Godfrey arrive during the lull between the Second and Third Crusades, in which the city is enjoying a fragile peace. Both Christian and Muslim forces are temporarily in retreat, thanks to the wisdom of the Christian monarch King Baldwin IV (Edward Norton), his second-in-command Tiberias (Jeremy Irons), and Muslim potentate Saladin (Ghassan Massoud). Violent agitators on both sides are foolishly eager to end the peace in a bid for greater power, and Saladin bows to pressures from Muslim factions; Godfrey is one of a handful of brave knights who has thrown his allegiance behind Baldwin IV and his community of diversity, and Balian joins him as they use their skills as warriors in a bid to build a lasting peace. Kingdom of Heaven also stars Eva Green as the princess Sibylla, David Thewlis as Hospitaler the priest, and Brendan Gleeson as Reynald. more..

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Jeremy Irons,Edward Norton, Brendan Gleeson

Reviews

  • Better than "Gladiator" -- deeper, more thoughtful, more about human motivation and less about action.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • Scott and company have gotten so accomplished at re-creating history that the results have a welcome offhanded quality, making them spectacular without seeming to be showing off.

    Kenneth Turan - Los Angeles Times

    26 April 2013

  • Fulfills the requirements of grand-scale moviemaking while serving as a timely reminder that in the conflict between Christianity and Islam it was the Christians who picked the first fight.

    Kirk Honeycutt - The Hollywood Reporter

    26 April 2013

  • Odd as it is to say, Kingdom of Heaven loses its momentum the more Balian gets religion.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    26 April 2013

  • Screenwriter William Monahan has fashioned an intelligent and highly topical epic. Director Ridley Scott has brought it home with banners flying.

    Mick LaSalle - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor

    European Film Awards (2005)

  • Best Costume Design (Mejor Diseño de Vestuario)

    Goya Awards (2006)

     
  • Composer of the Year

    Hollywood Film Festival (2005)

  • Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Foreign

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (2006)

     
  • Outstanding Original Score

    Satellite Awards (2005)