KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

RATING: B+

Starring: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Martin Csokas and Liam Neeson. Music by Harry Gregson-Williams, Costume Designer Janty Yates, Film Editor Dody Dorn, Production Designer Arthur Max, Director of Photography John Mathieson, Executive Producers Branko Lustig, Lisa Ellzey, Terry Needham, , Produced by Ridley Scott, Written by William Monahan, Directed by Ridley Scott.

Rated R, Running Time 225 mins., 2.40 to 1 Anamorphic Scope Aspect Ratio.

Celebrated auteur Ridley Scott is indeed one of the most influential directors in cinema history. His artistic experience has created some of the most visually stunning films of the past quarter century. "Alien", "Blade Runner" and "Gladiator" – they’ve all either had an influence on visual style or revived a genre. Scott has a well-honed talent for making grand epic pictures, films that plunge you into an atmospheric experience that you never question is real. Although Scott is one of those rare filmmakers who can mount a massive production that functions like a war machine I personally prefer his smaller and more intimate stories. I've always felt that the bigger a budget he had the less creative it made him and story became a casualty. "Gladiator” may have brought him back to the top of the A-list, but it undeservedly won Oscars for Best Visual Effects, Actor and Picture when it was nothing more than a rehash of classics from half a century ago. Films like “The Duelists, "Thelma & Louise" and "Matchstick Men" never sacrificed character development. Even technological and innovative constructs like “Alien", "Blade Runner" and "Black Hawk Down" would not have worked it the characters were not fully realized.

With the success of "Gladiator" it seemed to me that Scott now how the power to take studio resources and basically do what he wanted. Instead of created a richly developed story he made the gratuitously violent and ultimately dreadful "Hannibal", disappointing fans who had waited ten years for a sequel to one of cinema's best character driven films. But something interesting happened soon after. It seems that events of 9/11 made Scott refocus his energy on what stories he wanted to tell. Even though "Black Hawk Down" was made several months before that fateful day, it was the perfect response to the state of the world at that time. Instead of following it up with another big budget epic he made the small con artist film "Matchstick Men" in which Nicolas Cage turned out one of his best performances. With the news that Scott would be making the Napoleonic epic "Tripoli" with Keanu Reeves I cringed that perhaps we were getting another "Gladiator." But "Tripoli" never made it into production and Scott set his sights on a story of the Crusades. "Kingdom of Heaven" could have ended up as another soulless Bruckheimer production like "King Arthur" but thankfully Scott has fashioned an epic film on a grand scale that features intelligent and human issues that are still relevant in this day and age.

"Kingdom of Heaven" opens in mid 12th century France where young blacksmith Balian is recovering from the loss of his wife and child. Balian is played by whispering heartthrob Orlando Bloom whose rapid rise to fame appears undeserved, yet time has revealed his growth as an actor. This film is Bloom's first starring role and even though he has difficulty shaking his nice guy sensitive image, his dramatic growth it's clearly evident onscreen. Balian is confronted by Lord Godfrey of Ibelin, who has just returned from the Crusades in Jerusalem and claims to be his real father. Liam Neeson plays Godfrey in perhaps his third role as a mentor this year. Any preconceived notions about Neeson in this type of role are soon forgotten because of his warmth and ability to make you want to join him on any journey. Balian does just that and embarks on a journey with Godfrey to Jerusalem. Since the suicide of his wife, due to grief over their still-born child, Balian feels he's lost his faith and that perhaps a journey to the Holy land will secure her a place in Heaven as well as lead to his redemption. Godfrey is also looking for redemption after a lifetime of killing in the name of God. He shows Balian that it is possible to create peace with their Muslim enemies despite what difficulties they share.

After an ambush during the journey, Balian finds that he must take Godfrey's place as Lord of Ibelin and reach King Baldwin. Once he reaches Jerusalem, Balian lands in the midst of allies and foes. He takes great comfort in a friendship with Tiberius (Jeremy Irons) the King's military advisor and shares an immediate attraction with Princess Sybylla the King's sister. Sybylla is played by Eva Green who made a memorable cinematic impression in Bertolucci's "The Dreamers" last year. Unfortunately Sybylla is married to the vindictive Guy De Lusigna (Martin Csokas) a high-ranking member of the military/religious order known as the Knights Templar. Csokas may be familiar as the villain of the original “XXX” and surprisingly his over the top “Snidley Whiplash” style is appropriate here. Guy is a man of war who does not want peace with the Muslims. He is also a secret supporter of Reynald de Chatillon (Brendan Gleeson) a military commander who constantly provokes and slaughters innocent Muslims despite the King’s protests.

Balian feels he may be in a world he doesn't belong having been given a knighthood he did not earn. He begins to find a sense of purpose in his life when he meets King Baldwin face to face. Actually Baldwin’s face is hidden by a silver mask due to his affliction with leprosy. See is you can recognize the talented actor that plays him by voice because his real face is never revealed. Barely a man of thirty the King knows his time on Earth is short, but his belief in peace and the mentorship of men like Godfrey and Tiberius have made him wise beyond his years. Despite the shaky truce between Christians and Muslims, Baldwin feels that the peace must be preserved and people protected. The ideals he clings too are equally mirrored by the great Saracen general Salah al-Din known to the western world as Saladin. Director Scott recruited celebrated Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud for a role that fits him like a glove, but could not have been easy to portray. Saladin was a respected and feared Muslim leader but Massoud's humanistic portrayal demonstrates why the man became legendary. Saladin wanted to keep the peace with Christians as long as he could despite the protest of his own men who wanted to retake Jerusalem. Though Baldwin hides behind a mask and Saladin stands backed by an army of hundred of thousands, it is clearly obvious the great respect these men had for one another.

As Baldwin's condition deteriorates he knows that come his death Guy will try to take the throne through his marriage to Sybylla. Aware of Balian's feelings for his sister and his sense of honor, Baldwin gives Balian the choice of assassinating Guy and marrying Sybylla so that he may take his place come his death. Despite the fact that Balian knows Guy wants him dead he refuses to take part in the man's death, leaving way for Guy to take power once Baldwin dies. "Someday you'll wish you'd done a little evil for the greater good," a disappointed Sybylla tells him and once Baldwin dies he wishes he had. As Guy takes power and rallies an assault on Saladin and his army, Balian knows they don't stand a chance. Saladin outnumbers them several times over and if Guy and his men fall in battle, Balian and a handful of knights are all that stands between them and the people of the "Kingdom of Heaven."

"Kingdom of Heaven" may initially appear as a full-blown war film and with "Lord of the Rings" star Bloom as the lead, it only enhances that misconception. This is a well-constructed character driven piece that isn't bogged down by exposition or confusing plot devices. At a running time of 225 minutes it gets to the point rather quickly and actually leaves you wanting more. That's good, you should be wanting more, that's its job because the movie forces you to think long after it’s over. Although Scott promises a cut that extends by an hour come DVD release, the theatrical version is better because any longer would dull the senses. What’s remarkable is that given this film’s subject matter this is not an overly religious film.

Despite the fact that "Kingdom of Heaven" has received criticism by Muslim publications the film portrays both sides in a respectable light. This is a war film that chooses to focus on peace and the respect between opposing parties. Fear and greed amongst those parties is what threatens that respect and that behavior continues to exist to this day. I’m haunted by the dialogue Jeremy Irons delivers to Bloom as they survey a massive gathering of their slaughtered soldiers. "I've lived in Jerusalem all my life. I thought we were fighting for God, but instead it’s for wealth and land. I am ashamed." Like Balian, Tiberius loses his sense of purpose and chooses not to oppose Saladin, but the turn of events cause Balian to find new focus and sacrifice all he has to defend the people.

Writer William Monahan had a lot of historical material to work with and his research is evident in the screenplay. Events have been altered, timelines have been condensed and characters combined and although the story is not entirely accurate it works. The film is full of action and violence but I appreciate the fact that Scott has censored himself and held back a bit. Before the greatest battle of the film begins, the defense of Jerusalem, Bloom gives a speech to the troops and common men who must become knights of the kingdom. It's the traditional pep talk we've heard before, but Bloom's empathy is relevant here, making the scene more powerful and once the battle begins it becomes much more potent. Scott's technical savvy really comes through in the battle of Jerusalem, which is full of the trebuchets, siege towers and catapults from that era. The computer imagery of the battle is full of detail and greater realism than most period war movies of recent years, but I was impressed by the fact that both sides fight intelligently. We get to see Saladin's skill as a tactician and Balian's expertise with mathematics as he plots and marks attack points on the terrain before the enemy arrives. Elements like these are rare for a war movie and more refreshing than armies clashing and racing around each other in circles.

"Kingdom of Heaven" doesn't seem like a summer release, where popcorn movies rule the Cineplex. Although this film is full of deep subject matter I think it will prove successful because of its action entertainment and intelligent story. Not to mention some nice performances from Bloom, who proves he can carry a picture and Green who demonstrates she is more than an ingénue or love interest. Neeson and Irons bring their wealth of experience and wariness to their roles, but it is Massoud's performance as Saladin that enemies can be just as human as we are. Massoud brings an AnthonyQuinn quality to his role that will now doubt remind audiences of David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia." Scott may be an influence on filmmakers of my generation, but I'm pretty sure that Lean is who inspired him. Many have tried and failed to copy Lean's style, but Scott unlike them, has learned that the human story drove those epics. And just when I was about to say they don't make pictures like that anymore.