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Posted by GPR79 on 05/09/64 11:29
Kingdom Of Heaven R2 DTS £9.00 - payment via BT preferred.
Cover: http://www.boomspeed.com/gpr79/KOH.jpg
"It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the
cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of
Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly
engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French
blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam
Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here,
grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time
screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle
the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward
Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan
Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city)
and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood. There are good
and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt
of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and
the people.
The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive:
his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with
cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French
forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain). An excellent
supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David
Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Note: all
the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are
heavily fictionalized."
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