Kingdom of Heaven

[CMJ]

I just got back from an early screening of Ridley Scott's new epic. He delivered in spades guys. Terrific picture, and from what I know pretty historically accurate too.

Everything is top notch from the acting(yes even Bloom), to the cinematography, to the sets, to the score. Not sure if it'll be remembred come Oscar time for BP but it's bound to score several technical noms.

Go see it next month guys.

[Gav Mortis]

It just looks like an awful rehash of Gladiator to me. I'll be content to just read reviews about this one, I'll be sitting it out.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

I'm going to agree with Gav on this one. Maybe replace reviews with a dvd rental. The previews I've seen of it thus far make it seem like it's a rehash of every big movie to date (troy, arthur (sp?) gladiator, etc...)

In my opinion, at least.

[jjwr]

Just about every movie of this genre they always lump with the previous movies.

Troy was just like Gladiator...etc...no it wasn't! I thoroughly enjoyed both movies as they were totally different. Critics need to pull their heads out of their butts and realize these types of movies are different and can be different.

You don't see every romantic comedy being compared to Sleepless in Seattle and saying its just a rehash of it so why do they do it with this genre?

Trailer looked awesome and I wanna see it!

[CMJ]

As evidenced by this thread normal movie goers seem to be the ones thinking it'll be a rehash. Critics are gonna dig this film big time I believe.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Hopefully you are right, I am interested in it having a lot of interest in the crusades. Probably will go see it when it comes out.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Every time I see the trailer I get goosebumps (it's visually GORGEOUS and I'm not talking about Orlando Bloom). I can't wait to see it, even if I'm going to be taking an awful ribbing from my husband about a certain actor. I love reading about the Crusades (although I'm no scholar on the subject) and I really want to see a movie on the subject done well.

^_^; A movie about the Children's Crusade would be chilling. I wonder if they'll touch on the subject?

[CMJ]

Excerpted from David Poland's column today...

***************

Kingdom of Heaven is easily the most accomplished of the sword & sandal movies of the last two years. Ridley Scott is on the very top of his game, particularly in the third act, when the siege of Jerusalem will stand as perhaps the best war sequence in the modern/CG history of cinema. Orlando Bloom will emerge from the film as a major action star, more so than he has been in the past, when he's been seen as a teen girl heartthrob. This film is his movie star Bar Mitzvah… today he is a man.

***************

The full thing can be read at his site www.thehotbutton.com

[JMK]

I definetly want to see it was well. People don't mind when they make Lethal Weapon movies or other buddy-cop movies. Why does this have to be a rehash because it takes place in a certain period of time?

Gladiator was about one man's slavery & his escape from it, Kingdom of Heaven is about the Crusades. Quite different topics if you ask me, just similar setting & time frame.

Why don't we just call Mission to Mars an Apollo 13 rehash?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Actually Gladiator took place some time before the Crusades. Didn't it?? ( ^_^; )

[JediBoricua]

A couple hundred years before at least.

The first crusade was in 1095 AC.

Source: http://www.medievalcrusades.com/crusadesbegin.htm

I will be seeing this one on opening week.

[JMK]

Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
Actually Gladiator took place some time before the Crusades. Didn't it?? ( ^_^; )

Yeah, Gladiator did take place first, I meant it in the context of both being sword & sandal epics.

[Jedi Master Carr]

It looks like this is during the second crusade from what I read on that site. That one didn't go to well. I am curious how they will portray Salidain the man was very powerful.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kingdom_of_heaven/

so CMJ, what do you have to say about THAT?

;)

[CMJ]

Yeah, we have a discussion on this going on the Oscar board. What's interesting is most of the critics of the major publications are the ones giving the good reviews. Check out the Cream of the Crop for instance - not the average but the newspapers. Variety/Hollywood Reporter/LA Times/Chicago Tribune, etc....

The more fringe outlets are the ones trashing it by and large. Which is contrary to how MOST movies are lined up on RT.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah that is weird I noticed that the mainstream critics love it for the most part I wonder what the heck that means.

[JMK]

Right now it's being reviewed as rotten all around. 41% in general and 58% by the cream of the crop. I'm genuinely surprised by this.


Yeah that is weird I noticed that the mainstream critics love it for the most part I wonder what the heck that means.

It means that if this movie appeals to you to get out there and decide for yourself! :p

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Orlando Bloom is a pox upon movies, and I don't think I've really liked him in anything he's done.

I'll rent this, maybe.

[CMJ]

Roger Ebert comes thru with a very positive review.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050505/REVIEWS/50426001

[Jedi Master Carr]

Still very surprising that it isn't better liked. Maybe it is because there has been so many historical epics in the last few years, critics are just tired of them.

[Pierce Tondry]

Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
Every time I see the trailer I get goosebumps (it's visually GORGEOUS and I'm not talking about Orlando Bloom).

Lies! We're on to your game missy!


I can't wait to see it, even if I'm going to be taking an awful ribbing from my husband about a certain actor.

Whoops, looks like I already started that. >_>


The movie itself looks okay. I'm in the same boat as Charley in that Orlando Bloom doesn't make the movie for me, but as I have a slight interest in historical movies, I will probably catch this at somewhen or other.

[JMK]

I think big, epic battle movies based on historical events with their historical innaccuracies is starting to annoy critics. Or maybe they're just fed up with Orlando Bloom. He was in the LotR series, Troy and now Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe they're tired of seeing him in the same settings all the time. :p

[Jedi Master Carr]

Actually from what I have read Kingdom of Heaven is very acurate. Maybe they are tired of Bloom :p

[Dasquian Belargic]

Originally posted by Jedi Master Carr
Maybe they are tired of Bloom :p

I wouldn't be suprised. I don't know whether this is just because he can't act, or because he gets cast in these similar types of roles, but it just feels like he always plays the same character.

That being said, the trailer did give me goosebumps - partly because I am a big Jeremy Irons fangirl. I'm not hugely excited, but I'll probably see it.

[Droo]

I cannot abide Orlando Bloom. I thought his performance as Legolas was incredible; you know, what with the soft, silky voice, innocent and naive facial expressions like a newborn baby learning how to giggle, poncy delivery of lines with that almost effeminate, soft-skinned face of his; so very elven. Then I discovered that is how he acts in every film and every role he is given; he would play Rocky like that were he given the role: Rocky! In short, the reason I hate him is because he is a long and lanky, sleak and slender, streak of pretty boy pee who doesn't seem to have one single man's bone in his body and if that's the type of man women are attracted to these days then why don't you just stamp a big I'M A LESBIAN on your forehead because he, indeed, is in fact a woman! :mad

Sorry, it had to be said. Anyways, on a more serious note, my stance on this movie hasn't changed since seeing the new trailer; the trailer while big and epic simply doesn't rouse any excitement or interest in me - except for Liam Neeson who looks like he delivers a stellar performance but when he is supporting BLOOM! as the main actor, not even movie viagra would turn me on. I really didn't like Gladiator, as epic and incredible as it looked, and like I have films I know I will love and do love, there are films I know I will not like and this, unfortunately, is definately one of those for me.

For me, it's just Gladiator without Russel Crowe. Sounds good to me except Scott has replaced a piece of wood with a lady-boy. Not a winning formula.

[Rutabaga]

Originally posted by Droo
I cannot abide Orlando Bloom. I thought his performance as Legolas was incredible; you know, what with the soft, silky voice, innocent and naive facial expressions like a newborn baby learning how to giggle, poncy delivery of lines with that almost effeminate, soft-skinned face of his; so very elven. Then I discovered that is how he acts in every film and every role he is given; he would play Rocky like that were he given the role: Rocky! In short, the reason I hate him is because he is a long and lanky, sleak and slender, streak of pretty boy pee who doesn't seem to have one single man's bone in his body and if that's the type of man women are attracted to these days then why don't you just stamp a big I'M A LESBIAN on your forehead because he, indeed, is in fact a woman! :mad

Harsh words, but I do agree with the sentiment. I just don't understand what the big deal is about Orlando Bloom. He was tolerable in Pirates of the Caribbean, but he's just not a powerful actor at all. I, for one, was horrified when his name was bandied about as a possible replacement for Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

He just does absolutely zero for me.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think he is the wrong kind of actor for an historical epic, probably needs to stick to comedies and action films like Pirates where he has less trouble having to carry the picture. He just can't carry a movie on his own that is really his problem.

[JMK]

Droo nailed it right on the head. He's got too much of a baby face and is FAR too mild mannered to do anything other than Legolas. That role was perfect for him. The role of Paris wasn't bad either, but trying to scruff him up for Kingdom of Heaven and trying to pass him off as a leader of men just isn't going to work.

Mel Gibson did it wonderfully in Braveheart, Mortensen did is pretty damn well in RotK...Bloom...not so much. Granted I haven't seen it yet, but I can buy into Gibson and Mortensen as leaders. Perhaps Bloom is also still too young for those types of roles. Ah well. He draws well right now and that's what counts with studios.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Saw it - thought Bloom did quite well for the part. Although I was a little curious as to how a blacksmith became capable of defending Jerusalem on such short notice. Subsequently, I chalk it up to him inheriting his father's good sense and charisma. I really liked the movie. I really didn't find it boring, and to me it didn't seem like it dragged on and on like some reviews say.

Actually, the worst part about the movie was the three people sitting next to us that wouldn't stop talking.

[Jedi Master Carr]

that happened in real life he was the highest ranking officer left alive. I would compare it to Joan of Arc coming out as a peasant girl and leading the charge on Orleans in the 100's year war without the visions of course.

[Nehantish]

I just saw it, and was very pleased. Though I was a little put off by Reynard and Guy's unaccounted for lust for blood and power. Even if the film had labeled them as religious fanatics, or done ANYTHING to explain their desire for war that they both should have known they could not win, it would have given their characters much more reason for doing what they did.

Bloom did alright, but I honestly would have prefered someone else. All I could see was him as Legolas and Guybrush Threepwood (Okay, so I forgot his character's name in Pirates, but, come on, you know he'd make the perfect GT.)

All in all, a good movie, but I felt in some places it just didn't go far enough. His soul, which he held in such high regard, did not seem strained enough by the events. More emotion, and more wrestiling with himself would have made his character far more appealing and understandable.

[JMK]

Saw it last night...didn't enjoy it whatsoever. Bloom did quite well for himself, so that wasn't the problem. Although, there were way too many closeups of him for my liking. I also thought the battle sequences were dull and extremely generic.

My biggest beef: Qui-Gon Jinn knights Legolas...who's a regular schmoe blacksmith...then all of a sudden he's defending a city? Well, I mean he was there at Helm's Deep, so he's done it before...maybe that's why he all of a sudden knew how to be a brilliant strategist. Otherwise...I don't get it.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

I like how Orlando Bloom insists on trying to grow a moustache in his films. Its pretty funny. :)

[Rutabaga]

Originally posted by JMK
Qui-Gon Jinn knights Legolas

I'm not planning on seeing the movie, so I read the spoiler...and thank you for the laugh. :lol

[Drake Shadowstalker]

I liked it.

[AmazonBabe]

I dunno why, but I have found that if the majority of critics hate a movie, I tend to really really like it. And if the critics like a movie, I tend to hate it. I think the critics and I are at odds. :lol

Either way, I've been looking forward to this film and will definitely go see it in the theaters. :)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Rie, I think you'll enjoy it. :)