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Rating:  - Awesome
The uncut version sure filled in all the parts you didn't see in the other video of it. I liked it alot
Money well spent for the movie.
Rating: - Well Made Director's Cut
This movie had really nice sets, and a great story. There is only about 20 minutes of action but overall it's a great movie.
Rating:  - Nothing... Everything!
The Director's Cut is the real version of the film, butched to be shown in cinemas. I'm getting tired of this studio practice, after all, I pay to get into a theater (I'm writing without spelling check, so cover your eyes and forget my writing sins). This is a fun take into the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, but is short in action for impatient viewers and too light in ideas for those looking for intellectual nourishment. Phrases about religion and tolerance abound in the film, and this is welcomed. However, the motives of some of the characters, especially the ones designated to be the villains, are not explained at all. Why Guy needs war so much? We know why Saladin does, but what about his foes? As in history, Saladin and the king are the most memorable characters here. Every time they speak we listen carrefully, every movement a sign of the times and the will of the nations behind them. It is a film of spectacle, as well as a political allegory. Tolerance and Jerusalem, sounds familiar? Well, my disjointed review comes to an end, and to add another point to a list of random thougths: Orlando Bloom was good in the movie, and a weak leader he isn't. Maybe the writers forced some blatant lines about self-made men out of his troath, but he fought bravely for those words. Saalam aleikum.
Rating:  - Much, Much Better Than The Theatrical Release
This is the film that should have been seen by everyone the theaters. The extended edition contains all of the character development that was missing in the original. In addition, there is a bit more attention to Balian's faith journey. I would still have liked to have seen more in that regard but happy for what there is now in the extended DVD.
Rating: - A great action movie about the fall of Jerusalem
The movie delivers the story of Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom) the Frankish Crusader who ends up leading the defense of Jerusalem right before its fall to the Saracens under Saladin. The climatic battle sequence, the defense of Jerusalem, is one of many gruesome and exciting battle scenes throughout the movie. Kingdom of Heaven reminds me of other great epics like Braveheart, Gladiator, and Troy. If for nothing else, the battle sequences will make the movie for any action fan.
Spoilers below, but we all know who won, and still enjoy the movie.
Almost all of the main characters were real people. Balian did lead defense of Jerusalem. The King of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, was a leper and did attempt to disinherit Guy of Lusignan. Reynald of Chatillon slaughtered Muslims to get rich and died by Saladin's own hand. However, many events have been changed to suit the drama of the movie. For instance, Balian actually fought at the Horns of Hattin, the battle that the Crusaders lose, and was captured. He was paroled by Saladin to tend to his ailing wife, the widow of the previous King of Jerusalem, Amaury I. So Balian was probably much older than he is portrayed in the movie and was not banging Sibylla, the King's sister. As long as you don't take the movie as historically accurate and enjoy it as historical fiction it's a great movie. The acting in the movie is well done especially by the supporting cast.
If the movie makes you interested in the subject, a good book to read is The Dream and the Tomb: A History of the Crusades by Robert Payne.
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