KoH musings (some spoilers)
May. 7th, 2005 07:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI kept thinking about this movie tonight (I even dreamt of Balian. Oddly enough it was just stills, like looking at slides in a projector). There are so many layers to the story. And the "messiness" I think is what made it so.
I don't understand critics who complained about not being able to identify with Balian. I could. More importantly, I could feel sympathy for him and find him interesting. I don't need to know every thought in his head to do so. Look at Lawrence of Arabia. The guy was an enigma but that is what made the movie so much extra fun: trying to unravel it.
Balian is a simple (sometimes too much so) honorable man who seeks peace and salvation. And he is still young enough not to be too scarred by tragedy and used to the world. That is not a hard concept, I would think.
He is also unyielding when he thinks he is right, shortsighted he might be (he is a knight, not a politician). I confess to going "go for it, boy" when Baldwin was offerinbg to get Guy out of the way, even though I knew historically how it turned out. But I knew he wouldn't, not because of extra-heroics, but because of the parameters of his character.
The scene where he gives up Jerusalem is amazing. Also, when he prepares to defend against Saladdin though he knows it's hopless. But I still keep coming back to that amazing speech before the knighting of soldiers, and his to the point bleak statement to the defenders of the wall: if you throw down your arms, your families will die. Orlando Bloom really did mature. You believe him as a Crusader lord with the whole city on his shoulders.
And the fascinating characters who swirl around him: Jeremy Irons doing reaslly great work for the first time in years reminds me why I love him so. You could believe that every step he took was all about pain and decision. Abd Liam Neeson who really towered over every one, and not just because of his height. And Edward Norton who broke my heart (I have a very soft spot for historical Baldwin as well), using nothing but his eyes and his voice. (Oh God, the scene where he makes Reggie give him the kiss of peace. Wow. Just wow.")
There is so much more that I can write. and will later. I am so eagerly looking to Director's cut because of the extra hour and which will focus on the relationships. I am interested if my opinion of Sybilla-Balian relationship would change. Now I love it as it's not a passionate love story, but a combination of companjonship, need, like and deep respect (you can see Sybilla compare Guy to Balian and Guy coming up horrendously short). And I like that. It's realistic, and not wrong, and has been the foundation of many a great marriage.
I do wish they kept the ransoming bit, because I always thought that showed up Balian (and Salladin's brother) in an extra-good light, and they didn't have to make Balian a blacksmith (that way his combat skills and leadership would be more natural), but those are miniscule problems.
I can't wait to see it again. If I loved it so much when so tired, I can imagine how much I will like it when properly awake.
I don't understand critics who complained about not being able to identify with Balian. I could. More importantly, I could feel sympathy for him and find him interesting. I don't need to know every thought in his head to do so. Look at Lawrence of Arabia. The guy was an enigma but that is what made the movie so much extra fun: trying to unravel it.
Balian is a simple (sometimes too much so) honorable man who seeks peace and salvation. And he is still young enough not to be too scarred by tragedy and used to the world. That is not a hard concept, I would think.
He is also unyielding when he thinks he is right, shortsighted he might be (he is a knight, not a politician). I confess to going "go for it, boy" when Baldwin was offerinbg to get Guy out of the way, even though I knew historically how it turned out. But I knew he wouldn't, not because of extra-heroics, but because of the parameters of his character.
The scene where he gives up Jerusalem is amazing. Also, when he prepares to defend against Saladdin though he knows it's hopless. But I still keep coming back to that amazing speech before the knighting of soldiers, and his to the point bleak statement to the defenders of the wall: if you throw down your arms, your families will die. Orlando Bloom really did mature. You believe him as a Crusader lord with the whole city on his shoulders.
And the fascinating characters who swirl around him: Jeremy Irons doing reaslly great work for the first time in years reminds me why I love him so. You could believe that every step he took was all about pain and decision. Abd Liam Neeson who really towered over every one, and not just because of his height. And Edward Norton who broke my heart (I have a very soft spot for historical Baldwin as well), using nothing but his eyes and his voice. (Oh God, the scene where he makes Reggie give him the kiss of peace. Wow. Just wow.")
There is so much more that I can write. and will later. I am so eagerly looking to Director's cut because of the extra hour and which will focus on the relationships. I am interested if my opinion of Sybilla-Balian relationship would change. Now I love it as it's not a passionate love story, but a combination of companjonship, need, like and deep respect (you can see Sybilla compare Guy to Balian and Guy coming up horrendously short). And I like that. It's realistic, and not wrong, and has been the foundation of many a great marriage.
I do wish they kept the ransoming bit, because I always thought that showed up Balian (and Salladin's brother) in an extra-good light, and they didn't have to make Balian a blacksmith (that way his combat skills and leadership would be more natural), but those are miniscule problems.
I can't wait to see it again. If I loved it so much when so tired, I can imagine how much I will like it when properly awake.
