Saw KoH. Marvelous.

[dangermousie]

This is going to be pretty short, as I am very very tired and my cousin is visiting so I can't post for too long.

But. I saw Kingdom of Heaven tonight and it was glorious. In fact, except for LotR and Lawrence of Arabia, this is the best epic I've ever seen. It's also now in my Favorites Top 10. It's amazing, after Troy which was fun but cheesy and the horrendous King Arthur and Alexander, to see an epic that is adult, complex, and intelligent. Wow. Much better than the overrated Gladiator with its simple revenge arc.

I don't see why some reviewers couldn't empasize with the characters. Yes, there is no neat character arc, and it is not painted by the numbers. Everything is not plotted cleanly: there is no textbook denoument, progression etc. But that is why I loved it. It seemed like a slice of real life. And I deeply cared for the characters: Tiberias, Godfrey, Baldwin (Edward Norton was utterly amazing and deserves an Oscar nom. He made me cry). And I cared deeply for Balian. Much more so than I did for the he-man Maximus. Yes, Balian was complex and you didn't necessarily see a transparent mirror to his soul, but I love a bit of mystery in a character (the same reason I don't like first person narratives). I really really felt for him and for the story and the tragedy and the glory. I cried.

And I know something about the period so was thrilled to see it brought to life.

My favorite scene: Balian's speech and administering the Knight's Oath. Wow. Must see the movie again.

Comments

[katranna.livejournal.com]

Hey lady, what happened to "I'll call you in 5 minutes, promise"? :-P

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I would like to write a long comment, but I'm exhausted and need to go to bed. :D However, I agree with everything you said, and I loved the film.

[(Anonymous)]

I so agree with you on what you said about the movie. It really was more like a peek at real life rather than a perfect movie storyline. I'm sure the fact that we both know something about the period helps us "fill in the blanks" where the director has had to make decisions to leave stuff out or alter the historical facts. But since I don't go to the movies to watch historical documents, I go there to enjoy myself, KoH was everything I expected it to be. And I must see it again, too! ;)

My favorite scene was probably the one where Balian himself swore the Knight's Oath to his father. I have a definite soft spot for chivalry and kneeling men... And naturally I loved, loved, loved the scene where Balian and his men decide to stay and defend the people outside of Kerak. Teary one for me, that one.

Johanna

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I 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.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

P.S. Sorry. For some weird reason I thought it deleted and I posted it as a separate thing. Grrrrr.