Heavenly Kingdom of Heaven director's cut
Jul. 10th, 2006 03:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieAfter POTC2, I felt the need to have an Orlando fix, so I ended up rewatching the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven. Now, I liked TE, but every time I watch this cut, I get annoyed with the studio for mucking with things.
In the DC, it actually becomes my favorite period epic. (Also the only one that talks about a glorious defeat, which is why I love it, but that's another matter).
Let me count the ways in which the DC is superior:
1. Pacing. The TE cut felt a bit too galloping for me. The pace really was much too fast and you got caleidoscopic glimpses of things you wanted to know more of. Not any more. The editing and pacing in this one is perfect. It's still a complex evolving world you get a glimpse of, and will never know everything about, but this time it feels it has just a real balance between the complexity of the real and the meatiness of the story. The pace is perfect. It's never too slow, but it doesn't run at breakneck speed either, any more.
2. Sybilla. All the characters benefit from the expanded time, but no one as much as Sybilla, all of whose storyline it seems was cut away in the TE. Now she isn't just a bit of arm-candy for Balian, but someone who is a lot more complicated, dark and conflicted than that. She comes across as a real person, and her own story with her son (a historical character) not only gives her realness, and brings forth interesting parallels with Balian's first wife, but also gives a logical reason for her feelings of guilt and grief in the second half. She is a real person now, and quite an interesting one/
3. Balian. He also benefits from the expanded stuff immensely. For one, we learn a lot more about his engineering and battle background, so all the stuff from the siege doesn't come from nowhere. And we just learn more about him in general. He is still an extremely self-contained person, who thinks more than he acts, heroic in a quiet way (and another thing I love about KoH. When's the last time a character like that was the protagonist of an epic), but I feel I know him much better. In fact, just as well as I should. I had no problem with him being a bit of a cypher in TE, but seeing DC, I like this so much better.
4. And because both Balian and Sybilla are fleshed out more, their love story is fleshed out as well. In fact, instead of 'they are hot, why not' thing, it really seems like a believable if understated relationship. It does feel like a love story.
5. Empahsis on screwed up families. All those people in France are interconnected into various FUBAR families, there is more on Baldwin's family and its dysfunction. I find it interesting. And more ponderings on what faith means. That's even more interesting.
6. On a more shallow note, the Guy and Balian sword fight is great. Orlando was born to be in epics wielding a sword. Seriously.
And if none of this is enough to convince you to check this out, than I will mention that DC has a LOT more of semi-naked Orlando in it than did the TE.
In the DC, it actually becomes my favorite period epic. (Also the only one that talks about a glorious defeat, which is why I love it, but that's another matter).
Let me count the ways in which the DC is superior:
1. Pacing. The TE cut felt a bit too galloping for me. The pace really was much too fast and you got caleidoscopic glimpses of things you wanted to know more of. Not any more. The editing and pacing in this one is perfect. It's still a complex evolving world you get a glimpse of, and will never know everything about, but this time it feels it has just a real balance between the complexity of the real and the meatiness of the story. The pace is perfect. It's never too slow, but it doesn't run at breakneck speed either, any more.
2. Sybilla. All the characters benefit from the expanded time, but no one as much as Sybilla, all of whose storyline it seems was cut away in the TE. Now she isn't just a bit of arm-candy for Balian, but someone who is a lot more complicated, dark and conflicted than that. She comes across as a real person, and her own story with her son (a historical character) not only gives her realness, and brings forth interesting parallels with Balian's first wife, but also gives a logical reason for her feelings of guilt and grief in the second half. She is a real person now, and quite an interesting one/
3. Balian. He also benefits from the expanded stuff immensely. For one, we learn a lot more about his engineering and battle background, so all the stuff from the siege doesn't come from nowhere. And we just learn more about him in general. He is still an extremely self-contained person, who thinks more than he acts, heroic in a quiet way (and another thing I love about KoH. When's the last time a character like that was the protagonist of an epic), but I feel I know him much better. In fact, just as well as I should. I had no problem with him being a bit of a cypher in TE, but seeing DC, I like this so much better.
4. And because both Balian and Sybilla are fleshed out more, their love story is fleshed out as well. In fact, instead of 'they are hot, why not' thing, it really seems like a believable if understated relationship. It does feel like a love story.
5. Empahsis on screwed up families. All those people in France are interconnected into various FUBAR families, there is more on Baldwin's family and its dysfunction. I find it interesting. And more ponderings on what faith means. That's even more interesting.
6. On a more shallow note, the Guy and Balian sword fight is great. Orlando was born to be in epics wielding a sword. Seriously.
And if none of this is enough to convince you to check this out, than I will mention that DC has a LOT more of semi-naked Orlando in it than did the TE.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 07:45 pm (UTC)Now I just need to FIND the DC as I've been looking at stores around here with no luck. I figure I'm going to have to break down and go to the expensive DVD store to find it.
And yes, Orlando was born to carry metal weaponry.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 08:50 pm (UTC)Some actors can't do period movies because they come across as too contemporary. And then there is Orlando Bloom. I can't see him as authoritative in any modern context (he was sweet as the not-too-achiever character in Elizabethtown and I can't see him have more competence than that), but in a period flick, with a weapon in hand, and Good Lord, he is all authoritative and commanding and totally taking over the screen.
The hack and slash job that got released doesn't give Scott the credit he's due, nor the actors, who were actually quite good on the whole.
Agreed. I don't see why they thought they had to do it, either. It's not as if DC is 5 hours long.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 09:08 pm (UTC)Which might be part of the reason there's such a love/hate relationship with him in the critical world. He IS uneven when trying to do deep, moody stuff, but when he's in chain mail he's suddenly very striking. In this age of sensitive cowboys and dark comedies he seems to have trouble finding a place. As I was saying in my journal, had he been born in the Flynn era, he would have become an icon. The boy was born to play a hero with a sword.
I think this is part of the reason guys automatically write him off with "he's only famous because women like him for some reason" and "he's a total pansy who can't act" in addition to the Valentino "why don't women like manly men" reaction. Is his acting uneven? Yeah, it's forced sometimes. Is it completely without merit? No, he's quite decent in some stuff.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 09:16 pm (UTC)Exactly. Orlando has that whole physical grace and charisma which comes across in such a setting. You are absolutely right about the Flynn/Fairbanks stuff. I can't really think of any modern actors who would qualify under swashbuckler tag, but back in the 20s-40s, there were certainly plenty of work for Flynn, Fairbanks and all their wannabes or even actors who swashbuckled as a parttime thing (Tyrone Power, Ronald Colman, even Paul Henreid). Just look at the sheer number of pirate movies, adventure Westerns etc etc they made back then. Now, even in action movies, we don't get swashbuckling types. It's always a down to earth, beer-drinking with buddies guy who is trying to save the world. Not a dashing adventurer type.
I can't picture him doing well in a slice-of-life kitchen sink drama. But something with daredevilry and being upright and heroic and winning the love of the fair lady, and being irresistable to watch while doing so? Heck yeah. He really is in the wrong movie making period.
Is his acting uneven? Yeah, it's forced sometimes. Is it completely without merit? No, he's quite decent in some stuff.
That sums up my take on it. He is not a great actor, and he certainly has a limited range. But he does certain things very very well so I don't get people who are 'you only like him because he is pretty.' No, if that was the case, my liking roster would be a lot larger than it really is.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 09:28 pm (UTC)Which might explain partially why he does have such a female following. I think there's part of every woman that wants a white knight to fight for them. There's something to the elegance of a swashbuckling hero that I think still holds an appeal in the female audience. What's wrong with going to a movie just for the sheer fun of it? I think that's why POTC made such a splash. It was one of those few recent movies that is just having fun for fun's sake.
But he does certain things very very well
And when in the right vehicle he has a great deal of presence. I say this because he's one of those actors I cool towards a bit between movies, but then when I go and watch him in KoH, LotR or PotC I find myself really liking him all over again.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 09:32 pm (UTC)Exactly. Tortured navel gazing antihero might be complex and interesting (and sometimes very appealing), but once in a while you just want the fairy tale prince who kills dragons and rescues princesses from towers. It's a pleasant fantasy.
And agreed on the fun. POTC2, with all its flaws, was fun.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 08:48 pm (UTC)And your icon is to die for.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 10:40 pm (UTC)And OMG that ninja review? BEST REVIEW EVAH!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 10:44 pm (UTC)Have you seen the DC one by the way? It has scenes like the one in my icon...*siren song*
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 10:48 pm (UTC)You will have to CAP ALL THE EXTRA SCENES!
Ahhahahahaha!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 10:51 pm (UTC)I think my fingers will fall off :P You should rent it, it's worth it...
There is also half naked Orlando the morning after sex with Sybilla. And more of sex scenes...
no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 10:54 pm (UTC)