Review of Kingdom of Heaven (2005) by Jameson W — 15 Feb 2014

If you're going to check out this film, be sure to see the DIRECTOR'S CUT; I haven't seen the wildly disliked theatrical version so I can't comment on it, but the extended edition is quite good actually.

The film is a historical epic in all the best ways possible, plus it's assembled by a director who really puts a lot of effort into the project; Ridley Scott directs the heck out of this movie. The characters are well-developed, each with personalities and motives all their own.

The plot is highly engaging and layered, but it never drags and maintains its urgency even with a 3-hr running length. Orlando Bloom isn't the most compelling of leads, but the supporting cast here is terrific, as are the action sequences.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: DIRECTOR'S CUT is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed.