Kingdom of Heaven

The Crusades have never been adapted to the silver screen better than in Ridley Scott's visually stunning epic. Just the colors and action cinematography of this film is worth a viewing, as the heat of the Middle East, and the tension of the struggle seems embedded in the celluloid. Not afraid to outfit masses of people, Scott's battle scenes and scenes inside Jerusalem are wonderful to behold. While romantic, they offer a rare idea of what medieval war would have looked like- heraldry, ritual, and ornament and indispensible component of combat. The central story (focusing on Orlando Bloom) lacks real zest, but the historical context of the film is enchanting. I have long wished to get lost in the world of the Kingdom of Heaven, and judging by the success of Assassin's Creed, I wasn't alone.

First Saw
For a class on the crusades at Brown. Only able to see the first hour or so, I bought the Used DVD at Newbury Comics and finished it at home. Worth the $5.