Ridley Scott's direction is true star of 'Kingdom of Heaven'

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (R) Four Stars (Excellent) Ridley Scott's exotic and potent drama of a young knight striving to find the moral ground in the bloody Jerusalem of the crusades. Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons and Liam Neeson star. Twentieth Century Fox, 144 minutes.

After all, this dark moment in history featured Christians killing "infidels" as a matter of religious principle.

Fortunately, the filmmaker behind this challenging film is Ridley Scott, an intelligent and masterful director who strives to present his tale of 12th century religious war with as much balance and sensitivity as possible.

And, as he did with "Gladiator," "Blade Runner" and "Black Hawk Down," Scott also creates a strange yet real world and gives it epic scope and potent dramatic power.

Scott begins his tale in a prized but brief moment of relative calm in Jerusalem, the fabled city coveted by three major religions. Baldwin IV, a relatively enlightened Western king, rules Christian-controlled Jerusalem between the second and third crusades. He strives for fairness and equality in his dealings with Muslims, especially with their legendary leader, Saladin. But Baldwin suffers from leprosy and must hide his face behind a silver mask. Sadly, his reign will be short-lived.

Religious zealots and land-hungry warriors on both sides make the peace of the principled moderates difficult to maintain. The dogs of war will soon break free.

Screenwriter William Monahan tells of Balian (Orlando Bloom), a French blacksmith who is shocked to learn he's the bastard son of a crusading knight named Godfrey (Liam Neeson). And Godfrey offers the young man a chance to accompany him back to Jerusalem to learn the ways of knighthood and govern his lands there. Balian has just buried his wife — who committed suicide —and is eager for a new chance in the Middle East. He also believes it's the path to his personal redemption (and that of his wife.)

But, once in the Jerusalem, Balian is quickly thrown into a position of considerable power and soon becomes a leader of the reasoned forces trying to stave off the bloody intentions of warmongers. Ultimately, he must become a reluctant leader of warriors, defending Jerusalem against Saladin's vast army.

"Kingdom of Heaven" is superbly cast (a trademark of a Scott film). The big question was Bloom in his first major lead role. He's best known for his fairly wispy turn as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings" films. But thanks to natural maturity and a few more pounds of muscle, Bloom successfully holds the film's center. Neeson appears briefly but with resonance as his father. Jeremy Irons is riveting as Tiberias, a wise but pessimistic adviser to King Baldwin. Eva Green adds grace and sensual beauty as Baldwin's sister, the princess Sibylla, who becomes Balian's lover. Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud is a charismatic Saladin. And though his name is buried deep in the credits and you never see his face, Edward Norton uses his soft voice to construct an affecting portrayal of Baldwin, the leper king.

But, ultimately, the true star is director Scott, thanks to the exotic, tempestuous world he puts before our eyes.

Rated R, with strong battle violence.