Kingdom of Heaven
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Marton Csokas, Liam Neeson, Edward Norton
Ridley Scott directed this epic-scale historical drama inspired by the
events of the Crusades of the 12th century. Balian (Orlando Bloom) is a
humble French blacksmith who is searching for a reason to go on after
the death of his wife and children. Balian is approached by Godfrey of
Ibelin (Liam Neeson), a fabled knight who has briefly returned home
after serving in the East. Godfrey informs Balian that he is his true
father, and urges the blacksmith to join him as he and his forces
journey to Jerusalem to help defend the holy city. Balian accepts, and
he and Godfrey arrive during the lull between the Second and Third
Crusades, in which the city is enjoying a fragile peace.
Both
Christian and Muslim forces are temporarily in retreat, thanks to the
wisdom of the ChristianKingdom of Heaven 3 monarch King Baldwin IV
(Edward Norton), his second-in-command Tiberias (Jeremy Irons), and
Muslim potentate Saladin (Ghassan Massoud). Violent agitators on both
sides are foolishly eager to end the peace in a bid for greater power,
and Saladin bows to pressures from Muslim factions; Godfrey is one of a
handful of brave knights who has thrown his allegiance behind Baldwin IV
and his community of diversity, and Balian joins him as they use their
skills as warriors in a bid to build a lasting peace. Kingdom of Heaven
also stars Eva Green as the princess Sibylla, David Thewlis as
Hospitaler the priest, and Brendan Gleeson as Reynald.