Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
by Ridley Scott
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eriq Ebouaney, Jouko Ahola, Martin Hancock, Michael Sheen, Nathalie CoxDirector: Ridley Scott
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Arabic (Original Language); English (Original Language); German (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Color, Director's Cut, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 194 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-05-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: I recommend the Director's Cut
Summary: 5 Stars
I first watched Kingdom of Heaven in its theatrical release version, and could have given it a 4/5. The effects are good, filming is fabulously done, and it is pieced together well. And of course, the music is by Harry Gregson-Williams, which means that it is a soundtrack worth purchasing! However, some of the historical facts were a little off, some things omitted, others added - you know, common things that go on in historical movies. Just about all of the omissions are actual in existence - on the Director's Cut - which is much more complete. Most of the additional scenes are actual vital for historical accuracy, character development, and a more balanced view of the Muslims (the theatrical release showed actually very little of them - and Saladin was the only obviously intelligent one, although none of them are "stupid"). The viewer's understanding of Sibylla changes drastically in the Director's Cut; I know I was not the only one bewildered by her unexpected character change in the theatrical release (her character development happens in the half hour cut in between).
Honestly, unless you are watching a History Channel special on the Crusades, Kingdom of Heaven is probably one of the most accurate Crusades-era films made. If you want the history, get the facts; that's what I do. But don't pass up this great film!
Summary of Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here, grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city) and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood. There are good and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and the people. The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive: his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain). An excellent supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Many critics pointed out that Bloom doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe in the lead (then again, who does?), but it's the underdeveloped character and not the actor that hurts the film and impacts its power. Balian isn't given much more to do than be sullen and give an occasional big speech, alongside his perplexing abilities for warfare tactics and his wandering moral compass (whose sole purpose seems to be to put a love scene in the movie). Note: all the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are heavily fictionalized. --Doug Thomas On the DVD
The Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut is truly a DVD set of biblical proportions. If you are familiar with Ridley Scott's excellent, albeit massive, extended DVD sets for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, you have a pretty good idea of what you are in for with this set. The biggest difference--unlike the Gladiator Director's Cut, which had some nice new scenes that really didn't add much to the film--is that this cut of Kingdom of Heaven is a drastic improvement over the theatrical release. This extensive 194-minute version brings the film back to Scott's original vision, maintaining an impressive balance of history, plot, and believable period reenactments and battle scenes. The best way to describe the improvements on the extended version is the film is now able to breathe a bit more, it's less choppy, and it has stronger character development. In addition to the extended scenes (which now span two discs in a clunky Road Show presentation), there is an exhaustive three-hour, six-part documentary detailing every aspect of filmmaking from the development of the "idea" through post-production and release. Also included are three feature-length commentary tracks, the best being the first with Ridley Scott, writer William Monahan, and actor Orlando Bloom. Included on the original release but missing from this set are the A&E/History Channel documentaries, the theatrical cut of the film, and "The Pilgrim's Guide," the fantastic text commentary which pointed out the historical anecdotes as the film played. Fans of the film and completists will probably want to hold onto both versions. However, those picking up Kingdom of Heaven for the first time need only to look to this definitive version. --Rob Bracco
From Ridley Scott the visionary director of Black Hawk Down and Gladiator comes this spectacular epic of courage honor and adventure. Orlando Bloom stars as Balian a young Frenchman in Medieval Jerusalem during the Crusades who having lost everything finds redemption in a heroic fight against overwhelming forces to save his people and fulfill his destiny as a knight.System Requirements:Running Time: 144 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 024543241454 Manufacturer No: 2234147
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