NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kingdom of Heaven (film)

Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic film, directed and produced by Ridley Scott, and written by William Monahan. It stars Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Brendan Gleeson, Alexander Siddig, Ghassan Massoud, Edward Norton, Jon Finch, Michael Sheen and Liam Neeson. The Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God, Hebrew ×ž×œ×›×•×ª ×”×©×ž×™×, malkhut hashamayim, Greek basileia tou theou) is a key concept detailed in all the three major monotheistic religions of the world â€” Islam, Judaism and Christianity. ... Download high resolution version (609x900, 96 KB)Poster for the movie Kingdom of Heaven. ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields, South Tyneside) is a British film director and producer. ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields, South Tyneside) is a British film director and producer. ... William Monahan (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (born November 3, 1960) is an American novelist and screenwriter. ... Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. ... Eva GaÃ«lle Green[1] () (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. ... Jeremy John Irons (born September 19, 1948) is an Academy Award, Tony Award, Screen Actors Guild, two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ... David Thewlis (born March 20, 1963 as David Wheeler) is an English film, television and stage actor. ... Ed Norton redirects here. ... Marton Csokas as Celeborn in The Fellowship of the Ring. ... William John Liam Neeson OBE (born June 7, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated Irish actor. ... Harry Gregson-Williams (born December 13, 1961) is a Grammy-nominated British film score composer. ... born 30th November 1958 in Dorset, United Kingdom British cinematographer. ... Dody Dorn born 20 April 1955 (sometimes credited as Dody J. Dorn) is an Academy Award nominated American film and sound editor best known for working with director Christopher Nolan on several films including the post-modern, deconstructionist masterpiece about amnesia, Memento. ... Twentieth (20th) Century Fox Film Corporation (known from 1935 to 1985 as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) is one of the six major American film studios. ... Scott Free is not to be confused with Mister Miracle, the DC Comics character of the same name. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956â€“present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The year 2005 in film involved some significant events. ... The epic film is a film genre typically featuring expensive production values, an emotionally moving music soundtrack, and dramatic themes. ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields, South Tyneside) is a British film director and producer. ... William Monahan (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (born November 3, 1960) is an American novelist and screenwriter. ... Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. ... Eva GaÃ«lle Green[1] () (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. ... Jeremy John Irons (born September 19, 1948) is an Academy Award, Tony Award, Screen Actors Guild, two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ... David Thewlis (born March 20, 1963 as David Wheeler) is an English film, television and stage actor. ... Marton Csokas as Celeborn in The Fellowship of the Ring. ... Gleeson as Professor Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. ... Alexander Siddig (Arabic: Ø£Ù„ÙƒØ³Ù†Ø¯Ø± ØµØ¯Ù‘ÙŠÙ‚) (born 21 November 1965) is a British actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil. ... Ghassan Massoud (Arabic: â€Ž) (born September 20, 1958 in Damascus) is a Syrian actor and filmmaker. ... Ed Norton redirects here. ... Jon Finch (born March 2, 1941 in Caterham, Surrey) is an English actor noted for many Shakespearean roles. ... Michael Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is an award-winning Welsh actor, known for his work on stage and film, best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in the Stephen Frears 2006 British film The Queen. ... William John Liam Neeson OBE (born June 7, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated Irish actor. ...

The story is set during the Crusades of the 12th century. A French military engineer serving as a village blacksmith goes to aid the city of Jerusalem in its defense against the Muslim leader Saladin, who is battling to reclaim the city from the Christians. The script is a heavily fictionalized portrayal of Balian of Ibelin. Hamid Dabashi, a professor who mainly specializes in Iranian studies at Columbia University, was the film's chief academic consultant regarding the Crusades.^[1] Look up Plot in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Polish military engineers at work in Pakistan A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for warfare. ... Masouleh village, Gilan Province, Iran. ... For other uses, see Blacksmith (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Saladin, properly known as Salah al-DÄ«n Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Arabic: , Kurdish: ) (c. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Look up script in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Script may mean: Script (performing arts), the dialog and instructions for a play. ... Drawing of Balian of Ibelins seal, from The Crusades: The Story of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, by T. A. Archer and Charles Lethbridge Kingsford (London & NY, 1894). ... Hamid Dabashi (Persian: ) is an Iranian-American historian, cultural and literary critic who has made important contributions to the study of Iran, World cinema and Shia Islam from a postcolonial perspective. ... The meaning of the word professor (Latin: [1]) varies. ... Ferdowsis Shahnameh Iranian Studies or Iranistics is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the Iranian cultural region (or the Iranian cultural continent). It incorporates the study of history, literature, art and culture of Iran (Persia). ... Alma Mater Columbia University is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. ...

Most filming took place in Ouarzazate in Morocco, where Scott had filmed Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. A replica of the ancient city of Jerusalem was constructed in the desert. Filming also took place in Spain, at the Loarre castle, Segovia, Valsaín, Ávila, Palma del Río and Casa de Pilatos in Seville.^[2] Ouarzazate (Arabic, ÙˆØ±Ø²Ø§Ø²Ø§Øª, WarzÄzÄt) (called The door of the desert), is a city in southern Morocco. ... Gladiator was a popular movie that appeared in 2000, directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. ... Black Hawk Down is a 2001 film by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... This article is about arid terrain. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. ... Complete name of this city: Ãvila de los Caballeros Ãvila is a town in the south of Old Castile, the capital of the province of the same name, now part of the autonomous community of Castile and LeÃ³n, Spain. ... For other uses, see Seville (disambiguation). ...

Cast and characters

Many of the characters in the movie are fictionalized versions of historical figures:

Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. ... Drawing of Balian of Ibelins seal, from The Crusades: The Story of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, by T. A. Archer and Charles Lethbridge Kingsford (London & NY, 1894). ... Eva GaÃ«lle Green[1] () (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. ... Top: Baldwin IV betrothes Sibylla to Guy; Bottom: Sibylla and Guy are married. ... William John Liam Neeson OBE (born June 7, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated Irish actor. ... Barisan of Ibelin (died 1150) was an important figure in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, and was the ancestor of the Ibelin family. ... Jeremy John Irons (born September 19, 1948) is an Academy Award, Tony Award, Screen Actors Guild, two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ... Raymond III of Tripoli (1140 â€“ 1187) was Count of Tripoli from 1152 to 1187 and Prince of Galilee and Tiberias in right of his wife Eschiva. ... The Principality of Galilee was one of the four major seigneuries of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, according to 13th-century commentator John of Ibelin. ... David Thewlis (born March 20, 1963 as David Wheeler) is an English film, television and stage actor. ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the , Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta; French: Ordre des Hospitaliers) is a Christian organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in Jerusalem in 1080 to provide... Gleeson as Professor Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. ... Raynald of ChÃ¢tillon (also Reynaud, Renaud, Reynald, Reynold, Renald or Reginald of Chastillon) (c. ... Marton Csokas as Celeborn in The Fellowship of the Ring. ... Imaginary portrait of Guy of Lusignan by FranÃ§ois-Edouard Picot, c. ... Ghassan Massoud (Arabic: â€Ž) (born September 20, 1958 in Damascus) is a Syrian actor and filmmaker. ... Saladin, properly known as Salah al-DÄ«n Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Arabic: , Kurdish: ) (c. ... Ed Norton redirects here. ... William of Tyre discovers Baldwins first symptoms of leprosy (MS of LEstoire dEracles (French translation of William of Tyres Historia), painted in France, 1250s. ... Alexander Siddig (Arabic: Ø£Ù„ÙƒØ³Ù†Ø¯Ø± ØµØ¯Ù‘ÙŠÙ‚) (born 21 November 1965) is a British actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil. ... Jon Finch (born March 2, 1941 in Caterham, Surrey) is an English actor noted for many Shakespearean roles. ... Heraclius of Caesarea (died 1191) was archbishop of Caesarea and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. ... Michael Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is an award-winning Welsh actor, known for his work on stage and film, best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in the Stephen Frears 2006 British film The Queen. ... Iain Glen as Dr. Sam Isaacs in Resident Evil: Apocalypse Iain Glen (born on 24 June 1961 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish film and stage actor. ... Richard I (8 September 1157 â€“ 6 April 1199) was King of England and ruler of the Angevin Empire from 6 July 1189 until his death. ... Jouko Ahola (born 1 December 1970, HÃ¤meenlinna, Finland) is a bodybuilder and actor. ...

Synopsis

In a remote village in France, Balian, a blacksmith, is haunted by his wife's recent suicide, following the stillbirth of their child. A group of Crusaders arrive at the small village and one of them approaches Balian, introducing himself as his out-of-wedlock father, Baron Godfrey of Ibelin. Godfrey, having learned of Balian's recent losses, attempts to pursuade Balian to join him as they travel to Jerusalem, in the hope he will eventually take his place as Godfrey's heir. Balian quickly refuses, and, after resupplying and resting, the Crusaders ride on. Shortly afterwards, the corrupt town priest (Balian's half-brother) reveals that his wife's body was beheaded before burial (a customary practice in those times for people who committed suicide, to ensure the soul cannot enter heaven) and he has taken the crucifix she wore. Enraged at these insults, Balian slays the priest with the sword he is working on. Knowing he will be executed if he stays, Balian quickly decides to follow his father after all, in the hope of gaining redemption and forgiveness for both his wife and himself. Shortly after he catches up to his father, soldiers from the village arrive to arrest Balian. Godfrey refuses to hand him over and, though they win the ensuing fight, most of Godfrey's band are killed. Godfrey himself is wounded by an arrow and, though he is not killed outright, it becomes clear as their journey continues that he will soon die. Image File history File links Koh_balian. ... Image File history File links Koh_balian. ... Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

In Messina, Godfrey, on the brink of death, knights Balian and orders him to serve the King of Jerusalem and protect the helpless. He ultimately shares with him his vision of a 'kingdom of conscience', morality, and righteousness in the Holy Land, before finally succumbing to his injuries. On Balian's subsequent journey to Jerusalem, his ship is hit by a storm, leaving Balian as the sole survivor of the wreck, though a horse also survives that runs away as Balian tries to mount it. Tracking the horse into the desert, Balian soon finds himself confronting a Muslim cavalier, and his servant, over possession of the horse. Balian slays the horseman in single combat, but spares the servant, asking him to guide him to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, Balian releases his prisoner, and asks him for the name of his master whom he has slain, so that he can pray for his soul. As his prisoner departs, he says that, "Your qualities will be known among your enemies before ever you meet them". After being accepted as the new Lord of Ibelin, Balian soon becomes acquainted with the main players in Jerusalem's political arena: King Baldwin IV, stricken by leprosy yet nevertheless a wise and most sensible ruler, Princess Sibylla, King Baldwin IV's sister, and Guy de Lusignan, Sibylla's scheming, bloodthirsty, and intolerant husband. Despite the respect Baldwin engenders from the combined Christian and Muslim population of Jerusalem, Guy, who is determined to rule after Baldwin's inevitable early death, seeks to precipitate a war that will allow him to dispose of the Muslims and claim the kingdom for Christians alone. Messina, Italy Strait of Messina, Italy. ... A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... This is a list of Kings of Jerusalem, from 1099 to 1291, as well as claimants to the title up to the present day. ... For other uses, see Holy Land (disambiguation). ... Baldwin IV (1161-1185), the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first wife Agnes of Edessa, was king of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1183, when he had his nephew Baldwin V crowned in his place. ... For the malady found in the Hebrew Bible, see the article Tzaraath. ... Top: Baldwin IV betrothes Sibylla to Guy; Bottom: Sibylla and Guy are married. ... Guy of Lusignan (died 1194) was a French knight who became king of Jerusalem and led the Kingdom to disaster at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. ...

Guy and his co-conspirator Raynald of Châtillon massacre a Muslim trade caravan. Enraged, Saladin, leader of the Muslim forces seeking to retake Jerusalem, attacks Kerak, Raynald's castle. Balian decides to defend Kerak castle from Saladin's cavalry, in order to protect the innocent villagers surrounding the castle. Though outnumbered, he and his knights charge Saladin's cavalry, allowing the villagers time to flee to the castle; the quick battle ends at a stalemate, with Balian's capture. In captivity, he encounters the 'servant' he freed, learning he is actually one of Saladin's generals, who returns the favor, freeing him to Kerak. King Baldwin IV then arrives with his main army, and successfully negotiates a Muslim retreat with Saladin, averting a bloodbath. At Saladin's camp, several of his generals are angry that he made a truce, but Saladin dismisses these complaints as a foolhardy rush to war; he will only launch an attack against Jerusalem after ample preparation, when he feels he is strategically strong enough. Baldwin beats Raynald and orders his arrest, but the stress of the events causes him to collapse, and his physicians believe he will die shortly. Raynald of ChÃ¢tillon (also Reynaud or Reginald of Chastillon) (c. ... Saladin, properly known as Salah al-DÄ«n Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Arabic: , Kurdish: ) (c. ... Kerak (also Karak) (Arabic: ÙƒØ±Ùƒ) is a region in Jordan that contains a famous Crusader castle. ...

King Baldwin dies and Sibylla succeeds him. Baldwin had attempted to pair Balian to Sibylla, but Balian did not accept, as he refused to be associated with the necessary murder of Guy; such political intrigue being counter to Balian's morality. She therefore names Guy as her King Consort of Jerusalem. Guy, now free to do as he pleases, releases Raynald and they provoke Saladin to war by murdering Saladin's sister. Subsequently, in their arrogance, they march to the desert, without adequate food and water, to fight Saladin, leaving Jerusalem unguarded except for Balian, his personal knights and the townspeople. Saladin's army ambushes Guy and Raynald (the Battle of Hattin) and the crusaders are annihilated. Guy and Raynald themselves are captured; Saladin slits Raynald's throat, and then marches on Jerusalem. Saladin's siege of Jerusalem is three days of battle wherein Balian demonstrates tactical skill in knocking down siege towers and holding the line when a section of city wall is opened. Having proven their resolve, Balian surrenders Jerusalem to Saladin on condition of the inhabitants' safe passage to Christian lands, to which Saladin agrees. Balian points out that when the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem a hundred years previously, they massacred the Muslim inhabitants, but Saladin assured him that he is a man of honor, and, keeping his word, allows Balian and his people to leave. In the marching column of citizens, he finds Sibylla, and convinces her to come with him. Image File history File linksMetadata Koh_jerusalem. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Koh_jerusalem. ... Combatants Ayyubids Kingdom of Jerusalem Commanders Saladin Guy of Lusignan Raymond III of Tripoli Strength Est. ... A siege tower is a specialized siege engine, constructed to protect assailants and ladders whilst approaching the defensive walls of a fortification. ...

Later, Balian is back in his French village. A column of crusader knights rides through, led by King Richard I of England, who tells Balian that they are commencing a new Crusade to retake Jerusalem from Saladin. King Richard seeks Balian, the defender of Jerusalem, to join him, but Balian answers that he is only a blacksmith. Richard I (8 September 1157 â€“ 6 April 1199) was King of England and ruler of the Angevin Empire from 6 July 1189 until his death. ...

After visiting the grave of Balian's first wife, he and Sibylla ride into the sunset. An explanation is given that King Richard failed in his Crusade, negotiated a shaky truce with Saladin after three years of war, and that "even today, peace in the Kingdom of Heaven remains elusive".

Historical accuracy

King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, who reigned from 1174 to 1185, was a leper, and his sister Sibylla did marry Guy of Lusignan. Also, Baldwin IV had a falling out with Guy before his death, and so Guy did not succeed Baldwin IV immediately. Baldwin crowned Sibylla's son from her previous marriage to William of Montferrat, five-year-old Baldwin V co-king in his own lifetime, in 1183.^[3] The little boy reigned as sole king for one year, dying in 1186 at nine years of age. After her son's death, Sibylla and Guy (to whom she was devoted) garrisoned the city, and she claimed the throne. The coronation scene in the movie was, in real life, more of a shock: Sibylla had been forced to promise to divorce Guy before becoming queen, with the assurance that she would be permitted to pick her own consort. After being crowned by Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem (who is unnamed in the movie), she chose to crown Guy as her consort. Raymond III of Tripoli, the film's Tiberias, was not present, but was in Nablus attempting a coup, with Balian of Ibelin, to raise her half-sister (Balian's stepdaughter), princess Isabella of Jerusalem, to the throne; however, Isabella's husband, Humphrey IV of Toron, betrayed them by swearing allegiance to Guy. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Baldwin IV (1161-1185), the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first wife Agnes of Edessa, was king of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1183, when he had his nephew Baldwin V crowned in his place. ... Hansens disease, commonly known as leprosy, is an infectious disease caused by infection by Mycobacterium leprae. ... William of Montferrat (early 1140s-1177), also called William Longsword (modern Italian Guglielmo Lungaspada, originally Occitan Guilhem Longa-Espia), was the Count of Jaffa and Ascalon, the eldest son of William V, Marquess of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg. ... Baldwin V (1177-1186) was the son of Sibylla of Jerusalem and her first husband, William of Montferrat. ... Heraclius of Caesarea (died 1191) was archbishop of Caesarea and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. ... Isabella of Jerusalem (c. ... Humphrey IV of Toron (c. ...

Raymond of Tripoli was a cousin of Amalric I of Jerusalem, and one of the Kingdom's most powerful nobles, as well as sometime regent. He had a claim to the throne himself, but, being childless, instead tried to advance his allies the Ibelin family. He was often in conflict with Guy and Raynald, who had risen to their positions by marrying wealthy heiresses and through the king's favor. Guy and Raynald did harass Saladin's caravans, and the claim that Raynald captured Saladin's sister is based on the account given in the Old French Continuation of William of Tyre. This claim is not supported by any other accounts, and is generally believed to be false. In actuality, after Raynald's attack on one caravan, Saladin made sure that the next one, in which his sister was traveling, was properly guarded: the lady came to no harm.^[4] Amalric I (also Amaury or Aimery) (1136 â€“ July 11, 1174) was King of Jerusalem 1162â€“1174, and Count of Jaffa and Ascalon before his accession. ...

The discord between the rival factions in the kingdom gave Saladin the opportunity to pursue his long-term goal of conquering it. The kingdom's army was defeated at the Battle of Hattin, partly due to the conflict between Guy and Raymond. As already stated, the battle itself is not shown in the movie, but its aftermath is depicted. The Muslims captured Guy and Raynald, and according to al-Safadi in al-Wafi bi'l-wafayat, executed Raynald after he drank from the goblet offered to Guy, as the sultan had once made a promise never to give anything to Raynald. Guy was imprisoned, but later freed. He attempted to retain the kingship even after the deaths of Sibylla and their daughters during his siege of Acre in 1190, but lost in an election to Conrad of Montferrat in 1192. Richard I of England, his only supporter, sold him the lordship of Cyprus, where he died c. 1194. Imaginary portrait of Conrad by FranÃ§ois-Ã‰douard Picot, c. ...

There was a Haute Cour, a "high court", a sort of medieval parliament, in which Jeremy Irons's character Tiberias is seen arguing with Guy for or against war, in front of Baldwin IV as the final judge. The Haute Cour (High Court) was the feudal council of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. ...

The movie alludes to the Battle of Montgisard in 1177, in which 16-year-old Baldwin IV defeated Saladin, with Saladin narrowly escaping. Combatants Kingdom of Jerusalem Ayyubids Commanders Baldwin IV, Raynald of Chatillon, Knights Templar Saladin Strength 375 knights, 80 Templars, Several thousand infantry About 30,000 Casualties 1100 killed 750 wounded About 27,000 The Battle of Montgisard was fought between Saladin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on November 25, 1177. ...

The Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar were the most enthusiastic about fighting Saladin and the Muslims. They were monastic military orders, committed to celibacy. Neither Guy nor Raynald was a Templar, as the movie implies by costuming them both in Templar surcoats: they were secular nobles with wives and families. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the , Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta; French: Ordre des Hospitaliers) is a Christian organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in Jerusalem in 1080 to provide... For other uses, see Knights Templar (disambiguation). ...

During one scene in the movie, shortly before Hattin, three soldiers referred to as "Templars" attack Balian; however, they clearly wear the white surcoats with black crosses of Teutonic Knights, rather than the white and red of the Knights Templar. The Teutonic Knights were not a military order until 1198.^[5] For the state, see Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. ...

The historical origin of Orlando Bloom's character, Balian of Ibelin, was a close ally of Raymond; however, he was a mature gentleman, just a year or two younger than Raymond, and one of the most important nobles in the kingdom, not a French blacksmith. His father Barisan (which was originally his own name, modified into French as 'Balian') founded the Ibelin family in the east, and probably came from Italy. Balian and Sibylla were indeed united in the defense of Jerusalem; however, no romantic relationship existed between the two. Balian married Sibylla's step-mother Maria Comnena, Dowager Queen of Jerusalem and Lady of Nablus. The Old French Continuation of William of Tyre (the so-called Chronicle of Ernoul) claimed that Sibylla had been infatuated with Balian's older brother Baldwin of Ibelin, a widower over twice her age, but this is doubtful; instead, it seems that Raymond of Tripoli attempted a coup to marry her off to him to strengthen the position of his faction; however, this legend seems to have been behind the film's creation of a love-relationship between Sibylla and a member of the Ibelin family.^[6] Maria Comnena (c. ... William of Tyre (c. ... Ernoul is the name generally given to the author of a chronicle of the late 12th century dealing with the fall of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. ... Baldwin of Ibelin, also known as Baldwin of Ramla (died c. ...

The events of the siege of Jerusalem are based on the Old French Continuation of William of Tyre, a favorable account partly written by Ernoul, one of Balian's officers, and other contemporary documents. Saladin did besiege Jerusalem for almost a month, and was able to knock down a portion of the wall. In the film Balian knighted everyone who could carry a sword, but historical accounts say he only knighted some burgesses. The exact number varies in different accounts, but it is probably less than one hundred in a city which had tens of thousands of male inhabitants and refugees. Balian personally negotiated the surrender of the city with Saladin, after threatening to destroy every building and kill the 3000-5000 Muslim inhabitants of the city. The film, however, downgrades the roles of Sibylla and of Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem in the siege, transforming Heraclius into a coward. Saladin allowed Balian and his family to leave in peace, along with everyone else who could arrange to pay a ransom, but let thousands of poorer inhabitants go freely and without any har; hence the rather noble image of Salahdin in medieval poetry. William of Tyre (c. ... William of Tyre (c. ... Eraclius or Heraclius (c. ... Cowardice is a vice. ...

The "uneasy truce" referred to in the closing scene actually refers to the Treaty of Ramla, negotiated, with Balian's help, at the end of the Third Crusade. The Third Crusade is alluded to at the end of the movie, when Richard I of England visits Balian in France. Balian, of course, was not from France and did not return there with Sibylla; she and her two daughters died of fever in camp during the siege of Acre. Conrad of Montferrat had denied her and Guy entry to the remaining stronghold of Tyre, and thus Guy was attempting to take another city for himself. The Treaty of Ramla was signed by Saladin and Richard the Lionheart in June 1192 after the Battle of Arsuf. ... The Third Crusade (1189â€“1192), also known as the Kings Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin. ... The Siege of Acre was the most important event of the Third Crusade, lasting from August 28, 1189 until July 12, 1191, and the first time in the history of the crusades that the king was compelled to personally see to the defense of the Holy Land. ... The Triumphal Arch Tyre (Arabic , Phoenician , Hebrew Tzor, Tiberian Hebrew , Akkadian , Greek TÃ½ros) is a city in the South Governorate of Lebanon. ...

Balian's relations with Richard were far from amicable, because he supported Conrad against Richard's vassal Guy. He and his wife Maria arranged her daughter Isabella's forcible divorce from Humphrey of Toron so she could marry Conrad. Ambroise, who wrote a poetic account of the crusade, called Balian "more false than a goblin" and said he "should be hunted with dogs". The anonymous author of the Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi wrote that Balian was a member of a "council of consummate iniquity", and described him as cruel, fickle, and faithless, and accused him of taking bribes from Conrad. Ambrose (around 1190), Norman poet, and chronicler of the Third Crusade, author of a work called LEstoire de la guerre sainte, which describes in rhyming French verse the adventures of Richard Coeur de Lion as a crusader. ...

The young Balian of the movie thus did not exist in reality. The historical Balian had descendants by Maria Comnena. Thanks to their close relationship to Sibylla's half-sister and successor, Maria's daughter Queen Isabella (not shown in the movie), the Ibelins became the most powerful noble family in the rump Kingdom of Jerusalem as well as in Cyprus in the thirteenth century. Most notably, Maria and Balian's son John, the Lord of Beirut, was a dominant force in the politics of Outremer for the first third of the thirteenth century. Listen to this article Â· (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-04-15, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

An episode of The History Channel's series History vs. Hollywood analyzed the historical accuracy of the film. This program and a Movie Real (a series by A&E Network) episode about Kingdom of Heaven, were both included on the DVD version of the movie. For the Canadian equivalent of this channel, see History Television. ... History vs. ... Biography is one of A&Es longest-running and most popular programs. ...

Cinematography

The visual style of Kingdom of Heaven emphasizes set design and impressive cinematography in almost every scene. It is notable for its "visually stunning cinematography and haunting music".^[7]

Cinematographer John Mathieson created many large, sweeping landscapes,^[8] where the cinematography, supporting performances, and battle sequences are meticulously mounted.^[9] The cinematography and scenes of set-pieces have been described as "ballets of light and color" (as in films by Akira Kurosawa).^[10] Director Ridley Scott's visual acumen was described as the main draw of Kingdom of Heaven with the stellar, stunning cinematography and "jaw-dropping combat sequences" based on the production design of Arthur Max.^[11]^[12] Image File history File links Koh_scene. ... Image File history File links Koh_scene. ... The Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God, Hebrew ×ž×œ×›×•×ª ×”×©×ž×™×, malkhut hashamayim, Greek basileia tou theou) is a key concept detailed in all the three major monotheistic religions of the world â€” Islam, Judaism and Christianity. ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields, South Tyneside) is a British film director and producer. ... Kurosawa redirects here. ...

Film score

The music to the movie is quite different in style and content to the soundtrack of Ridley Scott's earlier 2000 film Gladiator and many other subsequent films depicting historical events. A composition of classical listings, rousing chorales, juxtaposing Muslim sacred chants, and subtle implementation of contemporary rock/pop influences, the soundtrack is largely the result of British film-score composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Gregson-Williams chose to move away from the "battle waltz" and the "wailing woman"that had been introduced by Hans Zimmer in Gladiator and would then find excessive use in more and more other movies, such as Alexander and Troy. Kingdom of Heaven is the soundtrack to 2005 Ridley Scott motion picture of the same name. ... This article is about the 2000 film. ... Harry Gregson-Williams (born December 13, 1961) is a Grammy-nominated British film score composer. ... For other uses, see Waltz (disambiguation). ... Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957) is an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe award-winning film score composer from Germany. ... Alexander is a 2004 epic film, based on the life of Alexander the Great. ... Troy is an Oscar-nominated movie released on May 14, 2004 about the Trojan War, as described in Homers Iliad, Virgils Aeneid, and other myths. ...

Critical response

Upon its release, the general criticism was primarily negative. Critics such as Roger Ebert, however, found the film's message to be deeper than Scott's previous Gladiator.^[13] Image File history File links Koh_baldwin. ... Image File history File links Koh_baldwin. ... Ed Norton redirects here. ... William of Tyre discovers Baldwins first symptoms of leprosy (MS of LEstoire dEracles (French translation of William of Tyres Historia), painted in France, 1250s. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Gladiator was a popular movie that appeared in 2000, directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. ...

Several actors/actresses were praised for their performances. The unanimously praised performance was that of actor Edward Norton, who played the leper king of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV. Critics have described his acting as near "phenomenal", "eerie", and "so far removed from anything that he has ever done that we see the true complexities of his talent".^[14] The Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud was also praised for his portrayal of Saladin, described by The New York Times as "cool as a tall glass of water".^[15] Also commended were Eva Green, who plays Princess Sibylla, "with a measure of cool that defies her surroundings",^[8] and Jeremy Irons.^[16] Ed Norton redirects here. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Eva GaÃ«lle Green[1] () (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. ... Top: Baldwin IV betrothes Sibylla to Guy; Bottom: Sibylla and Guy are married. ... Jeremy John Irons (born September 19, 1948) is an Academy Award, Tony Award, Screen Actors Guild, two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ...

However, lead actor Orlando Bloom's performance generally elicited a lukewarm reception from American critics, with the Boston Globe stating Bloom was "not actively bad as Balian of Ibelin", but nevertheless "seems like a man holding the fort for a genuine star who never arrives".^[17] Although the medieval character of Balian of Ibelin is not well known to U.S. culture, many critics had strong notions of how Balian should be acted, as an "epic hero" with a strong presence. One critic conceded that Balian was more of a "brave and principled thinker-warrior"^[8] rather than a large, strong commander, and Balian used brains-over-brawn to gain advantage in battle. Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. ... The Boston Globe is the most widely-circulated daily newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts and in the greater New England region. ...

Orlando Bloom was not playing the young comedic role of the "Pirates" movies, but rather an older, mature, bearded man, who, in his late thirties, was in military combat for years, and questioned what was worth risking death. Some critics noted his "acceptable performance" in light of the far more difficult role that this film required over his previous famous, but light parts. Orlando Bloom had gained 20 pounds for the part,^[8] and the Extended Director's Cut (detailed below) of Kingdom of Heaven reveals even more complex facets of Orlando Bloom's role, involving connections with unknown relatives, which even further complicate Balian's view of life and death. Despite the criticism, Orlando Bloom won two awards for his performance. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a movie of adventure and romance set in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century. ... Drawing of Balian of Ibelins seal, from The Crusades: The Story of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, by T. A. Archer and Charles Lethbridge Kingsford (London & NY, 1894). ...

Online, general criticism has been also divided, but leaning towards the positive. As of early 2006, the Yahoo! Movies rating for Kingdom of Heaven was a "B" from the critics (based on 15 Reviews). This rating equates to "good" according to Yahoo! Movie's rating system. On Rotten Tomatoes, only 39% of critics gave the film a positive review. This article or section should be merged with Yahoo! Yahoo! Movies provides information on current movie theater releases, including showtimes, critical reviews and general popular opinion. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Academic criticism has focused on the supposed peaceful relationship between Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem and other cities depicted. Crusader historians such as Jonathan Riley-Smith, quoted by The Daily Telegraph, called the film "dangerous to Arab relations", claiming the movie was Osama bin Laden's version of the Crusades and would "fuel the Islamic fundamentalists". Riley-Smith further commented against the historical accuracy stating "nonsense like this will only reinforce existing myths," arguing that the film "relied on the romanticized view of the Crusades propagated by Sir Walter Scott in his book The Talisman, published in 1825 and now discredited by academics."^[18]^[19]^[20]. Fellow Crusade historian Jonathan Phillips also spoke against the film. Paul Halsall defended Scott, claiming that "historians can't criticize filmmakers for having to make the decisions they have to make... [Scott is] not writing a history textbook".^[21]

Thomas F. Madden, a professor of medieval history at Saint Louis University, commented against the film's presentation of the Crusades,:

Scott himself defended this depiction of the Muslim-Christian relationship in footage on the DVD version of the movie's extra features. Scott sees this portrayal as being a contemporary look at the history. He argued that peace and brutality are concepts relative to one's own experience, and since our society today is so far removed from the brutal times in which the movie takes place, he told the story in a way that he felt was true to the source material yet was more accessible to a modern audience. In other words, the "peace" that existed was exaggerated to fit our ideas of what such a peace would be. At the time, it was merely a lull in Muslim-Christian violence compared to the standards of the period.

The "Director's Cut" of the film is a 4-disc set, two of which are dedicated to a feature-length documentary called "The Path to Redemption." This feature contains an additional featurette on historical accuracy called "Creative Accuracy: The Scholars Speak", where a number of academics support the film's contemporary relevance and historical accuracy. Among these historians is Dr. Nancy Caciola, who said that despite the various inaccuracies and fictionalized/dramatized details considered the film a "responsible depiction of the period."^{[citation needed]}

Screenwriter William Monahan, who is a long-term enthusiast of the period, has said "If it isn't in, it doesn't mean we didn't know it... What you use, in drama, is what plays. Shakespeare did the same."^[23] William Monahan (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (born November 3, 1960) is an American novelist and screenwriter. ...

Caciola agreed with the fictionalization of characters on the grounds that "crafting a character who is someone the audience can identify with" is necessary in a film. She said that "I, as a professional, have spent much time with medieval people, so to speak, in the texts that I read; and quite honestly there are very few of them that if I met in the flesh I feel that I would be very fond of." This appears to echo the sentiments of Scott himself. However, the DVD does not feature historians expressing more negative reactions.

The historical content and the religious and political messages present have received praise and condemnation, sentiments and perceptions. It is claimed that Christianity is portrayed in an unfavorable light and the value of Christian belief is diminished, especially in the portrayal of Patriarch Heraclius (Eraclius).^[24] In several screenings in Beirut, Robert Fisk reported that Muslim audiences rose to their feet and applauded wildly during a scene in the film in which Saladin respectfully places a fallen crucifix back on top of a table after it had fallen during the 3 day siege of the city.^[25] This article is about the Lebanese city. ... Robert Fisk during a lecture at Carleton University, Canada, 2004 Robert Fisk (born July 12, 1946 in Maidstone, Kent) is a British journalist and is currently a Middle East correspondent for the British newspaper The Independent. ... Saladin, properly known as Salah al-DÄ«n Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Arabic: , Kurdish: ) (c. ... The Crucifix, a cross with corpus, a symbol used in Catholicism in contrast with some other Christian communions, which use only a cross. ...

The movie was a box-office failure in the U.S. and Canada, earning $47 million against a budget of around $130 million, but was successful in Europe and the rest of the world, with the worldwide box office earnings totaling at $211,643,158.^[26] It was also a big success in Arabic speaking countries, especially Egypt. Director Ridley Scott insinuated that the U.S. failure of the film was the result of bad advertising which presented the film as an adventure with a great love story rather than as an examination of religious conflict.^[27] It's also been noted that the film was altered from its original version to be shorter and follow a more simple plot line. This "less sophisticated" version is what hit theaters, although Scott and some of his crew felt it was watered down, explaining that by editing, "You've gone in there and taken little bits from everything".^[28] Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ...

As a final note, like some other Ridley Scott films, Kingdom of Heaven found success on DVD in the U.S., and the release of the Director's Cut has reinvigorated interest in the film. Nearly all reviews of the 2006 Director's Cut have been positive^{[citation needed]}, including a four-star review in Britain's "Total Film" magazine (five star being the publication's highest rating).

Extended director's cut

An extended director's cut of the movie was released on December 23, 2005, at the Laemmle Fairfax Theatre in Los Angeles, unsupported by advertising from 20th Century Fox. This cut is approximately 45 minutes longer than the original theatrical cut. The DVD of the extended Director's Cut was released on May 23, 2006. It is a four-disc box set with a runtime of 194 minutes, adding 49 minutes back into the film, and is shown as a road show presentation with an overture, intermission and entr'acte. Ridley Scott gave an interview^[29] to STV on the occasion of the Director's Cut's UK release, when he discussed the motives and thinking behind the new version. Image File history File links Koh_sybilla. ... Image File history File links Koh_sybilla. ... Eva GaÃ«lle Green[1] () (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Scottish television network. ...

According to Ridley Scott, the studio perceived Kingdom of Heaven as an action-adventure film when it really went much deeper than that. The film was marketed as such, resulting in negative reviews and poor box-office performance. After presenting the film to 20th Century Fox, Scott had to cut the film down for release in theaters. The result was a thinner plot and significantly less characterization and character development.

The Director's Cut (DC) has received a distinctly more positive reception from film critics than the theatrical release, with many reviews suggesting that it offers a much greater insight into the motivations of individual characters. Fans have likewise found it to be a vastly superior film, with some going so far as to call the DC Scott's best work^{[citation needed]}. Scott and his crew have all stated that they consider the Director's Cut to be the true version of the film and the theatrical cut more of an action movie trailer for the real film. Reviewers have described it as the most substantial Director's Cut of all time[1] and a title to equal any of Scott's other works[2]

It should be noted that Alexander Siddig in particular agitated for the release of a new cut to show more of the original plot. Alexander Siddig (Arabic: Ø£Ù„ÙƒØ³Ù†Ø¯Ø± ØµØ¯Ù‘ÙŠÙ‚) (born 21 November 1965) is a British actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil. ...

The new director's cut provides information that may change how some interpret several characters and the story arc:

Top: Baldwin IV on his sickbed; Bottom: Baldwin V crowned. ... William of Montferrat (early 1140s-1177), also called William Longsword (modern Italian Guglielmo Lungaspada, originally Occitan Guilhem Longa-Espia), was the Count of Jaffa and Ascalon, the eldest son of William V, Marquess of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg. ... For the malady found in the Hebrew Bible, see the article Tzaraath. ... For mercy killings not performed on humans, see Animal euthanasia. ...

Behind the scenes

Awards

Won (3)

European Film Awards: The European Movie Awards are the most prestigious paneuropean movie awards. ...

Satellite Awards: The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. ...

VES Awards: The Visual Effects Society (VES) is the entertainment industrys only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. ...

Nominations (8)

Satellite Awards: The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. ...

Teen Choice Awards: The Teen Choice Awards is an awards show presented annually by FOX (United States) and Global TV (Canada). ...

Notes

^ Hamid Dabashi's Official Web Site
^ Cinemareview.com "Kingdom of Heaven- Production Notes" web: http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=2960
^ Depicted in the director's cut.
^ "Making the Crusades Relevant in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" by Cathy Schultz
^ "Religion/The Military Orders: THE TEUTONIC ORDER" by Eric Opsahl, ORB Online Encyclopedia
^ "Making the Crusades Relevant in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" by Cathy Schultz
^ Richard J. Radcliff, "Movie Review: Kingdom of Heaven" May 29, 2005, BlogCritics.org, web: BlogCritics-KoH: noted "visually and sonically beautiful; visually stunning cinematography and haunting music."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Stephanie Zacharek, "Kingdom of Heaven - Salon" (review), May 6, 2005, Salon.com, web: Salon-KoH: noted "Cinematographer John Mathieson gives us lots of great, sweeping landscapes."
^ Carrie Rickey, "Epic 'Kingdom' has a weak link" (review), Philadelphia Inquirer, May 6, 2005, web: Philly-KoH: noted "cinematography, supporting performances and battle sequences are so meticulously mounted."
^ Uncut, Review of Kingdom of Heaven, Uncut, 2005-07-01, page 129, web: BuyCom-Uncut: noted "Where Scott scores is in the cinematography and set-pieces, with vast armies surging across sun-baked sand in almost Kurosawa-like ballets of light and color."
^ Nix, "Kingdom of Heaven (2005)" (review), BeyondHollywood.com, web: BeyondHwood-KoH: noted "Scott's visual acumen is the main draw of Kingdom of Heaven" and "stunning cinematography and jaw-dropping combat sequences" or "stellar cinematography."
^ Roger Ebert, "Kingdom of Heaven" (review), Chicago Sun Times, SunTimes.com, May 5, 2005, webpage: Ebert-KoH: Ebert noted "What's more interesting is Ridley Scott's visual style, assisted by John Mathieson's cinematography and the production design of Arthur Max. A vast set of ancient Jerusalem was constructed to provide realistic foregrounds and locations, which were then enhanced by CGI backgrounds, additional horses and troops, and so on."
^ Roger Ebert, "Kingdom of Heaven" reviews for the Chicago Sun Times
^ Jack Moore, Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut DVD Review
^ Manolha Dargis, New York Times review of Kingdom of Heaven
^ James Berardinelli, http://www.reelviews.net/movies/k/kingdom_heaven.html
^ Ty Burr, "Kingdom of Heaven Movie Review: Historically and heroically challenged 'Kingdom' fails to conquer"
^ Charlotte Edwardes, " Ridley Scott's new Crusades film 'panders to Osama bin Laden'" The Daily Telegraph Jan. 17, 2004
^ Truth is the First Victim- Jonathan Riley-Smith
^ Kingdom of Heaven info page
^ CNN "Kingdom of Heaven" Transcript web: CNN.com
^ Thomas F. Madden on Kingdom of Heaven on National Review Online
^ Bob Thompson (2005-05-01). Hollywood on Crusade: With His Historical Epic, Ridley Scott Hurtles Into Vexing, Volatile Territory. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-01-08.
^ John Harlow, "Christian right goes to war with Ridley’s crusaders" web:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article384742.ece
^ Robert Fisk, "Kingdom of Heaven:Why Ridley Scott's Story Of The Crusades Struck Such A Chord In A Lebanese Cinema" web: Zmag.org
^ "Kingdom of Heaven- Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information" web: The-Numbers.com
^ Hicelebs.com: "Kingdom of Heaven Trivia" web:http://www.hicelebs.com/movies/kingdom_of_heaven/trivia.html
^ Garth Franklin, "Interview: Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven" web: DarkHorizons.com
^ Ridley Scott interview

is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of

Contents

Synopsis

Historical accuracy

Cinematography

Film score

Critical response

Extended director's cut

Behind the scenes

Awards

Won (3)

Nominations (8)

Notes