May 23, 2005 09:05 PM
2252 Views
(Updated May 23, 2005 09:10 PM)
These days going to a movie hall is not so encouraging for me because of a lot of factors, a few of them I have managed to list here.
#1 Finding time is the biggest factor for me,3 to 4 hours of the day is gone if I were to go to a theatre.The most annoying of the time spent in the movies is in the to and return journey from the theatre, the intervals with jarring advertisements of silk sarees, Idli shops(if you are in chennai) and what not.
#2 The traffic, these days driving feels like being in a video game where everybody else is trying to bring u down.
#3 The crowd in cinema halls, seriously, I don't think we have a very good audience.
#4 I can always download the movie and watch it at the comfort of my home, after all watching a movie at home(alone) is the next best thing to sleep for me.
Despite all these reasons if I still had to go to the theatre to watch a movie, then the movie had to have a certain something. Here are the certain somethings that the movie had which made me go to the movie.
#1 Ridley Scott (undoubtedly one of modern days very talented film makers)
#2 Epic period film, at around 150 million dollars(can you believe that, a movie made at around 700 crore rupees), one of the most anticipated films of the year.
#3 The trailer was stunning, I had not seen one like it in months.However I feel the 4 minute trailer was better than the movie.
#4 Edward Norton cameo (undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of all time, I'm a BIG fan)
Storyline
Kingdom of Heaven set against the turbulent, emotionally charged and World-Shaping Crusades, is the story of Balian a french blacksmith who rises from a common man to a knight fighting for Jerusalem. It is a merger of fact and fiction, set against the backdrop of the Crusades, it is an epic saga told through the eyes of one man caught in the epic struggle between Christians, Muslims and Jews. For a detailed brief on the story go the official website. https://kingdomofheavenmovie.com/
What worked for the movie
>> Its visuals and cinematic craftsmanship are unparalleled in cinema. The battle sequences are unbelievably spectacular.
>> Ridley Scott has once again given us an epic, he definitely is a master at making epic films(Blade Runner, Alien etc) however it wont remain in our memories as Gladiator did, primarily due to weak main characters.
>> Cinematography, sound and special effects are stunning
>> Its a treat to watch the crusades on giant screen, with theatres equipped with the latest in technology, the atmosphere just engulfs you.
>> The acting is consistent and believable through out the movie. My pick of the lot would be Liam Neeson as Godfrey,Ghassan Massoud as Saladin and Norton as King Baldwin.
What didn't work for the movie
>> Lack of depth in the characters, there is not a single character I vouched for in the movie, except maybe Liam Neeson, maybe because we like the dying good man.
>> Orland Bloom, not because he didnt act well, but because he doesnt have the zing for the man fighting against all odds and he is not very macho.Comparison to Russel Crowe in Gladiator is inevitable but I'm amazed at why Ridley Scott didn't pick from the best actors of the current lot(my bet would be Di Caprio).
>> Slow narrative and less action in the first hour.It didn't bother me though, however for a lot of people this is a downer.
Bottomline
It is an epic that sweeps you visually. Once in, you would feel transported to the 12th century, it is what a cinematic experience should really be. Watch if it is till running in a good theatre(by good I mean one equipped with a great sound system and a giant screen).However, don't expect a Gladiator.
the enigma
--------------------------------------------------------------
Memorable Quotes
`What man is a man who does not make the world better?' - Balian
''Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath. (Smack) and that is so you will remember it. Rise a Knight.'' - Godfrey
