h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why is it that critics always hate movies I really like?! Well, not always, but often lately. They savaged Equilibrium. Dismissed The Village. And now are beating up on Kingdom of Heaven. One of them described it as "Legolas Defends Jerusalem." I thought Orlando Bloom was excellent as the hero of the film. (Biased by drool, who me?) It was a thoughtful and complex story, though very violent - but then it IS about the crusades. What was interesting to me were the moral issues in the film, such as, and this is a bit of a spoiler, is it morally defensible to kill a rival to prevent a war?

Another standout performance in the film was Edward Norton as King Baldwin the Fourth, who was a leper covered in bandages with a silver mask. Though all we see is his eyes, the character is riveting. Shows the power of voice. Very nice art direction on that mask too.

another "Americanised" version of the historty of Europe...

happy Europe Day!



toddles of into thin air*.....watch my fly!

* see A2700325

I havn't seen it yet, but it's very high on my list! And I'm usualy the same way, I usually like the movies the critics tank.
I don't understand how some actors/actresses can get away with multiple charecters without being typecast. ie: Johnny Depp or Mila Jovovich, while others will never live down their respective charecters! I guess it's up to the critics to decide.
Just my for what it's worth

Johnny Depp is a superb actor though. Not that Mr. Bloom isn't it's just that he seems to have been stuck playing similar parts - well, apparently the critics think so. I think he has a lot of potential, and of course he is very easy on the eye which is always a bonus.

I can't wait to see this, I love the stories about that period. All sweaty men with swords and horses. Right up my street.

And Liam Neeson too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F19585?thread=496680&skip=480&show=20 A long running movie thread that has been revived on ASK if you care to look JEllen Norton is a supreme actor. Have not seen the movie yet.

Edward Norton and Liam Neeson? sounds like a seriously good film. Perhaps I'll go and see it with an open mind. In my imagination, the crusades are coloured almost entirely by Walter Scott's descriptions.

I just found this on Reuters... http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2005-05-09T142408Z_01_MCC951296_RTRUKOC_0_ARTS-MIDEAST-KINGDOM.xml

Personally, I'd be swayed more by the views of Amin Maalouf than by any film critic.

Ivan.

excelent article

I've read a few things by Maalouf. I must look out his Crusades book.

The scene another writer objected to - where Balian teaches the peasants how to dig a well. The same objection was made by a commentator on a UK TV show. But someone else said it was a deliberate contrasr with the next scene. First Balian helps people to muddy water. Then Saladin - from the superior culture - is shown enjoying beautiful, crystal-clear iced water. I've not seen the film myself - but it does sound interesting.

Ed Norton - He was great in 25th Hour - but then the whole cast were. The more I think about it, the better I think that movie was. I think I posted some words on it in Psychocandy's thread. Or maybe somewhere in my Film Club. Ah, here! (post 12) F2004407?thread=576929&post=6514058#p6514058