I am a fan of Ridley Scott's work and I like this film no doubt. However, sometimes Sir Ridley overreaches. This is what happens in this film. What it is trying to do, in a post 9/11 world is admirable. Attempting to explore the dialogue that existed between the Crusaders and Arabs, the film gets confused. In short the film tries to hard, to do and be too many things. While the storyline is fine the point(s) get lost amidst the exploration of characters (If that is the point then it is genius but I don't think it is).
The acting is pretty good but Orlando Bloom is not quite a leading man, yet; he simply lacks the gravitas of an older man and the out-and-out arrogance of a younger man.
The motivation of some characters seems to change and at other times linger without reason. The extended edition does go some way to clarify this but is still weak.

Enough negativity. There are some brilliant little forays into social commentary; the best being The Knights Templar. Here… more »

I am a fan of Ridley Scott's work and I like this film no doubt. However, sometimes Sir Ridley overreaches. This is what happens in this film. What it is trying to do, in a post 9/11 world is admirable. Attempting to explore the dialogue that existed between the Crusaders and Arabs, the film gets confused. In short the film tries to hard, to do and be too many things. While the storyline is fine the point(s) get lost amidst the exploration of characters (If that is the point then it is genius but I don't think it is).
The acting is pretty good but Orlando Bloom is not quite a leading man, yet; he simply lacks the gravitas of an older man and the out-and-out arrogance of a younger man.
The motivation of some characters seems to change and at other times linger without reason. The extended edition does go some way to clarify this but is still weak.

Enough negativity. There are some brilliant little forays into social commentary; the best being The Knights Templar. Here is a faction that murders in the name of religion. Aside from the general struggles for The Holy Land they make a point of killing any Arab for no reason and without the authority of the Religion for which they ostensibly fight. Sound familiar? It should.
Again the dialogue between the Christian King, the leprotic Ed Norton and Saladin is a good representation of leaders who accept they have opposing views but can still deal with each other with respect and dignity.

The action scenes are everything you'd expect from a Ridley Scott film and his creation of the medieval Holy Land is as visual as ever. The siege of Jerusalem is immense, the fighting brutal.

Overall this film is well worth a watch but don't go into it expecting Gladiator.