Kingdom Of Heaven review

Ridley Scott's Gladiator more or less set the trend for the recent revival in historical epics and it's thanks to its global success that we have had to endure the likes of Troy, King Arthur and Alexander - three of last year's bombastic, if empty, offerings. Now Scott returns with another epic and its subject is as prescient today as it was 1,000 years ago. In the post 911 days it would be easy to paint a one-sided view of the Christian-Muslim battle for Jerusalem in the 12th century, but William Monahan's sturdy script and Scott's experienced eye make Kingdom of Heaven a satisfyingly fair and largely spectacular effort.

Monahan and Scott aren't afraid to ask big questions about religion, man's need for its physical representation on earth, and life as a religious warrior (be it Christian or Muslim). All of these subjects are tackled through the odyssey of Balian (Orlando Bloom), a young French blacksmith who is grieving the suicide of his wife at the beginning of the film. When he murders a local priest who insults his dead wife he knows that he will become a wanted man, but luck comes his way in the figure of his estranged father Sir Godfrey (Liam Neeson), who persuades him to join him in his trip to the Holy Land (there's a nice running gag about it being 'just past the place where they speak Italian').

The film begins in adventurous fashion as Godfrey's gang come under fatal attack and Balian is forced to finish his journey with a depleted crew. But being Godfrey's son has some perks: upon his arrival in Jerusalem he inherits a house and land, which he converts into a water source for the poor. He meets, and falls for Sybilla (Eva Green), the sister of the ailing King (an impressive masked performance by Edward Norton) and a woman trapped in a forced marriage to the spiteful Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas). While this plotline fails to live up to expectations, Balian's personal complications are heightened by the imminent threat of a Muslim attack on the Holy City and he finds himself a central figure in the battle against the oncoming army led by the notorious Saladin.

The choice of Orlando Bloom as the hero of the hour is a wise one. Here Bloom comes of age giving his most mature performance to date, far better than his lacklustre turn as Paris in last year's Troy. He is helped by an experienced and formidable array of faces including Michael Sheen, Kevin McKidd and David Thewlis. While his relationship with Sybilla never quite has the emotional impact needed to make a great epic, it is also pleasantly neither overplayed nor overwritten.

With a final battle sequence that outstrips Peter Jackson's Battle for Helm's Deep, the film has plenty to offer action fans. It also doesn't pander to any bias in its view of Christians or Muslims: indeed Saladin is given great gravitas and empathy thanks to a terrific performance by the Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud. In short, Scott has delivered the best epic since, well, since Gladiator.