Orlando Bloom is humble French blacksmith, Balian, whose faith in God is shaken after the death of his family. When Knight Godfrey, Liam Neeson reveals he is Balian's father, they travel together to The Holy Land. A tentative peace exists between the Christians and the Muslims, brokered by Edward Norton as King Baldwin IV and the Muslim leader, Saladin – Ghassan Massoud. But the truce is short lived and there are villains aplenty. Balian swears to defend the "kingdom of heaven".
This is a huge, effects driven epic that occasionally borders on the ludicrous. I'm still not sure how a simple blacksmith could become a great leader and talented war tactician so quickly. Orlando Bloom doesn't help, delivering his lines in a monotone, and his one expression – depressed –- hardly make him a commanding figure. But there is the wow factor – it's a spectacular production, with superb costumes, sets and truly magnificent battle scenes - and that's just enough to keep you engaged.
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