
It is the time of the Crusades during the Middle Ages -- the world-shaping 200-year collision between Europe and the East. A blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem, he falls in love, grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all his courage and skill to defend the city against staggeri... (Full plot summary below)
Enjoy FREE movies and series with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!
Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.
It is the time of the Crusades during the Middle Ages -- the world-shaping 200-year collision between Europe and the East. A blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem, he falls in love, grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all his courage and skill to defend the city against staggering odds. Destiny comes seeking Balian in the form of a great knight, Godfrey of Ibelin, a Crusader briefly home to France from fighting in the East. Revealing himself as Balian's father, Godfrey shows him the true meaning of knighthood and takes him on a journey across continents to the fabled Holy City. In Jerusalem at that moment--between the Second and Third Crusades--a fragile peace prevails, through the efforts of its enlightened Christian king, Baldwin IV, aided by his advisor Tiberias, and the military restraint of the legendary Muslim leader Saladin Ayubi. But Baldwin's days are numbered, and strains of fanaticism, greed, and jealousy among the Crusaders threaten to shatter the truce. King Baldwin's vision of peace--a kingdom of heaven--is shared by a handful of knights, including Godfrey of Ibelin, who swear to uphold it with their lives and honor. As Godfrey passes his sword to his son, he also passes on that sacred oath: to protect the helpless, safeguard the peace, and work toward harmony between religions and cultures, so that a kingdom of heaven can flourish on earth. Balian takes the sword and steps into history.
Leave your thoughts about Kingdom of Heaven.
| Peterborough This WeekMike SageKingdom of Heaven isn't quite the next Gladiator with a fair share of boring moments, but it tries hard |
| MTVKurt LoderThe movie is distinguished by the uniform excellence of its actors ... Orlando Bloom, in particular ... gives a performance of striking stillness and reserve ... |
| Charlotte ObserverLawrence ToppmanBloom finally comes into his own as a man here, somberly thoughtful and melancholic. The elfin archer of "The Lord of the Rings" and the trivial boy-toy of "Troy" have been forgotten. |
| Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonA gargantuan epic, a historical adventure-drama of overwhelming visual grandeur. |
| San Jose Mercury NewsBruce NewmanThe Crusades lasted just over 200 years, which is longer than Kingdom of Heaven, although not by as much as you might hope. |
| Groucho ReviewsPeter CanaveseA confused and confusing compromise at best and a dull obfuscation of history at worst. |
| Reeling ReviewsLaura CliffordNeeson is a classic, masculine hero who leaves the film strongly marked with his absence |
| San Diego Union-TribuneDavid ElliottKnights! Castles! Broadswords! Catapults! Flaming balls! Severed heads! Burning oil! Gushing digital blood! |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertBetter than "Gladiator" -- deeper, more thoughtful, more about human motivation and less about action. |
| MovieFreak.comSara Michelle FettersIt is a deeply personal, highly introspective work of artistic expression the likes of which the director hasn't attempted since Blade Runner, this easily his best, and probably least accessible, film since that ground-breaking sci-fi classic. |