Kingdom of Heaven

This is a beautiful, well-executed film about the crusades, and specifically about the battle where Saladin, may Allah praise his name, finally recaptured Jerusalem from the infidel Christians. Unfortunately, even though he had a character as interesting as Saladin to work with, director Ridley Scott chose to focus on one of the Christian crusaders, and, most unfortunately, on one played by the wooden and characterless Orlando Bloom. If it weren’t for Bloom’s presence, this would be a bang-up historical action epic. With him, it’s a bit slow going as you wait and wonder if, in this scene, he’ll stare intently or intently stare. Still, it’s not entirely a bad film for lovers of swords and Saracens.