Let’s face it, folks: there aren’t many new movies out there right now that seem suitable or likely to appeal to a Christian audience. One that does have something to recommend it, however, is Kingdom of Heaven.
Kingdom of Heaven is set at the time of the Crusades. In the year 1184, a Crusader knight named Godfrey returns to his home in France and announces to the young man Balian that he is his father. Balian has just buried his wife, who committed suicide because of the death of their child. Balian goes with Godfrey to the Holy Land to seek forgiveness, both for himself and for his wife, who according to the beliefs of the time was doomed to Hell. Arriving in Jerusalem, Balian becomes involved in a Crusade to defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem from the Muslims. In so doing, he awakens his own untapped potential and becomes a knight like his father.
On the Plus Side:
Based on actual historical characters, Kingdom of Heaven has a lot to teach us. Many of us don’t know a whole lot about the Crusades, which, as one reviewer has said, “are definitely a blot on Christianity.” Orlando Bloom, in a terrific performance as Balian, embodies the person seeking in his own way to know the Lord. Many of his actions are admirable, and he comes to be strong but humble. Director Ridley Scott is said to be an agnostic and a believer in works. Perhaps inadvertently, though, Scott makes his main character a true seeker of God. Balian’s motto is this: “What man is a man who does not make the world better?” Early on, Balian shows kindness to a Muslim, an action which is later repaid. Though the story is told from essentially a Christian viewpoint, the Muslims are complex and not presented as black-and-white cartoonish bad guy characters.
On the Minus Side:
Kingdom of Heaven is quite violent and is definitely not a movie for children. There is no objectionable language and only one sexually suggestive scene, but there’s lots of blood, guts, and gore. There are many tedious battle scenes. The film also lacks a well-articulated theme.
Bottom line: Kingdom of Heaven is worth seeing for the history it presents, particularly regarding how the Crusades are to be seen as part of the history of Christianity.
Film Rating: R (for violence)
My Rating 2 ½ stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment