A blacksmith named Balian accepts the Crusader’s cross, and travels to the Holy Land to redeem his soul and escape prosecution for killing a priest.

This is high adventure at its best. Ridley Scott (of Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, and one of my personal favorites- Clay Pigeons- fame) has done it again. Delivered an epic tale of adventure, blood, betrayal and redemption.

A couple of people told me that they didn’t like this movie, but I went into seeing it with an open mind. The biggest problems that people had when describing it to me was that the first part of the movie dragged on a little, and that the Crusaders were portrayed as barbarians, while it seemed to glorify the Muslims.

Well, I thought that the first 45 minutes of the movie really served to set the stage for the rest of the story. And as far as the Crusaders being barbarians? Look at the historical record. During that period of history, the Arab's were arguably better educated, more strategic battle commanders, and historically more compassionate treating “People of the Book,” as they called Christians and Jews, fairly and leniently in their controlled lands. Additionally, Saladin’s (Massoud) offering the use of his personal physicians for Baldwin (Norton) also serves as a reminderthat Arabic medicine was definitely more advanced. Western physicians were still operating with unwashed hands and dull, rusty unsterilized instruments.

I was disappointed with some historical and philosophical inaccuracies. Many of the characters portrayed were actually historical figures, but placed slightly out of place. It would have been pretty easy to still make a highly entertaining epic, while not straying as far, (i.e., Reynald (Gleeson) was not a Templar in the historical record, and neither was Guy (Csokas).) I would have liked to see the de Lusignian characters developed a lot better (including Amalric (Velibor Topic)), and a little more exploration of who the Templars and Hospitalers were.

The siege towers, trebuchets, mangonels and battering rams were VERY cool. The siege and battle scenes were visually appealing, and I liked the period costumes.

My favorite character was the Hospitaler, played by David Thewlis.

Favorite quote was by Godfrey, “You are not what you were born, but what you have it in yourself to be.”

All in all, I was very pleased with the film. I will watch it again, and doubtless purchase the DVD when it comes out.

Grade: A-

Dave can be reached at dglenn@detroitbuzz.com.

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