I was originally going to start the review of the "Iron Man Trilogy" for this blog but caught this film on cable TV last night. I guess we're running with the Ridley Scott theme. I normally don't care for Director's Cuts (the Director's Cut of Amadeus, I think, stretches a damned perfect movie out too much) and I can't think of a director outside of Ridley Scott who actually releases better films after the fact. I like his Blade Runner: The Final Cut better because it gets rid of the Theatrical Cut's terrible voice over narration. Kingdom of Heaven is another example of Scott's tinkering that makes for a more complex story, on and off the screen.
Having watched both editions, I do feel the theatrical cut is OK. The film was originally 3 hours, an appropriate length for its epic scope. 20th Century Fox, wanting another Gladiator-style hit, cut it by 45 minutes, with the film now clocking in at 2 hrs 20 minutes. Only a couple months after the film hit theatres (and flopped, critically and commercially) did Scott go back in and put the missing pieces back together again with an "Ultimate Edition."
Balian (Orlando Bloom) is a blacksmith in France in 1184. His wife has died by suicide after the death of their child. The local priest (Michael Sheen) desecrates her body and in a rage Balian kills him. Seeking forgiveness, he goes off with his father (Liam Neeson) as a knight in the Knight's Templar to live in the Holy Land of Jerusalem. After a number of setbacks, Balian finds himself the last line of defense of the city and must fight off the Muslim hordes of Saladin so the women and children can be safely evacuated.
I would say if you want the full experience to watch the Director's Cut (with "Overture," "Intermission," and "Closing Fanfare"). A lot of character development is missing in the theatrical cut, with Balian's motivation for killing the Priest and driving his arc to being weak, but with the Director's Cut fleshing out how terrible the Priest is. The wife of the king who has leprosy has a subplot where she must euthanize her son who has early onset leprosy like his father. But regardless, both cuts do not scrimp of the final action set piece, which in both cuts is spectacular. There may be no better action director than Scott (maybe Nolan), and he really delivers here with a monumental week-long struggle for the city. Out of knights who left on a folly offensive, Balian has to recruit many teenagers and women to help. The film already had great cinematography, lush melancholy blues, but the ending takes it a step further with a battle on par with The Lord of the Rings.
It is really up to you which cut to watch though. If you want a straight forward historical war film go with the Theatrical Cut. If you want a true epic in every sense of the word go with the Director's Cut.
Theatrical Cut: *** stars out of 4
Director's Cut: **** stars out of 4
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