Best version of Kingdom of Heaven? (cinema, films, 20th Century, dvd)

[GameHog9]

Im trying to decide between the many, many Kingdom of Heaven versions, and since I own a PS3, I am leaning more towards the Blu Ray Directors Cut, although I think there is another version that actually has more content.

Help?

[Mark S.]

I've only seen the DVD double-disc Director's Cut. I thought it was okay. It certainly LOOKED magnificent (as all Ridley Scott's films do). But the entire story was anachronism. Once Liam Neeson's character died, most of the fire went out of the story.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

But the entire story was anachronism.

How so? I think the picture tried to maintain the sensibilities of the time more than many epics do. There were many elements of fantasy, like trebuchets with the range, trajectory and velocity of a German 88mm gun.

As to the versions of the picture, well usually there's a reason the shorter version is released but I liked the long one.

[GameHog9]

I found it masterful, and thought provoking (especially with today).

I know that the Directors Cut has been claimed to be far better, as the shortened version is more focused on action, another Troy, if you will. The D's Cut offers more insight on the plot. I think the DVD version is slightly longer, although Ridley stated that the original, unedited version of the movie is 80 minutes longer than the D's C (close to 4 hours).

Is this version ever going to come out?

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

How so? I think the picture tried to maintain the sensibilities of the time more than many epics do.

Orlando Bloom's character had a mindset and values straight out of a 20th century cynic's view of religion. Liam Neeson's character (and I love Liam Neeson and loved his performance) had a more hippy spirituality outlook on life.

The spectacle was magnificent. Casting, cinematography, costuming, design... the entire look of the movie was awesome. But the story and characters struck me as Ridley Scott saying, "This is the way the Middle Ages ought to have been." Because it certainly wasn't the way they were.

Done well, there's nothing wrong with that. I actually enjoyed A Knight's Tale immensely, which is anachronism from beginning to end --- delightfully so. Kingdom of Heaven just had a sort of sad, angry tone to it that never quite grabbed me. Try as I might, I just couldn't work up any sympathy for Orlando Bloom's character. I kept wanting to kick him in the pants and scream, "Stop whining you whiney whiner!"