just watched half of kingdom of heaven (through endless commercial breaks jfc). bloom continues to possess such aesthetically pleasing facial proportions. Arab fanatic was prettier though
the war was very war. i don’t know how many millions they put in but they got a little bit of a sense of realism with which i mean death and pain and shit and not necesessarily bc of the millions
how do i feel about it? well. If i had seen the first part, judging by the wiki summary (i was checking historical accuracy) i would have been rolling my eyes at the incredible mary sue bullshit that was balian much longer and much harder. BEING A BLACKSMITH DOES NOT MAKE YOU A GOD AT FIGHTING. if that were the case all soldiers and knights would have just taken up blacksmithing!!!!
but i caught him at a good moment just as he was freeing a not-really slave.
it’s funny how Raymond was a raiding bastard in the film but apparently historically the regent who made the truce with Saladin in real life. ain’t it funny.
Also Balian was not a smith random in some french village living like a peasant, he was an actual nobleman because DUH (who supported Raymond)
This movie was very romantic. And said that Utilitarianism was for political bozos and girls.
The king was like: would you like to take over Jerusalem so a giant war doesn’t happen? If Guy and Raymond and his knights do not swear loyalty they’re dead.
And Balian was like: I couldn’t have that on my consience!!!!! :’(
And then a couple of thousand people died in direct consequence. Then Balian killed a couple of thousand people.
???? qué????
you’re not ok with FEUDAL LORDS AND KNIGHTS bringing death on themselves by not doing what they’re supposed to namely SWEARING FEALTY. but you’re ok with thousands of indirect deaths bc of you not taking the chance to stop it + a couple thousand more directly because of you?
like yes. Killing is always wrong. But COME. ON. fuckin hell.
anyway he had a love interest and that was basically all she was. She had a breakdown over the loss of her brother and HER bringing down Saladin on Jerusalem??? SHE BLAMED HERSELF??? what the actual fuck? and Balian was like yup that was all you, crowning Guy when you had no other option because he’s YOUR HUSBAND WHICH WAS FOISTED ON YOU. don’t worry i’ll fix it tho with my genius mind, impossible fighting skills (he got cut in his arm(it should have been broken) he was at the front for like a day) and PURE soul.
and she did nothing but stare miserably at things and a mirror and shit.
and then Balian was like: yeah you should totally give up your other three city states and come be a peasant with me. she said yes because she was so miserable about....?
HOW did she crumble so quickly under power? was she not groomed for being a noblewoman? Was there not implications of independence and political know how? But i guess all that was just for sexiness. did she even concretely have power? no. so why did she crumble?? I DON’T EVEN KNOW.
there was even a scene where she tried to ‘seduce’ him to take on the power handed to him and free jerusalem and HER from a terrible husband/future king, but he was like: no to your kiss. I have MORALS and a CONSCIENCE. adam and eva’d much
and she’s like: One day you will regret not doing a little evil for a greater cause!
and im like yeah! but IT NEVER HAPPENS. he remains totally convinced of himself and his choices. it’s SHE who regrets everything and blames herself for no apparent reason. because? she lost her brother AND his kingdom? who FUCKING CARES??? she’s been raised as a fucking princess and she goes to live as a peasant???? when she’s queen of THREE other city states including TRIPOLI and is finally free of her husband? come on. Why does she even love Bailan? Bc he’s pretty and cares for his people? I guess....
He literally tells her to stop being queen or he won’t be with her. jfc. Give up all power (which you are CLEARLY unfit to wield for no apparent reason) and you get love. otherwise no.
what kind of bullshit
also Bailan was like yeah we’re all people here and all religions are equally legitimate in Jerusalem but then all the people who fought and got close-ups were not the brown people we’ve SEEN populating every inch of Jerusalem.
that shit is ugly.