Cine TV Contest #119 - Kingdom of Heaven

I'm a huge fan of medieval fantasy movies and there have been a few great ones released in the past few decades. I specifically enjoy the army clash scenes with some notable examples being the opening act of The Gladiator and the siege of Helm's Deep from LOTR. But if there's a 'comfort movie' that I love to rewatch whenever I'm in the mood, it would be Kingdom of Heaven.

Plot
Balian, played by Orland Bloom, is a village blacksmith who travels to the holy land of Jerusalem to seek redemption from his dark past. But upon arrival, he discovers that the sanctuary he was looking for is far from being perfect. Different Christian factions vie for control, scheming and plotting against each other, all while under the constant threat of the Islamic army under Saladin.

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What I Love About It
First is the armies. The forces of Jerusalem are a congregation of various templar factions that came from different parts of Europe. And I love how each of them has their own coat of arms and army uniforms. It's somehow appealing to the eye seeing all of them blend together on screen.

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The fight scenes are also great, whether it's the small skirmishes or the large-scale army clashes. It's a shame that they chose to skip the battle between the worn-out Jerusalem army and Saladin's forces, although it is implied that it was a one-sided slaughter at that point. Nonetheless, the succeeding siege of Jerusalem was one of the best city defense scenes I've watched.

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My Key Takeaway
I believe Kingdom of Heaven is all about faith and what it means to different people. Tiberias was a man of conviction who lost all hope. There were also figures like Reynald and Guy who murdered and plundered under the guise of doing God's will. The archbishop was willing to give up his faith in order to save his life. Finally, there are two main characters with contradicting beliefs. King Baldwin, despite being a leper, gave everything he had in order to keep the peace and protect Jerusalem from internal and external forces. Balian, on the other hand, deemed that the inhabitants were more important than the city and chose to surrender Jerusalem in order to save them.

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As a Christian, I believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is no longer about the land of Jerusalem but the faith within ourselves. It is man's nature to always seek something tangible whether it be an idol, sacred relic, or a place of worship in order to strengthen their faith. But as Christ has taught us, the true path to salvation lies not in worldly things, but in following his teachings.

Thank you for reading and this has been my entry for the CineTV Contest featuring War Movies. I highly encourage you guys to join in as well and share your favorite films. Check their post here.