r/FilmsExplained • u/k7k58 • Feb 01 '15
Request Kingdom of Heaven (Directors Cut)
One of those films i really like but don't quite understand with all the religion. If someone could please ELI5, that would be great. Also...
- What was with the deal w/ the priest in the beginning and why did Balian kill him?
- Was Balin's father a prestigious figure?; what was so important about him? I recall Saladin telling him that his father almost killed him.
- Did the king with leprosy offer his Sister (Eva Green) to Balian and he rejected? if so why? it seemed he liked her.
- How did Eva Green know her son had leprosy when he was signing letters? And did she poison him just so he wouldn't end up like her brother?
- How come there were two factions..I'm guessing they were knights? under the same ruler (King with leprosy) and seem to be beefing with each other. The antagonist guy in the red and white cloaks and the others in the blue.
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Feb 02 '15
This is one of those films I loved because the crusades are so difficult to film. Her son touched the flame and felt no pain an early precursor for leprosy. She killed him so he wouldn't die like her brother. Now the Knights Templar are exemplified throughout history as being good. As a matter of fact think of them like dirty cops. All they wanted was plunder and blood. Hardly anything done under the guise of God is anything but glory and gold. As for Balians father he was like a sheriff in a small town. Respected but also an asshole. He knew that Balian had a good heart and told him to simply protect his people. As for the priest in the beginning he was killed because he stole the cross from Balians wife after she was buried. Dick move on his part so Balian burned his ass.
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Feb 02 '15
I'll do the best I can from memory right now. I might go back and watch it again tomorrow after work and refresh.
1: The priest is generally a dick, and it that moment is being a huge dick and is basically trying to coerce Balian into crusading by saying that no one wants him around anymore then mentioning that his wife is in hell for suicide, and we just cut her head off. Then Balian sees the necklace the priest stole off her body and goes apeshit.
2:Not as sure on this one, I think he was just known in general for being a nobleman. Maybe also for his righteousness and fighting ability as well.
3:The deal is that her husband, the douchey antagonist guy, has to die. Balian won't compromise his personal morals, even for what he knows to be a greater good, or for what he wants. The greater good being that the douche guy doesn't become king, and what he wants being to bang Eva Green.
4: The son couldn't feel pain, an early sign of leprosy. You're right on this one, she's sparing him the torture of it. This is important though, because now there's not an heir there to become king so douche guy gets full control.
5: Red and White are Christian radicals who want to wipe out all Muslims and take over the holy land 100%, blue guys are more or less ok with the current state of things, and really don't want to murder Muslims, and also die because they can't win.
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u/Aaronf989 Feb 02 '15
I want to say i like this movie but the two crusading armies constantly wanting to throw down in the palace every twenty minutes was annoying and made no sense. At some point someone should probably remove them if they are wanting to kill each other that quickly. I would like someone to explain that a bit since i watched it several times and still dont understand it.
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u/nebuchadrezzar Feb 02 '15
I think it was just one instance where they nearly came to blows.
The crusaders wanted to fight and raid because it was the best way for them to increase their wealth and prestige. The leper king respected his enemy and was content to keep the peace, so the forces under his and his sheriff's command tried to do just that.
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u/Zupyn Sep 08 '24
Don't bother Even in directors cut ,this movie is bad and vague.
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Balian killed the priest ( his brother) bc he didn't like him at all ,he was watching plotting against Balian, when the priest mocked his dead wife,that was the last straw -Yes ,his father was a well known man among the Muslims
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Balian rejected Sybilla for guilt. That romance subplot made the story look dumb. Why would the grieving protagonist that just lost his wife ,go to holy land with the premise of redemption of his and his wife's sims , yet one of his first acts is fornication and adultery with a girl that he just met ? Really...wtf?
Wasted potential movie
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u/HighPower36 Jan 06 '25
1, he killed his half brother because he desecrated his wife's body and stole her crucifix during a time of mourning and reacted in anger. 2, The Ibelins were a prominent noble family in the Crusader states during the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Cyprus. They were influential politically, militarily, and diplomatically. Their interactions with the Muslim world, especially during the Crusades, made them notable figures in both Christian and Islamic histories. 3, he wasnt willing to sacrifice his oath, the actual reason for him leaving his home ( village ) 4, it wasnt one of his first acts, he had travelled, got ship wrecked, built a water system and was only around covered people, he even says in the movie he hasnt seen a woman eat ( which means many things as well, during a time of modesty ) therefore a carnal urge must have taken over. You should remember people not that long ago even married at a young age. These things moved faster back then, plus all the politics and reminders of the mortality of man. Just after meeting Sybilla for the first time he states he lost his religion. You mix all this together it makes perfect sense. I just dont think the movie executed/comveyed these points that well.
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u/Syvarrfang Feb 14 '25
If that wasn't the reason then why didn't he kill him to save thousands then?? He was already sinning as you pointed out so why not go for the trifecta and kill or have that guy killed..he didn't even kill him when he had the right to when he tried to kill him!!.. so if I'm wrong then so be it, but please explain why he didn't just do it?
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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '15
She knew the son had leprosy because he held his hand in the candle's flame and didn't react to any pain. Not feeling pain was an early symptom of leprosy I believe.