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Audio Format: DD 5.1 EX, DTS HD 5.1 Video Format: Widescreen 2.35:1 (Anamorphic) Languages: English Subtitles: English, Spanish, French Region Code: A Year Made: 2005 Running Time: 194
Please note:
This Item is Blu-Ray Disc made for Blue-Lay Disc players and HD TV.
Region A(1) Disc is playable only at North & South America, East Asia except for China.
 It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here, grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city) and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood.
There are good and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and the people. The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive: his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain).
An excellent supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Many critics pointed out that Bloom doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe in the lead (then again, who does?), but it's the underdeveloped character and not the actor that hurts the film and impacts its power. Balian isn't given much more to do than be sullen and give an occasional big speech, alongside his perplexing abilities for warfare tactics and his wandering moral compass (whose sole purpose seems to be to put a love scene in the movie). Note: all the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are heavily fictionalized.
Special Features:
Disk 1:
- DIRECTOR'S CUT Part One
- Introduction by Sir Ridley Scott
- AUDIO COMMENTARIES: Director Ridley Scott and Writer William Monahan by executive producer Lisa Ellzey, film editor Dody Dorn, visual effects supervisor Wes Sewell and first assistant director Adam Somner
- THE ENGINER'S GUIDE
Disk 2:
- DIRECTOR'S CUT Part Two
- AUDIO COMMENTARIES (Continued): Director Ridley Scott and Writer William Monahan by executive producer Lisa Ellzey, film editor Dody Dorn, visual effects supervisor Wes Sewell and first assistant director Adam Somner
- THE ENGINER'S GUIDE (Cont'd)
Story Notes (Text & Images)
Disk 3:
- THE PATH TO REDEMPTION DOCUMENTARY - Part I DEVELOPMENT
Part I: Good Intentions (Featurette)
"Tripoli" Overview & Gallery (Text & Images)
First Draft Screenplay by William Monahan (Text)
Story Notes (Text & Images)
Location Scout Gallery (Images)
- PRE-PRODUCTION
Part II: Faith and Courage (Featurette)
Screen Tests (Video and Commentary)
Cast Rehearsals (Video)
Costume & Weapon Design Featurette (Video)
Production Design / Conceptual Art / Costume Galleries (Text & Images)
- PRODUCTION: SPAIN
Part III: The Pilgrimage Begins (Featurette)
Creative Accuracy: The Scholars Speak (Video)
Storyboard Comparisons (Multi-Angle Video & Images)
Photo Galleries (Text & Images)
Disk 4:
- THE PATH TO REDEMPTION (Continued)
- PRODUCTION: MOROCCO
Part IV: Into The Promised Land (Featurette)
Unholy War: Mounting The Siege (Video)
Storyboard Comparisons (Multi-Angle Video & Images)
Photo Galleries (Text & Images)
- POST-PRODUCTION
Part V: The Burning Bush (Featurette)
Deleted & Alternate Scenes (Video & Commentary)
Sound Design Suite (Video & Audio)
Visual Effects Breakdowns (Video & Commentary)
- RELEASE
Part VI: Sins and Absolution (Featurette)
Trailers & TV Spots (Video & Commentary)
ShoWest Presentation (Video)
Press Junket Walkthrough (Video)
Japanese & London Premieres (Video)
Poster Explorations: Domestic & International (Images)
The Director's Cut & DVD Campaign (Video & Images)
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