Kingdom of Heaven.
May. 7th, 2005 12:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aleathielYes I've seen it. These are first impressions before I've even really had much time to think about it.
It also contains how I think the final film relates to my fics.
I'm going to start by telling you that there were two lines that almost made me squeal out loud in the cinema. This is something that doesn't happen very often.
"All but one."
"You have my love and you have my answer".
FUCKING PERFECT. Those are the lines that fit my fics! They weren't in the original script and I couldn't be happier about the inclusion of those two lines. Totally unexpected delight.
But more on that, and my fics, later.
The film.
I was terrified going in, as usual. I've invested too much emotion and time into this film to be able to bear another Troy. It didn't have to be perfect, I just wanted to be satisfied.
Well, I am. Yeah, there are things I would change, but I'm not thinking about that yet because this is first impressions and my first impressions are good ones.
Orlando was good. He's not a high caliber actor yet, but he can learn. And he's improving a lot. He certainly managed to carry the film.
The others were fantastic. This is brief so I hardly need to list, but Liam and Jeremy were as I hoped they would be. And Marton. I don't like that they over-simplified the villains, but he had the presence to carry it off.
The cinematography was all I could expect from Ridley Scott. He is truly a master.
I was so caught up in the film I even liked the incredibly cheesy mass-knighting.
I don't have much in the way of first impressions about the politics and history, because they aren't first impressions any more, they're things I've thought about ever since I knew the plot. But, with the exception of the over the top villainous fanatics (particularly the christian ones. The Muslim fanatic was actually quite chilling), I like the way it is done. I thought both Nasir and Saladin were very good.
I knew they'd cut Sibylla's son and changed the ending to a 'happier' one than in the original. Yes, that did make Sibylla's character weaker, and I'm sorry that they did it. But it was okay as it was, just not as good as it would have been. I hope the son makes it back into a longer version.
The other thing I regret the loss of is the scene with the Pope (*mourns the loss of the orange scene*), but it didn't actually make the film any weaker not to have it.
I didn't really mind the fact that there was no Balian vs Guy showdown. It wasn't necessary. And, in fact, a fight between them would have trivialised the story and made it a story about the two of them, not about Jerusalem.
And finally, with regard to slash.
Oh the potential.
Off the top of my head - I want to see Balian/Nasir. Balian/Tiberias. Tiberias/Godfrey.
Dammit I'm so tempted by Godfrey/Sibylla ("I loved your father...")
And what I've written already? Oh God, The Work of Heaven was fine. I was so glad when I saw the set for Baldwin's room! And that they ended the scene on "maybe one day when I am helpless you will protect me".
And they added "You have my love and my answer" to the death scene. I could kiss whoever made that decision. It isn't in the fic, because I didn't think of it. But it might as well be and that makes me unbelieveably happy.
And 'All Your Sins'? I'm sorry they took out the Pope scene because I wanted to see that orange so much. But the sentiments were all there.
And to think that I angsted and worked myself in circles to make Godfrey repent when Balian asked him to. To think I anguished over how to make Godfrey say that he repented everything except Balian.
And then to FUCKING HEAR THAT IN THE FILM. It nearly killed me to stay silent. I wanted to stand up and cheer.
I don't yet know if the film will stand up to multiple showings or even to my thinking about it in the cold light of morning. But right now I don't really care, because those two little lines have sent me to a kingdom of heaven.
It also contains how I think the final film relates to my fics.
I'm going to start by telling you that there were two lines that almost made me squeal out loud in the cinema. This is something that doesn't happen very often.
"All but one."
"You have my love and you have my answer".
FUCKING PERFECT. Those are the lines that fit my fics! They weren't in the original script and I couldn't be happier about the inclusion of those two lines. Totally unexpected delight.
But more on that, and my fics, later.
The film.
I was terrified going in, as usual. I've invested too much emotion and time into this film to be able to bear another Troy. It didn't have to be perfect, I just wanted to be satisfied.
Well, I am. Yeah, there are things I would change, but I'm not thinking about that yet because this is first impressions and my first impressions are good ones.
Orlando was good. He's not a high caliber actor yet, but he can learn. And he's improving a lot. He certainly managed to carry the film.
The others were fantastic. This is brief so I hardly need to list, but Liam and Jeremy were as I hoped they would be. And Marton. I don't like that they over-simplified the villains, but he had the presence to carry it off.
The cinematography was all I could expect from Ridley Scott. He is truly a master.
I was so caught up in the film I even liked the incredibly cheesy mass-knighting.
I don't have much in the way of first impressions about the politics and history, because they aren't first impressions any more, they're things I've thought about ever since I knew the plot. But, with the exception of the over the top villainous fanatics (particularly the christian ones. The Muslim fanatic was actually quite chilling), I like the way it is done. I thought both Nasir and Saladin were very good.
I knew they'd cut Sibylla's son and changed the ending to a 'happier' one than in the original. Yes, that did make Sibylla's character weaker, and I'm sorry that they did it. But it was okay as it was, just not as good as it would have been. I hope the son makes it back into a longer version.
The other thing I regret the loss of is the scene with the Pope (*mourns the loss of the orange scene*), but it didn't actually make the film any weaker not to have it.
I didn't really mind the fact that there was no Balian vs Guy showdown. It wasn't necessary. And, in fact, a fight between them would have trivialised the story and made it a story about the two of them, not about Jerusalem.
And finally, with regard to slash.
Oh the potential.
Off the top of my head - I want to see Balian/Nasir. Balian/Tiberias. Tiberias/Godfrey.
Dammit I'm so tempted by Godfrey/Sibylla ("I loved your father...")
And what I've written already? Oh God, The Work of Heaven was fine. I was so glad when I saw the set for Baldwin's room! And that they ended the scene on "maybe one day when I am helpless you will protect me".
And they added "You have my love and my answer" to the death scene. I could kiss whoever made that decision. It isn't in the fic, because I didn't think of it. But it might as well be and that makes me unbelieveably happy.
And 'All Your Sins'? I'm sorry they took out the Pope scene because I wanted to see that orange so much. But the sentiments were all there.
And to think that I angsted and worked myself in circles to make Godfrey repent when Balian asked him to. To think I anguished over how to make Godfrey say that he repented everything except Balian.
And then to FUCKING HEAR THAT IN THE FILM. It nearly killed me to stay silent. I wanted to stand up and cheer.
I don't yet know if the film will stand up to multiple showings or even to my thinking about it in the cold light of morning. But right now I don't really care, because those two little lines have sent me to a kingdom of heaven.
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 12:41 am (UTC)I think they intentionally made the Christian zealots seem more out there to show Christians that they did/do the same things that the Muslims do.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 08:25 am (UTC)And yes. There were fanatics on both sides, but we spent longer with the Christian side of the story. I think it did a very fair job. And Saladin came off beautifully.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 05:41 am (UTC)At the moment, I'm feeling the Balian/Nasir love. I want them to get on horses [which they have given each other of course] and ride off into the sunset together. *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 08:28 am (UTC)Write it. Please. Well, maybe not the sunset bit. But I totally agree. They have a lot in common, I think. They hold similar positions and similar ideals.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 07:14 am (UTC)you were spot on, on the two arcs, and i can't wait to read more. because there WILL be more, right? right??
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 08:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 04:56 pm (UTC)That made me think of you and that fantastic fic. And I wanted to squee ohsoverymuch. ♥
And now i'm off to read every other KoH fic you've ever written ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 05:00 pm (UTC)And I hope you enjoy the others. I may be writing a PWP tonight too.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 07:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 07:57 pm (UTC)