Walked out of Kingdom of Heaven

[pegkerr]

I couldn't take more than twenty minutes of it. I had mixed feelings going in. I have never worshipped at the pretty boy altar of Orlando Bloom, but I kinda wanted to see him in his new movie. I was interested in the other actors, and the idea of a collision of cultures, a struggle between two faiths. But not enough to sit through all that mayhem. Ick. I have picked up from the reviews that the "clash of faiths" may not be there anyway; someone at the heart of planning it (who? Was it the director? The producer? the screenwriter?) was an agnostic, and perhaps as a result all the major characters' actions do not spring from any well-spring of conviction that shapes their motivation.

Now that I think of it, i don't think I've ever seen any of the really big iconic R-rated war movies. I never saw Saving Private Ryan or Braveheart. Or Gladiator, for that matter, Ridley Scott's other big opus. I don't go to a war movie because I want to revel in the gore. (I NEVER go to horror movies, either). But I want to see that the characters are struggling for something they believe in.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I may even have a lower tolerance for gore than you. I routinely cover my eyes at movie theaters. I find that sometimes, some movies are watchable on the television that I can't manage in the theater. The big screen is overwhelming,and the darkness doesn't help. I liked "Braveheart" when I rented it (except the "cover your eyes" scene quite close to the beginning).

I still haven't seen "Saving Private Ryan" (though I've been to Omaha Beach, and think I'd like to). It'd be best to watch the opening beach scene on a 13 inch black and white television, I believe.

K. [with the sound turned off]

[jbru.livejournal.com]

When I saw Saving Private Ryan in the theater, I discovered myself sunk into my seat after that opening sequence. I'd unconsciously recoiled from the horror and had to literally pick myself back up to watch the rest of the film. Powerful film making.

(And I watch horror movies for fun.)