Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Orlando Bloom goes from grieving village blacksmith to expert in irrigation and siege defense in about the time it takes to shoe a horse, and he never seems heavy enough for any of it. That’s the hole at the center of Kingdom of Heaven. Eva Green’s Sibylla also feels like half a character, with big choices and almost no setup. Around them, though, is a gorgeous epic. Edward Norton plays King Baldwin IV behind a silver mask, and with only his voice he gives the best performance in the film, a dying king holding a fragile peace together. Ghassan Massoud’s Saladin is calm, dignified and wiser than most of the lords on the other side. The siege of Jerusalem is enormous and grim, and Ridley Scott treats the cost on both sides with real weight. It made $214.2 million worldwide on a reported $130M budget. A 6.7 because the world is rich and the man in the middle is a little hollow. $237.96 says you hear Edward Norton’s voice in another movie this year and picture the silver mask.

What works: Edward Norton’s masked king and Ghassan Massoud’s Saladin give the film real dignity, and the siege is staged on a massive scale.

What doesn’t: Orlando Bloom lacks the weight to carry a leader’s arc, and key relationships, especially Sibylla’s, feel rushed and underexplained.

Who it’s for: History buffs and epic fans who want a big, thoughtful Crusades story and can live with a light lead.