The politically correct Crusades

[Miss Chybil]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/09/film.the.crusades.ap/

'Kingdom of Heaven' walks a fine line
Monday, May 9, 2005 Posted: 9:43 AM EDT (1343 GMT)


LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- In these uneasy times, you'd think a Hollywood epic about the Crusades would spark a major revival of hard feelings over the medieval religious wars in the Middle East.

Yet Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven" hit theaters in comparative quiet, without the sort of uproar provoked by President Bush's post-September 11 "crusade" gaffe or Mel Gibson's crucifixion saga "The Passion of the Christ."

There were uneasy rumblings among Arab groups that obtained an early treatment of the script a year or so ago. They found the film potentially fraught with stereotypes about 12th-century Muslims fighting Christians for control of Jerusalem, negative images that might have inflamed anti-Muslim sentiment.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was among those worried groups, but half a dozen members came away greatly relieved after a "Kingdom of Heaven" screening arranged for them by Scott.

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http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/09/film.the.crusades.ap/

[NewJeffCT]

1. I thought some Fundie types walked out?

Didn't some fundie religious types walk out of a screening? And, I think there was an anti-Kingdom of Heaven "crusade" in the conservative religious press.

[havocmom]

3. Yeah, there was some anti- movie grumblings from some fundy corners

before the movie even came out. Guess they heard it might just show there are shades of gray and plenty of black to go around.

Havocpup wants to see it as she makes a point of viewing films the RW xians say are bad. And the eye candy stars don't hurt her motives one bit. She loves Liam! Too bad he makes an early exit.

[tmooses]

2. I thought the message I got from the movie was that religion should

be a personal vison, not to be imposed on others.

[johnaries]

5. That would explain why the fundies would protest. They don't believe

in a personal vision.

[movie_girl99]

4. we saw it yesterday and a few people walked out

then there were those who shouldve walked out. This lady behind us brought her kids who looked to be 5, 8 and 10. All they did the whole 2 hours is ask questions and ask the other sibling to pass the popcorn.

[IdaBriggs]

6. GREAT Movie! We saw it last night. Wow!

The Templars come off looking like idiots, but other than that, it was great. Also, it was kind of light on the politics of the situation -- my husband was rooting for killing off a king, but my pointing out that Orlando Bloom's character wasn't in a position for that to really work (which is very realistic) wasn't getting much practical traction.

Its a mostly light - n - fluffy treatment of actual events. I enjoyed it a lot. (And yes, I stick with the light - n - fluffy characterization, despite the buckets of blood that hit the camera every time somebody swung a sword.)

Two thumbs up from our household. :)

[DARE to HOPE]

7. I heard this morning they topped the box office this weekend.

Two thumbs up from us, too! Like one poster said over the weekend, best anti-war movie we've had in years.