[pissant]

Yes they were correct, and if not for in fighting amongst the europeans the Crusades would have been more successful!

[bnelson44]

The movie's history is poor, but, then again, so is this reviewer's.

[Incorrigible]

The New Concise History of the Crusades, Revised Edition

[Bombardier]

Good repudiation of Scott's anti-Christian view of Christians defending themselves. (And who would believe Orlando Bloom as a soldier, anyway?)

[Lizavetta]

In reading a bio of the Hapsburg family, which dates back before the Crusades, I discovered that assaults from the Muslims were routine and that they, the Muslims including Seulieman the Turk, could be bought off. If you gave him enough money he'd leave you alone for a while.

So much for religious zealotry - it was and is all about conquering and control, not faith.

[Main Street]

THE LOMBARDS OF THE FIRST CRUSADE

[endthematrix]

"The jihad of Mohammed's followers...and its programme had HAVE (present tense) no end but the conquest of the whole world under unified Islamic rule."

[Wneighbor]

Yes they were correct, and if not for in fighting amongst the europeans the Crusades would have been more successful!

You are correct. The Muslims have been attempting to take over the world from the beginning and the Crusades were a part of what has kept them from having Europe until now. I find another interesting historic battler of Islam to be Vlad the Impaler. Kinda rocky history for a family there... totally off the wall human being... but he did fight the Islamic hoards.

[DWPittelli]

Indeed. Apart from their catchy collective name, The Crusades do not stand out in this period, following as they did over 450 years of war, much of it Arab expansionism (meaning merely that the Arabs tended to win more often than not), but with many Christian successes and expansions as well (most of them into formerly Christian territory, for what that is worth). These hostilities included, in 846, the Arabs sailing up the Tiber and sacking the Vatican.

A mature society does not get riled up about such ancient matters as the Crusades, the "loss of Andalusia" or the sacking of the Vatican. Even the Italians, who gave us vendetta, are such a society. What's up with the Arabs and the fellow-travelers, such as Bill Clinton, who still want to tear their garments over the Crusades?

--David Pittelli

http://www.woodedpaths.blogspot.com/

(not about history, a gardening blog)

[Cicero]

Too bad. Another incredibly expensive historical movie on the Crusades, and some politically correct imbecile has to spoil it. Who the devil wants to see a movie about heroic knights who decide that war is pointless?

I second Incorrigible's suggestion. Forget the movie but read Madden's book. I have seen excellent reviews of it:

[Ciexyz]

I will probably see this movie just because it's the only movie we're gonna get on the Crusades in a long time, if ever again. And Orlando Bloom is easy on the eyes.

[what's up]

The more I learn about the Crusaders, the more I think there were many heroes among them.

As far as Orlando in the role of hero...Legolas was good, but that's as far as it goes IMO.

Why are androgynous males so "in"?

[kellynla]

BTTT

[solitas]

The Monty Python school of history paints any knight as a murderous mercenary.

We're Knights of the Round Table,
We dance when ere we're able,
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork impeccable.
We dine well here in Camelot,
We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.

We're Knights of the Round Table,
Our shows are formidable.
But many times, we're given rhymes
That are quite unsingable.
We're Opera mad in Camelot,
We sing from the diaphragma looooooot.

In war we're tough and able,
Quite indefatigable,
Between our quests we sequin vests,
And impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot -

I have to push the pram a lot.

[jordan8]

The Knights Templar, Mark I Mod 0 - Christians you could respect.

[mowkeka]

Ping for later.

[aculeus]

BTTT.