Film on Crusades Could Become Hollywood's Next Battleground

New York Times ^ | August 12, 2004 | Sharon Waxman

[JeepInMazar]

With bloody images of Muslims and Westerners battling in Iraq and elsewhere on the nightly news, it may seem like odd timing to unveil a big-budget Hollywood epic depicting the ferocious fight between Christians and Muslims over Jerusalem in the Crusade of the 12th century.

20th Century Fox is planning a release next year for ''Kingdom of Heaven,'' a $130 million production by the Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott, shot in Morocco with hundreds of extras, horses and elaborate costumes. The script, by William Monahan, is based on real characters of the three-century Crusades, including Balian of Ibelin, a Crusader knight who led the defense of Jerusalem in 1187, and the Muslim leader Saladin, who defeated him.

Aside from the movie's specifics, the subject is a fraught one. Even the word ''crusade'' remains loaded. When President Bush initially called the war on terror a ''crusade'' after the 9/11 attacks, he was criticized by some for using a term that has long had anti-Muslim overtones. Meanwhile some Islamic experts who analyzed Osama bin Laden's motives after 9/11 suggested that he was trying to cast himself as a modern-day Saladin. And Saladin's name was invoked by Saddam Hussein's government to rally Muslims against the American-led invasion of Iraq.

[Sam the Sham]

Saladin was an extraordinary man who succeeded in uniting Syria and Egypt.

When the First Crusade took Jerusalem they celebrated with a horrendous massacre of the inhabitants. When Saladin retook Jerusalem there was no massacre. The Crusaders were given a free choice of submission or departing in peace. His chivalry contrasted mightily with the savagery the Crusaders had shown.

[avg_freeper]

forgot the link:

World tensions won't stop Crusades movie

[Gefreiter]

Hah! Nope, looks like this would be a purchase. I've gotten stuff from them before though and they're totally legit, above-board, etc.

Maybe I'll pick it up next payday. I'll tell you if it's any good.

[avg_freeper]

I don't know but in looking for this article I found out that they are making a big budget remake of "War of the Worlds". Which I thought was great.

Steven Spielberg will be directing it. (sort-of a cringe)

And Tom Cruise will be starring in it. Bleeeegggghhh!!!

Another movie that could of been great that I will never see.

[Long Cut]

If you REALLY want your blood pressure to rise...Click Here.

You and I agree on very little regarding religion, AF, but even I think this one is an insult to people of Faith. I'm kind of busy, but go ahead if you want to start a thread.

[jerrydavenport]

ridley scott has produced some excellent stuff in the past. i am sure this would be no exception.

I hope he chooses the right crusade and casts someone like russel crow for the lead christian role

[Hank Rearden]

Aside from the movie's specifics, the subject is a fraught one. Even the word ''crusade'' remains loaded.

Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade. Crusade.

Moos better get used to it, and expect Crusades 2.0 if they don't get in line PDQ.

[Califelephant]

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Director: Ridley Scott (Matchstick Men, Black Hawk Down, Hannibal, Gladiator)

Cast: Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Eva Green, Marton Csokas, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson

Release Date: June 1, 2005

[Light Speed]

civilized Muslim

Now is seperated into 2 distinct categories;

Civilized Muslim - Onlooker

Civilized Muslim - Participant

[VeniVidiVici]

No problem! They'll just recast the Muslims in the Crusades as Nazis.

Will solve all their problems with perception.

[Long Cut]

Sorry! Already a thread HERE. Good 'ol FR...always one step ahead.

[AlaskaErik]

There is a stereotype of the Muslim as constantly stupid, retarded, backward, unable to think in complex forms.

I got news for you, buster...it ain't a sterotype!

[skeeter]

For all the mention of Crusader behavior in Jeruselem (which was horrible, initially) its surprising(not) there is very little reference to murderous muslim behavior in Kosovo in the 1300s, for example, or at the fall of Constantinople in 1453, or massacres conducted by Suleiman the Magnificent at Pest & Traismauer in the 1500s.

I'm sick to death of the cult of self hatred of many in the west.

[D Rider]

Personally, I would rather see Chuck the Hammer and his axe wielding Frank buddies kicking Moose but at the battle of Tours.

But that's just me.

[montag813]

I'm so sure that this movie will cast Muslims in a bad light. /eye-rolling sarcasm

This is old news. Actually, Scott will portray the christians as singularly evil, and the Muslims as heroes. He also concocts a phony Muslim-Jewish "alliance" to defend Jerusalem, which never existed. Medieval historians have already weighed in to denounce this historical fraud. Ridley Scott is a louse. He told us this when he ripped the epilogue scathingly critical of Bill Clinton from the script of Black Hawk Down, giving him a total pass.

[SittinYonder]

Well, they were tough times. ;-)

[denydenydeny]

"Pick up any book on chivalry, it's exactly the opposite. The whole idea of knighthood and chivalry came from Muslims and was exported to Europe."

LOL. Cutting off the heads of defenseless hostages is so chivalrous.

[Reagan is King]

But Khaled Abu el-Fadl, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies Islamic law, vehemently disagreed, calling the screenplay offensive and a replay of stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims.

Well, if Khaled doesn't like it I probably will.

"I believe this movie teaches people to hate Muslims," he said. "There is a stereotype of the Muslim as constantly stupid, retarded, backward, unable to think in complex forms. It's really annoying at an intellectual level, and it really misrepresents history on many levels.''

Umm, well if the shoe fits... The muslim world is still living in the medieval times.

Fadl argued that the movie would reinforce hostility toward Muslims. "In this climate how are people going to react to these images of Muslims attacking churches and tearing down the cross and mocking it?" he asked.

Gee, I wonder where people get the idea that muslims would do something like that?

Muslim rioters burn 13 churches in north Nigeria

[Tuco Ramirez]

"Now who trusts Hollywood to tell this bit of history accurately?"

Oh come on! Didn't you see the Robin Hood movie, where the Moor is the most enlightened one of the bunch? /sarcasm

[Tuco Ramirez]

"The Muslims won the Crusades and they are still mad about it."

But they lost the "Reconquista", and with it their only hope of living anywhere but a sandbox.

They used to rule most of India as well; now the Hindus know how to put them in their place. Big job, considering India has more Muslims than Pakistan.