Kingdom Of Heaven The Ridley Scott Film and the History Behind The Story

A millennium ago, Christian knights and princes descended on the Holy Land to take back Jerusalem from Muslim conquerors, setting off a bitter struggle whose effects are still felt today. Ridley Scott, the master of epic cinema, sets Kingdom of Heaven during that 200-year collision between Europe and the East-at a time when the Christian King Baldwin IV and the Saracen general Saladin forged a brief truce amid the carnage of the Crusades. Drawn into this immense drama is the young French blacksmith Balian (Orlando Bloom), who becomes a reluctant Crusader yet a true knight. Sworn to serve the king and uphold this fragile "kingdom of heaven," Balian is torn between knightly honor and his love for the king's sister, Sibylla (Eva Green). And when Jerusalem faces its greatest peril, he must use all his wits and courage to defend it against staggering odds. This gorgeous companion book, illustrated with more than 200 photos drawings, and Ridley Scott's own storyboards, documents every side of this landmark production: the massive sets, fabulous costumes, and period weapons, the depiction of medieval warfare on a scale never before seen. But it also delves into the details of storycrafting that give Kingdom of Heaven its solid historical grounding, and features a lively primer on the Crusades that will expand readers' appreciation of both the film and the history behind it.Scott, Ridley is the author of 'Kingdom Of Heaven The Ridley Scott Film and the History Behind The Story', published 2005 under ISBN 9781557046611 and ISBN 1557046611.