In 2005, Ridley Scott released Kingdom of Heaven, his first historical action movie since the Oscar-winning Gladiator.
The two ultimately come to a truce where Balian and his people are allowed to leave in peace in exchange for ceding Jerusalem to Saladin.
As far as action movies go, it’s not a terrible plot, but it’s not really the totality of the story Scott intended to tell.
Due to test screenings and studio fears, Scott took out 45 minutes from what was planned as a historical epic.
They opened the film in the first week of May (just like Gladiator), but the film did not receive the same reception.
It is unquestionably one of the best films Scott has ever made even though it never got a wide theatrical release.
The movie’s ambition exceeds Gladiator‘s by far, but receives less popular attention due to its poor theatrical release. »