While the original 144-minute theatrical release received mixed reviews, the nearly 3.5-hour Director's Cut is widely considered a superior film that restores critical character development and historical context.
On the journey to Jerusalem, Godfrey is fatally wounded and knights Balian, charging him to protect the helpless and work toward a "kingdom of conscience". After a shipwreck leaves him as the sole survivor, Balian arrives in Jerusalem and is quickly drawn into the city's complex religious and political power struggles. A Fragile Peace in Jerusalem Kingdom of Heaven(2005)
The story begins in 1184 France. Balian (Orlando Bloom), a humble blacksmith, is mourning the recent suicide of his wife following the death of their child. His life changes when Baron Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), a veteran Crusader, reveals himself as Balian's father and invites him to seek redemption in the Holy Land. After Balian kills a corrupt local priest who mocked his late wife, he joins his father’s troupe. A Fragile Peace in Jerusalem The story begins