Die Kreuzritter

From the moment the film begins, already there is a discrepancy. As this film takes place on the borders of Normandy and the middle East, and is also an international film, one would expect proper accents portrayed. This is not done as the majority of the cast sound American. Also, I find the acting to be rehearsed at best, the story line a little difficult to follow from the beginning. Who is who? Otherwise the film is very accurate in costume and scenery. If you want to see a movie to get a feel of what it was like in the past (albeit the lack of accents) then this movie is worth a rent. If you're looking for a movie as epic as Kingdom of Heaven, then look elsewhere.

What makes this movie so good is the realism. Hair, hands, faces are as you would expect in the 11th century. You feel like you are right there and the movie completely absorbs its audience. This movie did not have the multi-million dollar budget of many recent films but the overall effect is the best I have seen. The actors are so good. the costumes are so real. The movie will tear at your heart. It makes no excuses for war and there is no political statement to be made - just a story about the worst and best in us.

To the people who think this is a pro-Christian or pro-Muslim movie .. get a life and open your eyes! Evil can be found in the holiest of places, and sometimes in the hearts of seemingly the noblest of people. And there is good to be found everywhere regardless of religion or color of one's eyes.

This movie show the historical background of the Christian warfare in the early middleage. It takes the audience also to a setting of personal views of the different characters and blends love, personal rivalry and religious ambitions to a exciting movie. The characters are authentic in their behaviour and expression. The costumes and the requisites of the movie are authentic. It has something of Nathan the Wise because it shows in my opinion that all three religions of Christianity, Islam and judaism have the same background and a relationship. All three religions have holly relics that there are protecting. I would say that the battle of the friends shows also a battle of the three religions.

I really enjoyed this epic which is fine for a winter night by the fireside, and gave a more balanced view of the horrors of the crusades, but I was puzzled by one aspect at the beginning. Peter's mother, A Saracen camp follower, appeared to be dying of smallpox. Why then would she be nursing her baby and why would the possibly infected baby be given to a family to raise? None of them seemed the slightest bit bothered that the baby might infect them all.

The only other problem was the American English dubbing. As I always have the subtitles or captions on, I would have preferred to hear the actors speak in their own language, or at least an accentless English. when one of the characters kept shouting "lets, go, go, go", prior to a battle scene it sounded like a gung ho "GI's winning the war" film. At least no one said "yeah, right!" For that we may be truly thankful.

I did not expect that this movie(195 min on video) could be so interesting,well done made with the specific atmosphere of those times and the musical score to guide you in the adventures of the crusaders,actually 3 fellows who want to see the Holy Land. I have to admit that performances are not special,maybe above average but the nice battle scenes,the good unpredictable story and the sights of Israel, give you a nice impression for the movie. I recommend this movie or series,I think since Das Boot series, we have not seen such interesting tv production and especially european one. I give to this movie 8/10.