Saladin, the Muslim general, allows the arrogant French force that occupies the land around Jerusalem to pursue his own army into the desert where he ambushes them.
Sound familiar?
Ridley Scott's new movie is a mature meditation on the vanity of war and the dangers of religious fervor. Those who shout "God wills it!" are those most distant from grace. The leaders of both sides in the battle for possession of Jerusalem are depicted as reluctant to engage, but fierce when forced to fight. When neither can claim the advantage, a truce is agreed to and the occupiers are allowed to leave unharmed.
There is none of the moral absolutism that taints the current crowd in Washington and Colorado Springs. The movie shows the sorrows of war and the futility of it, without over-stating the case.
Like most Ridley Scott productions, this one is visually sumptuous. The sets are amazing and the cast is up to the challenge, as they say. There's no reason why you should believe me, but I think this movie is well-worth seeing in the theater.