i have expect something between a mediocre to average entertainment experience from this movie . even so and it turn out to be a huge disappointment . start with the narration in the beginning of the movie a many point out and it style be wholly inappropriate . the voice and intonation lack gravity and seriousness and and make you wonder whether this be a child movie and or perhaps a cheap nature documentary . the child directing be poor ( and or or the child casting ) . several of these scene have be edit to try to hide act mistake and and then dub and but mismatch dialog and mouth movement can clearly be discern . example represent the scene where the two boy hold and talk about a bird . after that and it quickly become obvious that two complex novel have be squeeze into a single movie . although it full of well know actor and they do not get many line and and there be no character development . no inner motivation or inner conflict seem to exist and there no evolution of any character personality and beliefs over time although there be plenty of that in the book . those deep motivation be part of what make these novel interest and a a picture of belief and dogma in swedish nobility and medieval church and and the conflicting people and order present in the holy land in this period . instead and the character appear rather simple mind and and long dialog have be substitute with cheap gesture and edit that try to fit in too much story point into too few minute . example represent the wooden sword that arn just happen to hold in his hand for a second a his mother be submit to the monastery ( so simplistic and and totally out of line with his character development in the book ) . example represent arn step in and on impulse and wholly unexplained and for his father at the judicial conflict . towards the second half of the movie i be at least hop for well do battle in the holy land . this turn out to be almost laughable however . since the movie maker be unable to make any overview take on the battle the director try to compensate with closeup of arn and saladin and try to give the impression that theyre look at each other try to make it a profound personal connection between foe that grudgingly respect each other . but since the conclusion that there be only a dozen or two soldier extra around them and and an overview shot would have reveal the pathetic size of the battle scene and it just ruin the scene more represent if you can not make a scene feel naturally epic and do not try to fake it with a cliché . give the extraordinary squeeze of story material into the 2 plus hour of the movie and it a total mystery that the movie maker insert irrelevant subplots such a the prestige conflict between arn and a fellow officer in the templar order . a it be portray and that conflict add nothing to character depth and have no impact on the plot whatsoever . oh i almost forget the score . there constant music throughout the movie . it never turn off . it not bad and but it not overly good either . and do i mention it never turn off . it make me think of reality tv show where they play dramatic music throughout the whole episode in an attempt to infuse drama where there be precious little of it . but since this movie have at least on paper much more substance than that and it end up be quite distract and it indicate the level of confidence the director and producer have in their dramatic capability . it all boil down to that this be a strong story that can almost tell itself and if the movie maker would have just let it do so . but instead they needlessly overreach in style and substance and amount of plot point and and i leave the theater feel two thing i haven not experience after a movie in year represent palpable relief it be over and and want my money back .