What is the cheif message of the film Kingdom of Heaven?

This film is not bad as Hollywood history goes. I may use clips of this in my college world history classes since you bring this up. The best history message, in my opinion, is the portrayal of Reynaud de Châtillon who was such a major trouble maker and primary cause of the expulsion of the Western European crusaders from the Holy Land in 1187. Reynaud was a poor representative of the European knightly class. He broke promises and acted selfishly and brutally with no shred of honor of chivalry. The Islamic leader Saladin showed more class, honor, and humanity than Reynaud.

"J.S." is correct that there are many other messages, but the primary character played by Orlando Bloom was in reality not just a common peasant. He was a real person and did have some noble lineage which WAS important for advancement in those days. A peasant would not be granted a fief in the Crusader kingdom as was the protagonist was in this film.

I personally don't agree with nobility conferred by birth, but people did in the Europe of that time - the 1100's AD. There are people today who still believe that some people are born better than others. Perhaps this may be true by genetic and monetary advantage - but not be inherent right.

First, there are several messages in the film 'Kingdom of Heaven.' One message was how in those days a peasant could become a great leader or even the defender of the faith through mortal combat, wise counsel, and fair treatment of others.

Secondly, I often see today's films using today's morality and values to portray the past - this does not work well, and many films today create fictitious mythical figures and cheat the amateur historians of valuable lessons.

I stand corrected. Thank you spreedog. I saw that movie when it came out.....quite some time ago.

Explosions are cool, even if not remotely historically accurate.

Well that's what I got out of the movie.