“Soldier of God” functions as a related narrative to “Kingdom of Heaven,” focusing on a Templar named Rene (Tim Abell), a Muslim man called Hassan (Bill Mendieta), and a Muslim woman, Soheila (Mapi Galán). Following the Battle of Hattin in 1187, these characters find themselves in the desert, where they talk about religious divisions and humanity's tendency toward violence. The woman displays interest in one of the men during their conversations. Essentially, this is a modestly-funded film released alongside “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005). While "Kingdom" had a budget of $130 million, "Soldier of God" was made for only $325 thousand. Despite its smaller price tag, the production values aren't as noticeably cheap as one might expect; there’s some lovely cinematography showcasing the desert landscape, competent editing, and an appealing musical score. It would be beneficial to view or revisit “Kingdom of Heaven” beforehand, as it provides essential context regarding events and important figures that will aid in understanding what is happening here. The movie primarily relies on dialogue, with occasional action sequences. The performances are commendable given the limited budget. A significant drawback, however, is that a large portion of the spoken words are difficult to understand, and there's no option for subtitles. One reviewer described it as “a pointless exercise in verbose pretentiousness,” but I did find some of the conversations to be quite good—at least what I was able to hear—particularly the scene involving the Jewish merchant. I noticed one person criticized a character’s behavior, arguing that they wouldn't act in such a way. However, I have to disagree with that assessment; recently, I had coffee with someone who adheres to a particular belief system and who was released from prison after committing murder out of anger. It is also important to remember the effects of battle-induced adrenaline and the desire to eliminate something persistent and troubling. I likely would’ve enjoyed this movie more if I could have understood more than half of what was said. The film's running time is 1 hour, 34 minutes, and filming took place in Dumont Dunes, California, with some exterior shots completed in Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB