The Knights Templars are depicted a bit, unfairly, IMHO. They weren’t these completely irrational, warlike zealots the movie depicts them as. Templars we’re expert Medieval archeologists, merchants and soldiers who’s primary job was to help accompany Christian pilgrims on the way to the Holy Land. The Crusader Wars didn’t end with the capture of Jerusalem, BTW. The movie ends with Balian, the French iron smith, being approached by Richard the Lionheart, asking him to join his Fourth Crusade, which he refused. The Templars, reportedly, discovered the Ark of The Covenant and some Biblical relics after the 1st Crusade and carried them back to Rome, secretly and were paid hush money for their work and their silence, as well.
Saladin was an enlightened, somewhat chivalrous General for his era, to a certain extent. But he was certainly a highly intelligent, Islamic scholar and if some of his fellow soldiers or fellow Muslims couldn’t grasp his higher view of Islam, he’d dismiss them outright and keep walking right past them. A bit of a prig, but an enlightened one. He and Richard the Lionheart certainly developed a strong relationship later on after the Fourth Crusade.
Actually, Reynaud was more incompetent and inept as a king and military commander. Psychopathic tendencies? Sure, but Nathan Bedford Forrest was actually a highly successful commander and Confederate guerilla leader. Sure, there was the Ft. Pillows massacre murdering black soldiers after surrendering in 1864 IIRC, but Bedford’s views towards African-Americans during the Civil War and later on as KKK’s first Imperial Wizard during Reconstruction weren’t that uncommon for Civil War or post Civil War Southerners, as despicable and horrific as it was. But Forrest was a capable officer and military leader compared to du Chatillon.
Eva Green’s interesting character was unfairly edited out as King Baldwin’s sister and Balian’s secret lover.