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Sunday, March 30, 2014

Movie Review: "Noah" Delivers An Entertaining Epic, But Is Not ForEveryone.


Noah

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ray Winstone, and Anthony Hopkins.
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, and brief suggestive content.

I will just go ahead and declare that Darren Aronofsky's re-imagining of the Biblical tale of Noah is not for everyone. It is dark, violent, and presents Noah as a righteous man who grows increasingly misguided as the burden of the world's destruction weighs heavily upon him. That being said, if you go into Noah with the mindset of seeing another fantasy epic, then I believe you'll be fairly entertained.



The Biblical account of Noah only covers chapters 6-9 in the book of Genesis. You may find yourself thinking, "I don't know much more about Noah other than he builds an ark, saves the animals, all while the Earth is flooded." And honestly, there is not a whole lot more than that. There are many gaps of time that are not accounted for as it reads in the Bible. This film attempts to fill in those gaps with one of many possible interpretations. The Bible says, "There were giants in the earth in those days." Well, this film has giant rock-like creatures that assist Noah in building the ark. Is this exactly what the Bible meant by giants? Probably not, but regardless, these creatures are this film's interpretation of giants.

We typically think of Noah as an old man who loved the animals. It's a happy story, right? Here's where the film excels in creating a darker world. In reality, the world was so wicked and evil that it justified God's need to destroy the Earth through the cleansing effect of water. Noah knows this, and so, presents a world filled with savage men who only live to destroy life. Noah and his family are, quite literally, the only righteous people left on the Earth. The cinematography and visual effects are fantastic throughout the film. You feel transported back to an ancient world that no longer exists.

As a character piece, the film gives us a Noah that is burdened with great purpose. The story takes many liberties while Noah and his family are on the ark. Noah, being the devout and dedicated man he is, becomes misguided and misinterprets God's commands. He ends up believing that all man must be wiped from the Earth, including his own family. So, when his son, Shem, and his wife, Ila, become pregnant, Noah believes it is his duty to end the child's life should it be a girl who will bear future children. This will surely turn off a lot of people who expect to see an all-loving version of Noah. However, from a filmmaking standpoint, this subplot creates palpable tension for the final act of the movie. It also provides great scenes of acting, especially from Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Logan Lerman, and Emma Watson.

I am a religious man and I have strong faith in God. I am mature enough to recognize that this version is a fictional take on a story we all think we know. This film will never be shown in Sunday School, nor should it be. But what I do appreciate about the film is its ability to entertain and offer different insights into what an awful event like this must have done to a good man and his family. I also appreciate the fact that this film serves as a conversation starter, and invites people, like myself, to go back to the scriptures and become familiar with a story we've always thought we've known.

RATING: A-  

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