Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Film Review -- Exodus: Gods and Kings

     Why do people love making Bible movies? And why do the make them so horrible?
     The movie Exodus: Gods and Kings is based on Exodus Chapter 1 - 20.

     WARNING: This review contains spoilers from the Bible book of Exodus. 

     Now at the beginning of a review, I don't usually start with this bold of a statement, but I'm going to say it anyway. Don't watch Exodus: Gods and Kings. 
     First, the title makes no sense. The name "Exodus" would make sense since the book the movie is based on is called Exodus, but where did the Gods and Kings part come from?? I don't have any guesses; let me know in the comments what your guesses are.
     The story behind the movie is really horrible. The film could not decide what it was. Was it an action movie or was it a bible story? I understand that the film makers want to have an fresh take on this story, but when the story feels inconstant and loses its heart and soul, there is no point in seeing this movie. 
     As I said, Exodus: Gods and Kings loses the heart and soul of the story of Moses. So many of my favorite parts of the original story are completely gone. The story of Moses in the bible is a fun, exciting and classic one, but this film has turned this great story into a dark and gritty tale of war. Their are also so many Biblical inaccuracies, namely the interpretation of God. I don't mind when someone adds something to a adapted story, but when they film makers cut parts of the original stories to make room for the new stuff, that really bugs me, and that is just what this movie did.  
     The plagues that God unleashes on the Egyptians felt really underwhelming. Instead of Moses going to Pharaoh, saying "Let my people go", Pharaoh saying no, then Moses unleashing God's next plague on the people, God just unleashes everything on the Egyptians in one really vengeful tidal wave. The plagues were also such a small part of this movie, and that helped to bring the underwhelm part of them. 
     Now here we are, the end of the movie, God is going to part the Red Sea and the Israelites are going to cross! And the excitement drops. It's low tide that cause the Sea to part! And after the Israelites cross and we get to the Ten Commandments, it's just blah. Nothing good came out of that scene. 
     "But this film can't be all bad?" you ask. Yes, it is all bad. With names like Christian Bale and Ben Kingsley in this film you may expect it to be better, but no. Even Christian Bale and Ben Kingsley were terrible in this film. In fact most of the acting was bad. And all the main characters were played by white people! 
     All in all, Exodus: Gods and Kings is a terrible film, the only credit I will give it is the CGI, costumes and the guy who played the first King was all pretty good. Now the rating. . . %10. So, yeah. Don't see this film, see Prince of Egypt instead. What did you think of Exodus: Gods and Kings? Comment below and let me know.

Exodus: Gods and Kings info:
Release Date: December 12th, 2014 (USA and Canada)
Rating: PG-13 (USA), PG (Canada)
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Christian Bale as Moses, Joel Edgerton as Ramesses II, Maria Valverde as Zipporah, John Turturro as Pharaoh Seti I, Sigourney Weaver as Tuya, Ben Mendelsohn as Viceroy Hegep, Hiam Abbass as Bithiah, Ben Kingsley as Nun and Arron Paul as Joshua,  

   
                        
  

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