{"id":5777,"date":"2014-12-24T19:27:30","date_gmt":"2014-12-24T19:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=5777"},"modified":"2016-01-07T14:21:19","modified_gmt":"2016-01-07T14:21:19","slug":"exodus-gods-and-kings-12a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/reviews\/exodus-gods-and-kings-12a\/","title":{"rendered":"Exodus: Gods and Kings (12a)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exodus: Gods and Kings<\/strong> (12a)
\nDir. Ridley Scott<\/em>
\n Cast: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Maria Valverde, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Isaac Andrews<\/em><\/p>\n

By Matt Adcock<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hebrews have been slaves to Egypt for over 400 years. They have not forgotten their homeland or their God\u2026
\n\u2026and He has not forgotten them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First things first. Biblical epics these days just don’t come any bigger or more epic than Ridley Scott’s full-blooded Exodus-em-up. Bringing the well-worn Old Testament Sunday school favourite of Moses and Pharaoh, the 10 plagues, the infamous crossing of the Red Sea and the creation of the Ten Commandments to the big screen in lavish style and with eye-popping special effects.<\/p>\n

Prepared to be challenged, disturbed even, as Moses (Christian Bale) wrestles with the mind of God, shoulders the fate of an entire nation and struggles with the rivalry of his powerful stepbrother Ramses (Joel Edgerton).<\/p>\n

Director Scott is no newcomer to the historical epic with Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven on his C.V. but with Exodus he gets to go \u2018full bible\u2019 for the first time, but this is a heart-pounding massive scale retelling.<\/p>\n

So saddle up for violent, intense desert army battles that will make your jaw drop as chariots crash, limbs are severed and lives lost, then feel the grim oppressive slavery of the Hebrews in their bondage to Egypt. This high drama and spectacle is set against the very personal brotherly tale as Moses and Ramses clash.<\/p>\n

God is controversially depicted as a young boy referred to as \u2018Malak\u2019 (played by 11 year old Isaac Andrews), who only begins to appear to Moses after he suffers a nasty blow to the head \u2013 so his state of mind is called into question, much like Noah in Darren Aronofsky\u2019s movie. Sure there is a burning bush on the side too \u2013 which might appease some biblical purists but it does seem that Ridley Scott wants to keep a handy \u2018it was all in his head\u2019 get out clause in case anyone claim that he\u2019s actually found God for himself.<\/p>\n

Malak acts in a petulant and unpredictable manner \u2013 which is in keeping with some people\u2019s take on the Lord of the Old Testament\u2019s jealous, vengeful nature. But He is the God who works through miraculous plagues to deliver His people \u2013 who are led by a council of elders that includes Nun (Ben Kingsley).<\/p>\n

Bale often employs his Batman persona to bring out Moses\u2019 inner freedom fighter \u2013 the obligatory training montage of his guerrilla army feels old school, but does help prevent the film lagging too much and the plot cracks along from one stunning set piece to the next.<\/p>\n

Moses finds his love interest in shepherdess wife Zipporah (Maria Valverde) who is instrumental in helping him find the God of the Hebrews. Other characters on hand (but under used) include Aaron (Andrew Barclay Tarbet), who is mostly just there to back up whatever Moses says and Joshua (Aaron Paul) who doesn\u2019t get a single memorable moment.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the plagues though that steal the show and for the first few at least the Egyptian advisors manage to explain semi-scientifically: the Nile \u2018turns to blood\u2019 when it is stirred up by a host of flesh hungry crocodiles, the water being bad means the frogs leave the river, they die and rot creating thousands of flies who bite leaving boils\u2026 The freak weather hailstones is harder to explain and as for the darkness \/ Passover angel of death \u2013 there just aren\u2019t answers. God\u2019s wrath is certainly writ large and the pain caused on the hardhearted Ramses is tangible.<\/p>\n

Overall Exodus: Gods and Kings is a staggering film, full of which deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can find.<\/p>\n

Thinking material:<\/strong><\/p>\n

At one point God challenges Moses saying: \u201cYou don\u2019t always agree with me?\u201d and he responds by saying that he wants no part in endorsing the further plagues but God continues to amp up the destruction anyway. It is fascinating to be reminded that God wants to dialogue with man, even if we are conflicted in our responses to Him. Filmmaker Scott, who is a self-professed agnostic, has managed to create a film that will cause many people to think again about God. And potentially challenge us all to look more deeply into the story of Moses and the Exodus.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in getting some free resources about the film \u2013 you should check: http:\/\/www.damaris.org.uk\/exodus<\/a> where the cool team at Damaris have created various media, notes and tools that you can access.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

****
\n4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n

Related Films: NOAH, The Ten Commandments, Prince of Egypt<\/p>\n

<\/div>