Noah – Review

There is always more than one way to watch a film.

At times you might watch a film from an analytical point of view, perhaps wishing to be challenged by what you see. At other times you may be content watching for sheer entertainment value, no matter how little there is to praise, simply because you enjoy it.

Noah is a film where you find yourself forced to do both at the same time.

Its Rotten Tomatoes score gives it all away. Darron Aronofsky’s epic retelling of the biblical narrative was given a 77% fresh rating from critics, but a 42% rotten rating from users, and it’s easy to see why.

“…it is clear within minutes that this will not be a faithful retelling…”

The main plot remains mostly unchanged (Noah-builds-ark-for-animals-and-family-to-escape-God’s-judgement), but other than that, the story is massively altered from the biblical account. Where artistic licence could be taken, it was.

Ham and Japheth are without wives on the ark, Noah believes that all of mankind is to be destroyed, including his family, some giant rock people who used to be angels fight against a horde of cannibals etc. It deviates a lot too much at times.

On the other hand, it is clear within minutes that this will not be a faithful retelling, and so you begin to watch as though it is just another sci-fi blockbuster. It’s more enjoyable that way, trust me.

It’s not without merit, though. It’s a spectacle, and a glimpse into the life of Noah (Russell Crowe), a tormented man bent on completing God’s task. It also gives the best look at the early Earth that has ever been seen on screen.

The performances are a little patchy to begin with, but Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, and Emma Watson are all excellent. Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah and Ray Winston as Tubal-cain are pretty good too.

It’s theology is questionable to say the least, and it has a strong, rather troublesome vegetarian agenda, but it’s a film which never bores or lets up.

It covers more of the early bible than the title suggests, and, unlike the recently released Exodus: Gods and Kings, it paints a picture of the God we can all relate to: often silent, but always working.

Exodus is the better and more faithful biblical film of 2014, but Noah is the more enjoyable.

For more great content Like Lifted on Facebook.