Usually movies about The Bible and religion tend to either be sensitive or just plain all played out! Unless you’re a child that’s still attending Sunday school, a movie based on Bible stories might be the last DVD you’d want to watch for the weekend. Right?

Wrong!

I had been hesitant in watching this DVD based on the Biblical story of Noah, purely because I already know the contents of this story like the back of my hand. To my surprise director, Darren Aronofsky added certain elements within the movie that had me thinking…“Hmm that’s an interesting take on an ancient story.”

What’s the story about?

It’s a film based loosely on the biblical story of Noah’s Ark who tirelessly fights against an evil society bent on killing him and his family in the hopes of hijacking the Ark and claiming it as their own.

Who’s in it?

The cast is not only filled with star actors but some serious Academy Award winners such as Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins. It was also interesting to see Emma Watson take on a more mature role. Watching her engage in sexual intercourse, fall pregnant and actually see her deliver twins cleared all insecurities I had about this former Harry Potter actress.

What’s the best scene?

I actually have two favourite scenes. The first one is when we get introduced to these rock-like monsters known as “The Watchers”. At first take, you fear them purely because they come across as the antagonist but as the movie progresses we see that “The Watchers” are for the protagonists. The scene that captivated me most was when “Og” who is one of the “The Watchers” explains to Noah that “The Watchers” were actually fallen angels who had been turned into giant rock-like monsters, a punishment cast onto them by God for helping man against His will. You then tend to view these monsters in a different light after that brief story. The second scene is when Noah, a man who wouldn’t even hurt an ant changes his ways and attempts to kill his twin granddaughters.

What’s the best line?

Noah finds himself surrounded by evil men who are determined to take the Ark from him. “Tubal Cain” leader of these evil men and a person who considers himself to be greater than God consistently ridicules Noah, God and the Ark. Placing himself above all men. In this line one simple, line he makes it quite clear at how humans can lose all spiritual faith and rely only on their understanding.

Tubal Cain: “Did you really think you could protect yourself from me?

Noah: “It’s not protection from you.”

Tubal Cain: We are abandoned, orphan children, cursed, damned to live by the sweat of our brow. Damned if I don’t take what I want.”

What did others have to say?

“Afonofksy’s decision to include big special effects-laden battle scenes is curious at best and disastrous at worst. These sequences, presumably included to make the film more visually spectacular, lapse into lethargy because there’s no real sense of tension or danger.”  -  www.reelviews.com

“In some ways, Noah resembles one of thos Kirk Cameron movies about the apocalypse, only with a better cast and more dazzling special effects.” – www.christylemire.com

Reel Score: A comfortable 7/10