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Exodus: Gods and Kings |OT| From the visionary director of Prometheus
- Thread starter Toa TAK
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Dreams-Visions
Member
haha
Dead Prince
Banned
have faith.
I hope The Hobbit 3 cannibalizes whatever audience went out to see this film next week. Would be amusing if it fails to cross $100M.
brandonh83
Banned
Yessss my joke (?) post made it into the OT, I'm more excited about that than this movie.
RedBullEnergy
Member
50 liked it.
FUCK. I've had a rough day and this really really cheered me up. Thanks 50.
brandonh83
Banned
The trailers made me cringe with the flash of Bale "MOSES..." and Edgerton "RAMSES..."
THESE ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS
THESE ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS
Eh. Bible movies (like any other kind of movie) can be great if the execution is there.
This does not seem to be the case here. Once I see it tomorrow it'll be an interesting watch alright.
There's solid stories there if someone with talent really wanted to invest in. But we get the same old same stories and washing, so yeah.
Kitschkraft
Member
LOL, nice OP.
Lionel Mandrake
Member
So, I ended up catching this with a friend earlier. It's certainly not great. Maybe not as bad as the reception was leading me to believe, but at least mediocre.
I expect to see a director's cut get a release somewhere down the line, because it definitely feels like scenes are missing. Specifically Aaron Paul, despite being a major character, has like five lines in the movie. Sigourney Weaver has less than like four minutes of screentime, and she's awful in all of them. I love Sigourney, but she was terribly miscast, even by the whitebread standards of her peers, and sticks out like a sore thumb. They could have cut her entirely and the movie would have been better for it.
Just some general points that might influence whether you want to watch this:
I don't think I really need to spoiler any of this, but whatever, I'll do it for the weirdos...
- The plagues are done pretty well. Aside from the final one (
), they're presented in a way that suggests they could all be natural. Crocodiles attack people and create a river of blood > blood forces frogs out of the river > frogs die, summon flies etc. It's also pretty horrific.
The last plague is pretty disappointing though. It's pretty much the same as in The Prince of Egypt except
. It's a little dull.
- I really hated this movie's portrayal of God, in both senses. I hated just the concept of God talking to Moses in the form of a creepy child. It's boring and takes away from God's presence.
I also just hated him as a character. He comes across as an asshole. He has this one scene where
. It just comes across as petty and beneath the creator of the universe.
There's a scene near the end where Ramses asks Moses "
?" and Moses shrugs and says, "
." It comes across less like a relationship with a loving God and more like a hostage situation.
I have to assume this is intentional. Scott portrays God explicitly as dark, vengeful, and downright murderous. I guess this is in-line with the Old Testament, but so much of the rest of the movie is depicted as the typical "If we listen to God, we'll win" schtick, that the tone feels muddled.
- Moses is essentially depicted as a terrorist.
. Again, I have to assume that this is a deliberate choice to challenge the modern notion of Moses by comparing him to religious extremists of today.
- The movie seems to go for a "maybe Moses is crazy, it's all in his head, and all of this stuff is just natural phenomenon occurring by coincidence," vibe for a lot of it. Moses first sees God
, but whatever.
It's not awful. I never felt particularly bored or annoyed. It's just bland as hell.
Anyway, I'm tired. Maybe I'll write something more comprehensive tomorrow.
I expect to see a director's cut get a release somewhere down the line, because it definitely feels like scenes are missing. Specifically Aaron Paul, despite being a major character, has like five lines in the movie. Sigourney Weaver has less than like four minutes of screentime, and she's awful in all of them. I love Sigourney, but she was terribly miscast, even by the whitebread standards of her peers, and sticks out like a sore thumb. They could have cut her entirely and the movie would have been better for it.
Just some general points that might influence whether you want to watch this:
I don't think I really need to spoiler any of this, but whatever, I'll do it for the weirdos...
- The plagues are done pretty well. Aside from the final one (
Death of the firstborn
The last plague is pretty disappointing though. It's pretty much the same as in The Prince of Egypt except
instead of a fog it's a shadow, and instead of everything taking a final gasp, they all just stop breathing
- I really hated this movie's portrayal of God, in both senses. I hated just the concept of God talking to Moses in the form of a creepy child. It's boring and takes away from God's presence.
I also just hated him as a character. He comes across as an asshole. He has this one scene where
Moses calls him out for hurting people and God flips his shit and screams (in the shrill voice of a child) that he wants revenge for the 400 years of persecution and he wants Pharaoh to fall to his knees and worship him
There's a scene near the end where Ramses asks Moses "
So your God is a slayer of children? Who would worship this God
No Hebrew children died
I have to assume this is intentional. Scott portrays God explicitly as dark, vengeful, and downright murderous. I guess this is in-line with the Old Testament, but so much of the rest of the movie is depicted as the typical "If we listen to God, we'll win" schtick, that the tone feels muddled.
- Moses is essentially depicted as a terrorist.
He trains the Hebrews to fight and they prepare to attack Pharaoh's men only for Moses to say that they're going to attack civilian supplies instead, and they blow up a granary or something, so the people will starve, blame Ramses, and rebel against him
- The movie seems to go for a "maybe Moses is crazy, it's all in his head, and all of this stuff is just natural phenomenon occurring by coincidence," vibe for a lot of it. Moses first sees God
after hitting his head on a rock. Someone in Ramses' court offers natural explanations for the Plagues. The Red Sea doesn't part suddenly, but recedes slowly, possibly because of nearby tornadoes. I don't how in the fuck the Angel of Death or the wall of water is supposed to be rationalized
It's not awful. I never felt particularly bored or annoyed. It's just bland as hell.
Anyway, I'm tired. Maybe I'll write something more comprehensive tomorrow.
It's garbage. A movie where if you know the source material, you'll be thinking, "wait, that's not right" and if you don't, you'll be totally lost. The movie banks on you understanding the symbolism and visual things that aren't explained, but at the same time changes the story or cuts pretty important parts out. The biggest part left out is how Moses went to the pharaoh after each plague and told him he could stop it if pharaoh would ease up and let the Jews go. Then Pharaoh would change his mind and the next one would come, being worse each time. Cutting that out makes God look like even more of a piece of shit than he does in the actual book, where even he thinks the plagues are so shitty that he has to justify them to Moses.
The story stuff is one thing, but there were plenty of other problems. The continuity on Christian Bale's beard, hair, dirtiness, and accent were awful. The most minimal of attempts were made to keep those in line. Bale would range from natural accent to American to Australian to Batman often. Sometimes in the same scene. There are so many weird lines with weirder delivery. It feels like Ridley gave even less fucks about this than he did about Prometheus. I'm pretty confident that instead of waiting for the end of the day to break out the wine, he brought the wine out at the start of the day and kept it flowing. Everything feels like it had one take and they moved on no matter how weird or bad it was.
The kid thing was at first a big WTF, but it actually makes a ton of sense. The God of the OT could only be an angry piss ant little kid.
The story stuff is one thing, but there were plenty of other problems. The continuity on Christian Bale's beard, hair, dirtiness, and accent were awful. The most minimal of attempts were made to keep those in line. Bale would range from natural accent to American to Australian to Batman often. Sometimes in the same scene. There are so many weird lines with weirder delivery. It feels like Ridley gave even less fucks about this than he did about Prometheus. I'm pretty confident that instead of waiting for the end of the day to break out the wine, he brought the wine out at the start of the day and kept it flowing. Everything feels like it had one take and they moved on no matter how weird or bad it was.
The kid thing was at first a big WTF, but it actually makes a ton of sense. The God of the OT could only be an angry piss ant little kid.
Petty and beneath the creator of the universe describes the OT God pretty well lol.
Also the "No Hebrew children died" sounds like something a religious apologist would say. I've heard people defend this in various, always terrible ways similar to Moses' perspective, so yeah. Your "less like a relationship with a loving God and more like a hostage situation" is on point because it is true even the context of the Bible.
On your last point, I suppose it's supposed to be like: Yeah the Hebrews, the "good guys" will win, but just look at the cost.
I would say this is the one thing the movie did good. They actually gave God human qualities. Supposedly man was created in God's image, so why wouldn't they share similar traits? God was the all powerful being, but not the all wise, merciful one most depictions play him as. If you do picture it, he is a being that created everything. There is no one to ever challenge his power. Why wouldn't he act like a child in many regards?
And Moses' relationship being at odds on many times with him. Not in the sort of "Why God, Why" but rather the, "That's wrong". It ended up closing nicely with the two creating the 10 commandments.
It was honestly the one thing I thought the movie did well.
And Moses' relationship being at odds on many times with him. Not in the sort of "Why God, Why" but rather the, "That's wrong". It ended up closing nicely with the two creating the 10 commandments.
It was honestly the one thing I thought the movie did well.
By midway, I was like. God is a cunt. Poor Egyptians.
God is a cunt in the actual Exodus, too. He purposely makes sure the Pharaoh will not let the Jews go just so he can test out all his cool plague powers to make sure everyone knows he can fuck them up at any time. It's so bad that he has to justify himself to Moses. The movie version makes you come away feeling worse for the Egyptian citizens than the Jews because even Moses is like, "Dude, wtf, this is really shitty, please stop it" and he smiles and goes in HARDER. In the movie, what God was doing was so shitty that by the time the Jews actually won their freedom, none of them were happy about it.
God being an angry smart ass little boy makes SO MUCH sense.
cripterion
Member
50 liked it.
Oh man, that 50 Cent's response had me cracking up. So good.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
The problem with Exodus' depiction of God wasn't that he was acting like a cunt, it's that he was acting like he didn't understand Moses because he was too naive and beneath Moses. He was petulant.
Anyway, I posted my review in one of the other 10 threads. Gorgeous looking movie that has the best CG out of any this year, whilst also some occasional spotty shots. But on the whole Scott delivered the visual spectacle. Pity none of the characters outside of Bale's were developed in the slightest. The relationships between Moses and any other character was non-existent, so there was a large factor of us not giving a shit or being invested in the story. And when your film is more than an hour longer than The Prince of Egypt - where the relationships between character are well realized, it's pretty disappointing.
Seriously though, just what the fuck were Aaron Paul and Sigourney doing in the movie? They had maybe 4 lines between then. Aaron Paul's Joshua did nothing but watch the entire film.
Anyway, I posted my review in one of the other 10 threads. Gorgeous looking movie that has the best CG out of any this year, whilst also some occasional spotty shots. But on the whole Scott delivered the visual spectacle. Pity none of the characters outside of Bale's were developed in the slightest. The relationships between Moses and any other character was non-existent, so there was a large factor of us not giving a shit or being invested in the story. And when your film is more than an hour longer than The Prince of Egypt - where the relationships between character are well realized, it's pretty disappointing.
Seriously though, just what the fuck were Aaron Paul and Sigourney doing in the movie? They had maybe 4 lines between then. Aaron Paul's Joshua did nothing but watch the entire film.
The god of the OT very often acts like a petulant child, so the decision to actually make God a petulant little child was the best thing the movie did. I didn't think the visuals were that great. Nothing that set it apart from Hercules and Dracula Untold, really. All the best shots were entirely CGI, which means Ridley could not even be involved in those at all if he didn't want to be. I will assume, based on Prometheus documentary, that he in fact was drinking wine while being shown the working CGI plans and said, "Sure, that's fine".
breadtruck
Member
yooooo50 liked it.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Not at all. Whole film was beautifully shot. The cliff-face part looked fucking unreal. Moses and Ramses charging looked fantastic.
This movie had moments that looked like a Renaissance painting brought to life. Other times it had weird looking Nile Crocs.
To me, all the best stufff was the impossibly huge sweeping shots. Stuff on the ground with people felt perfunctory as could be.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
The 3D really helped to give a good sense of scale. I paid for a 2D screening and the cinema fucked up, so at the beginning when everybody saw the 'Please put on your 3D glasses now' prompt right before the movie started, everybody bolted out of the theatre to get some glasses.
I missed the first 2 mins of the film because of it.
I missed the first 2 mins of the film because of it.
You didn't miss anything in those 2 minutes.
Who's we, and why not?
A better question would be why do we need another bad Bible movie.
You don't have to be a theist to appreciate thematic elements of a movie who's subject matter is founded on religion.
entremet
Member
That's Instagram.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
It's still the best live-action version of Exodus. I really wanted to see what Spielberg would have done with it. Shame.
Angelus Errare
Banned
lmao.
Yeah, Noah's depiction of God was fantastic, even better than Prince of Egypt. Despite having no lines, they managed to give him such sheer presence through the entire film throughout other characters, much like one sees with people today.
Yeah, lot's of awesome movies could be made on Bible stories, just like any other source.
Lionel Mandrake
Member
I would like to see a decent King David movie.
A Paradise Lost adaptation could be amazing, but when it inevitably gets made, I just know it's going to be a schlockfest.
The next bible movie should be about Solomon and his Green Lantern ring.
Have you checked out the TV show Kings? It's a modern-day version of the King David storyline, and it's one of the my favorite TV shows ever made because it's fantastic.
This is in 3D?
Bluemercury
Member
Visually stunning as usual but ironically without soul and really boring. Too bad he choose this for his brother Tony. Let's hope he gets some decent scripts fast.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Yup. Ridley is pretty good with 3D. You just knew the plagues in 3D would look great.
Did he ever give a reason for dropping the project? It seemed like the perfect thing for a guy who has been known to indulge his inner Cecil B. DeMille from time to time.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Script wasn't up to snuff. Can't blame him for that.
Would have been the perfect story for him to close out the Jew trilogy. God knows I would have loved to hear Williams get biblical.
A shame. He really would have been a great director to bring this story to life in this century.
Liquidsnake
Banned
As I said that n the other thread my theater all clapped at the end.
Sigorney was dreadful
Ramsis was pretty good
Paul was a cameo almost
Bale slept walked through this
Ridley needs more focus man
I still think he his a top 10 director all time but man h has lacked focus lately
Sigorney was dreadful
Ramsis was pretty good
Paul was a cameo almost
Bale slept walked through this
Ridley needs more focus man
I still think he his a top 10 director all time but man h has lacked focus lately
posted in another thread last night. my thoughts on the film:
good, not great, certainly not terrible.
joel edgerton as ramses stole the show. bale slept through the film.
visually spectacular in parts but some shots looked like they didnt get the scale and scope that they deserved. rome felt more alive and grand in gladiator than egypt did here.
underwhelming, but perfectly watchable.
good, not great, certainly not terrible.
joel edgerton as ramses stole the show. bale slept through the film.
visually spectacular in parts but some shots looked like they didnt get the scale and scope that they deserved. rome felt more alive and grand in gladiator than egypt did here.
underwhelming, but perfectly watchable.
Damn, not even our resident Richard Roeper liked it.
You know this how? Are you privy to Iman and Eddie's genetic profile?
If so, please share.
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