As I walked into the theater awaiting for this film to start, I knew exactly what to expect. This had been one of my most anticipated films of the year. With all the controversy surrounding it, I was eager to get my say in on the film.
So, what did I think of it? Well, I would be lying if I didn’t say that ‘Noah’ was quite entertaining. Yes, the biblical inaccuracies were there and they did bother me, but not too the extent that it didn’t keep me from enjoying the film as a whole. *Gasp* Yes. I did walk out of the theater liking the film more than hating it.
First off, Darren Aronofsky’s vision of Noah isn’t the one you hear in Sunday school. Let’s be honest, the flood might’ve been one of the most terrifying sights to behold if you were part of Noah’s family inside the ark. This film really captures the terror. While Noah and his family are in the safety of the ark, you take part in hearing the cries for mercy of those who are dying due to their wickedness. It’s bone-chilling, unnerving, and quite powerful.
Now, the film almost right from the get-go had a environmentalist feel going for it; demonstrating how the industrialization of Cain’s descendants was killing the land. I don’t think God cared if they built cities and started civilizations. The film, however, does do a great job in capturing the wickedness of men before the flood, not so much because they hate the environment, but because of what they do to each other and how they treat people. In one scene in particular, you can see people getting dragged away and the people who are dragging them away are saying “We must eat!” You heard me right – cannibals. Or they would trade people for animal meat. Like I said… wicked, dark stuff.
“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” That’s right out of Genesis 6. The Bible specifically details Noah as a righteous man, that includes his family. The film does a great job showing that Noah and his family definitely are not like the rest of the world. At least, on Noah’s part, that only last about half the film. This is the big problem I had with the film – It’s depiction of Noah in the last half of the film. Once on the ark, Noah explains to his family that the same wickedness that was in the men that were wiped out in the flood is also in them. So, Noah believes that him and his family are not meant to live on. He thinks God wants to cleanse earth of men completely and they were just used to save the animals. His family, however, can’t accept this.
Now, the film is starting to make me dislike the title character! The first half of the film he was great, but the last half… I didn’t like him. They did indeed portray Noah as borderline psychopath. This especially comes out when he finds out the his adopted daughter, Ila, gives birth to twins. Both of which are baby girls. It basically reaches the point where Noah has a knife up to the babies. Insane, I know. But he obviously doesn’t kill them. Now, later on towards the ending of the film, Ila explains to Noah that it was not God’s plan to have them die, as well, but it was mercy and love that God had on them to continue on living. Which is true. But the problem is that Noah never redeems himself of the wrong he did to his family on the ark. He didn’t ask for forgiveness or anything. You can tell he had a change of heart, but there was, for me, nor redemption to this portrayal of Noah.
There was some other Biblical inaccuracies that didn’t bother me much at all. Like Tubal-Cain, the villain of the film, sneaks onto the ark at the last second. I will admit, it did add some tension to the film and I like what they did with it. Another thing that bothered me just a little was “The Watchers” – Giant rock monsters who were once angels that God had cast out of heaven. In the film, they regret their mistake about turning against God and they help Noah with the building of the ark, and defend it against Tubal-Cain’s army. The problem I had with these particular creatures was once they were killed, they went back to heaven. As if their good deeds of helping Noah redeemed themselves. Kinda silly, but they were an entertaining part to the film.
There also is a scene in which Noah tells the story of creation to his family. I felt as if the filmmakers were trying get on the good side of people who believed in evolution or creation during this retelling of creation. If you see it, you’ll know what I mean. Another thing is that I feel that the film almost made out God to be a jerk for destroying so many people. The story of Noah in the Bible was about God’s love, mercy, and giving men a second chance. Like I said before, they do mention that a little in the ending, but I think God’s “ruthlessness” over powers his love and mercy.
It film does, however, show that Noah and God do have a relationship. Noah receives visions from God about the flood, and he sometimes looks up and speaks towards the sky to show they he is, in fact, talking to God. So, that’s good! And yes, they do to mention God in the film. They just call him “The Creator”. Which He is. So, don’t whine because they don’t mention Him, because they do.
I did enjoy the charge of Tubal-Cain’s forces on the ark in the midst of the flood going down. It never details in Scripture that there were people outside of the ark, but it also never says that there weren’t. So, in this case, creative ideas is fair game. And the entire scene of the flood was quite the spectacle to behold! The whole film was full of amazing effects and epic scenes. Some of which literally had my jaw-dropped.
When it comes down to the performances, every one did a superb job! Anthony Hopkins plays Methuselah, and his character was probably my favorite! Even though he had maybe 5 minutes of screen time. He adds some slight comic relief to the film.
I know all of that was a lot to take in, so I will summarize what my complete thoughts on the film in short:
‘Noah’ is, I would say, very loosely based on a true story. It does have its moments of Biblical assurance, but in the end it’s the inaccuracies of the film you will walk away remembering a little more in a film that had so much potential. Its visual spectacles, strong performances, and sense of awe though makes it worth the watch. I didn’t hate the film as much as everyone else did, but I didn’t love it. If I were to remake this, I would definitely change some things. I think you should see it at least once. It’s quite the piece of filmmaking.
I give Noah a 7/10.
Isaac Blaine Suttle 