{"id":784,"date":"2014-12-12T18:04:01","date_gmt":"2014-12-12T18:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/peanutsandpopcorn\/?p=784"},"modified":"2014-12-12T18:04:01","modified_gmt":"2014-12-12T18:04:01","slug":"exodus-good-movie-wrong-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/peanutsandpopcorn\/2014\/12\/exodus-good-movie-wrong-story.html","title":{"rendered":"Exodus: Good Movie, Wrong Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Moses<\/a>
Moses (Christian Bale) shows the Hebrews how to fight with Nun (Ben Kingsley) looking on. (20th Century Fox)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One has to wonder why some in Hollywood feel like they have to improve on stories based on the Bible. Perhaps it has to do with the idea that if you present a Bible story on screen, people will already know the ending, so you might want to shake things up a little. But I suspect that there is something more to it, but I can\u2019t figure out what it is.<\/p>\n

When Noah<\/em> came to theaters earlier this year, many Christians appreciated the effort and would rely on the thought, \u201cAt least people are talking about the Bible. Maybe now they will read it.\u201d Others felt that it was their job to warn the masses of its false doctrine. Months later, the film has failed to capture the hearts of many, nobody is talking about it and America is no worse off. However, people are still talking about the little production of God\u2019s Not Dead<\/em>, a film that didn\u2019t try to change who God is, and it isn\u2019t even a Bible story.<\/p>\n

From the trailers, Ridley Scott\u2019s Exodus: Gods and Kings<\/em> looks like Oscar-bait, but I wouldn\u2019t clear off a place on the mantel just yet if I were him. The thing is, Exodus<\/em> is actually a good movie, albeit a rather long one. It is beautiful to look at, features impressive 3D technology and the action scenes are done well without a lot of gore. It only has one flaw \u2013 the story is only remotely related to the Bible.<\/p>\n

\"Ramses<\/a>
Ramses (Joel Edgerton) contemplates. Something he does a lot throughout the movie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those with only a little bit of Bible knowledge will be able to figure out the flaws immediately. What we know about Moses is that God chose him to be a leader, but he didn\u2019t want the job. He stuttered when he spoke and wasn\u2019t confident that anyone would listen to him. For that reason, God had him partner with his brother to do the talking. Scott\u2019s version has a whole different type of Moses in mind.<\/p>\n

When I first heard that Christian \u201cBatman\u201d Bale was to play the role of Moses, I thought, \u201cHuh?\u201d After seeing the film, I thought, \u201cHuh?\u201d Bale\u2019s Moses doesn\u2019t stutter and has no problem speaking his mind. Instead of carrying a staff, he carries a sword. Instead of humbly asking Pharaoh to let his people go in broad daylight, he sneaks up on him in the middle of the night and threatens him with a sword. And his brother? Nowhere to be seen \u2013 at least, not throughout most of the movie.<\/p>\n

The epic film, one that you won\u2019t really mind sitting through, sets the story with Moses and Ramses (Joel Edgerton) as stepbrothers. Moses is unaware that he was actually delivered via straw basket by his sister when he was an infant. During a battle, Moses risks his own life to save Ramses, a feat that Seti (John Turturro) and step-father, seems impressed with. To say that Ramses has daddy issues is an understatement.<\/p>\n

\"Moses<\/a>
Moses (Christian Bale) and Zipporah (Mar\u00eda Valverde) on their wedding day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eventually, Moses gets exposed as a Hebrew and is exiled from the palace, but not how the Bible describes it. He has a long journey where he meets a prophet Nun (Ben Kingsley), not mentioned in the Bible, who explains Moses\u2019 true origins. He goes further, meets his eventual wife Zipporah (Mar\u00eda Valverde), has a child and explores a mountain that apparently God has forbidden him to. There he sees the burning bush and a messenger (but is basically God) who is in form of a boy. Yes, Scott decided that portraying God as a willful, spoiled brat was better idea. Moses decides to free the slaves by teaching them to fight. When this fails, the disgusted child takes matters into his own hands and creates a bunch of plagues. God doesn\u2019t even seem to get credit for creating them as Ramses\u2019 people explain the phenomenon away. And on and on it goes.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the films greatest error is giving actress Sigourney Weaver about three lines of dialogue and not much to do except glare. In the end, I think most viewers will feel cheated. Moses<\/em> is like an expensive handbag that turns out to be a cheap imitation of the real thing. At least there are no rock monsters in the film.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One has to wonder why some in Hollywood feel like they have to improve on stories based on the Bible. Perhaps it has to do with the idea that if you present a Bible story on screen, people will already know the ending, so you might want to shake things up a little. 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