I dont know why people are freaking out so much about Noah. I eyeballed it and that ark was definitely three hundred cubits x fifty cubits x thirty cubits, just like the Bible says! Ok, but in all seriousness, the movie far exceeded my expectations. The cinematography and score were beautiful. The acting was superb. The story wasnt biblical, if you take that description to mean literalism. However, it was deeply biblical in all of the ways that it sought to tell the story of chaos and creation, death and life, struggle and faith, duty and love. One objection that Ive heard is that God isnt in the movie. This is false! God is continually referred to as The Creator (or as the Hebrew text reads: Yahweh-He causes to be or He creates). The Creator God is constantly creating in this story--springing up new life out of death, out of nothing, out of chaos. A recurring theme throughout the film is about the nature of God speaking to humans, and humans listening to God. At one point, one character says, You must trust that He speaks in a way that you can understand. Several main characters wrestle with this. Its obvious to the audience that God is speaking throughout the film--through visions and miracles, signs and wonders. But those who cannot see these things (the wicked) think that God is silent. Only those who have opened their hearts to love and trust see God at work in the world. I suspect one of the reasons that people are freaking out about Noah is that it is a utterly human story. And we dont always like that, do we? The film explores pain, confusion, betrayal, death, struggle, and fear all intermixed with faith, love, hope, and calling. It is messy and vulnerable. It asks the question--what is true justice? Is it judgment of the wicked? An upstanding morality? Or does it have to do more with relationship--with healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation? Thats my two cents. You can read a lot more in-depth analyses on the interwebs. But I highly recommend you go see it, with an open mind and an open imagination.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 04:06:57 +0000