Noah- “Oh, a storm is threatning, My very life today. If I dont get some shelter, Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away.” While I couldn’t resist quoting The Rolling Stones’ classic Gimme Shelter, I figured that this is actually a pretty good quote to start my look at the new movie Noah. Now, before I delve into the movie itself, let me start out by putting to rest the controversy that has surrounded this film. While based on the tale of Noah from the book of Genesis, this adaptation of Noah does indeed take artistic liberties and may no doubt turn many away because of its differences. However, I will say that despite the various changes to the story, the overall message of the story is still in tact. In the film, the world has become a barren wasteland and mankind has ruined God’s magnificent creation. In this world, we meet Noah (Russell Crowe), a simple man who lives a nomadic life with his wife (Jennifer Connelly) and his sons. One day, Noah awakens from his sleep after seeing a vision from God that the world will be destroyed by water. So, after seeking wisdom from his wise Grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins), Noah begins to build a massive Ark to save the animals from the storm so that they may be able to survive. Helping Noah build the Ark are a group of fallen angels incased in stone known as the Watchers (I know, just go with it). Meanwhile, as Noah builds the Ark, a massive group of barbarians, led by the ruthless leader Tubal-cain (Ray Winstone) shows up wanting to claim the Ark for himself. We also get some family drama with his oldest son Shem (Douglas Booth) falling in love with Ila (Emma Watson), a girl that Noah saved from death years earlier, and his middle son Ham (Logan Lerman) wanting to find love before the storm. Eventually, a massive assembly of animals show up and the rains fall. However, Noah is soon faced with having to decide is man is worthy enough to survive the storm and re-populate this new world. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan), Noah may not be Biblically accurate, but it is nevertheless a well-made and entertaining spectacle and does a good job at presenting the main message of the story. Like I stated before, if you are expecting this to be a spot on accurate telling of Noah and the Ark, well I am afraid that you’ll be disappointed before even seeing it. However, looking at it as an entertaining film, Noah works quite well. Giving yet another fine performance, Russell Crowe is pitch perfect as the tough and flawed, yet faithful Noah, who will do whatever it takes to be faithful to the task he is given, despite some of the drastic measures he must take. Noah also excels with fine work from the rest of the cast. Also, proving that he can handle a big budget spectacle, Darren Aronofsky takes the desolate locations of Iceland and blends it with some dazzling effects. We also get some amazing imagery that goes all the way back to creation, the Garden of Eden, and even Cain and Abel to show the turn of men and their fall from grace to help better understand a reason to destroy and the possible debate of whether or not to save man. However, while Noah is a very good film, my biggest complaint is really involving the characters known as the Watchers. I am sorry, but these giant rock monsters just seemed a little too much like early Transformers. Bottom line, while liberties were no doubt taken with this story (hello rock monsters), Noah is a great looking film that is an exciting movie spectacle that should no doubt be seen. It looks good and is displays the overall message of the Noah tale very well, which is about the preservation of innocence. 3.5 out of 5.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:07:37 +0000
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