Noah strays from the path

If you totally ignore the biblical aspect of it (which is next to impossible for anyone that attended Sunday School every week), I guess Noah is an ok movie, but still a little far out there as historical films go. There’s a little too much of a sci-fi fantasy element to it for my tastes. Honestly, I think the film would have been better if you gave the main character a different name, had it take place on a different planet, and just called it science fiction. Personally, every time someone said Noah’s name on screen, I had to shake my head at what was going on.

The acting is good, and I’ve been hearing about the visual effects which did indeed live up to the hype. But I was incredulous from the very opening narrative, when we were told that fallen angels, called “watchers” (which look like misshapen stone giants) helped forge man’s place on this planet. I understand watchers are mentioned in the Book of Enoch, but that is such an obscure reference that their inclusion in a film about Noah was just too far fetched. And then the ever-present glowing rocks that can create fire from nothing, and can even be shot out like a gun. Many die-hard religious types are complaining about the environmental aspect to Noah’s story, which I didn’t mind as much. I also wasn’t bothered by Noah’s personal struggle of faith especially in the latter half of the film, though it did seem to only be included to stretch the movie out.

This movie is doing booming business right now, but it has to be solely because of the hype and intrigue. It is currently sitting on a C on Cinemascore (which is a rating of pure word-of-mouth of actual moviegoers, not critic reviews). A C is awful, which is indicative that this movie will not hold well in theaters. See it if you want to see what all the talk is about, but be prepared for a little disappointment.