Exodus: Gods and Kings. Thoughts?

[Cathoholic]

**Exodus: Gods and Kings. **

My wife asked me about what the people were saying on CAF about this movie.

I couldn’t find anything so I am asking “yall”.

Have you seen it? What do you think?

(even if you haven’t seen it—thoughts from what you HAVE heard/read?)

Thank you in advance.

God bless.

Cathoholic

 

[Path_Finder]

Sounds like it might be worth watching but I will wait until it is out on DVD. Still, if one was looking for a film to take the family too, I’d look at the ratings. I don’t need to watch another “irreverent” Christmas comedy.

 

[Dwyer]

It’s the same sort of stuff this Ridley Scott churns out every time, backed by Hollywood.

He directed* Kingdom of Heaven* which was heavily anti-(Catholic) clerical and all around terrible film about the Second Crusade.

I’ve wised up a lot about Hollywood and the movie industry since then, and I would run like the wind from seeing any of Ridley Scott’s films and hold onto your money and not give him your money for making movies that mock the Catholic clergy and our religious beliefs.

It’s really too bad that Mr. Scott is one of the last Hollywood directors that is able to create historical epic films, and that says a lot about Hollywood and who gets picked by the movie industry and employed to make such films.

“Exodus,” in contrast, has no real sense of identity. Thus the movie flops about without ever managing to cohere. **There are still some interesting parts — like “Noah,” the other biblical epic from this year, the story suggests that God may not be a kindly grandpa in the sky but the evil demiurge proposed by the Gnostics. **Terrorist tactics by an oppressed people seem to be condoned, to a point. And the multimillion-dollar 3D special effects, which Ridley was so desperate to get funding for, really are astonishing.

Read more: forward.com/articles/210670/my-exodus-problem-and-ours/?p=all#ixzz3LcboR3UX

 

[qui_est_ce]

**Exodus: Gods and Kings. **

My wife asked me about what the people were saying on CAF about this movie.

I couldn’t find anything so I am asking “yall”.

Have you seen it? What do you think?

(even if you haven’t seen it—thoughts from what you HAVE heard/read?)

Thank you in advance.

God bless.

Cathoholic

ncregister.com/daily-news/exodus-gods-and-kings-theological-reflections

I saw it yesterday. It did take some historical liberties. But I thought it was a good. It showed Moses’ developing faith, and his eventual reliance on God, and not himself. It showed a very human side of Moses, for example, when God told him he was going to kill the first-born, Moses said he couldn’t be a part of that. The scenes of the children taking their last breaths was very emotional.

 

[qui_est_ce]

It’s the same sort of stuff this Ridley Scott churns out every time, backed by Hollywood.

He directed* Kingdom of Heaven* which was heavily anti-(Catholic) clerical and all around terrible film about the Second Crusade.

I’ve wised up a lot about Hollywood and the movie industry since then, and I would run like the wind from seeing any of Ridley Scott’s films and hold onto your money and not give him your money for making movies that mock the Catholic clergy and our religious beliefs.

It’s really too bad that Mr. Scott is one of the last Hollywood directors that is able to create historical epic films, and that says a lot about Hollywood and who gets picked by the movie industry and employed to make such films.

Read more: forward.com/articles/210670/my-exodus-problem-and-ours/?p=all#ixzz3LcboR3UX

I think that review is way off. It says the Exodus is a myth.

The story of the Exodus, which has never been confirmed by archaeological evidence, is a myth.

And then spends several paragraphs on race:

The whiteness of the casting — plus the fact that the roles of servants, slaves and criminals seem to have been reserved for actors of color — have led writers like David Dennis, Jr. and others to level charges of racism at “Exodus,” and to call for a boycott of the movie. And there is obviously racism present

Really?

I think the NCR article is a much better review.

 

[Catholic1954]

I saw it on the MSN’s list of 20 worst movies in 2014, yesterday. I’m disappointed, but it looks worth missing.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

**Egypt bans Exodus Hollywood film

**

Egypt has banned a Hollywood film based on the Biblical book of Exodus because of what censors described as “historical inaccuracies”.
The head of the censorship board said these included the film’s depiction of Jews as having built the Pyramids, and that an earthquake, not a miracle by Moses, caused the Red Sea to part…

 

[qui_est_ce]

Egypt bans Exodus Hollywood film

Interestingly, I saw the explanations by the Egyptian fortune tellers for the plagues as rationalizations for acts of God. The Egyptians didn’t want to believe the God of Moses was stronger than their God.

The Bible tells us that during that period the Israelite slaves were forced to make mud bricks (Exodus 5:10-14). This detail is consistent with the type of brick used to construct pyramids. In fact, according to Exodus 5:7, Pharaoh told the taskmasters, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.” While we are not told specifically that the bricks were used for pyramids, it seems plausible that they were.

Read more: gotquestions.org/pyramids-Bible.html#ixzz3N24ejsUFThe Jewish historian Josephus supports this theory: “They [the Egyptian taskmasters] set them also to build pyramids” (Antiquities, II:9.1).

 

[Tenofovir]

**Exodus: Gods and Kings. **

My wife asked me about what the people were saying on CAF about this movie.

I couldn’t find anything so I am asking “yall”.

Hollywood milking religious folks. Religion wise, their last good work was Quo Vadis. Try not to support this.

 

[Tenofovir]

More serious Muslim organisations have banned the film:

Afifi said he took issue with the scene showing the parting of the Red Sea in which Moses – a prophet revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike – is seen holding a “sword” like a warrior, instead of a “stick”.

Furthermore, he said, the parting of the Red Sea is explained in the movie as a “tidal phenomenon” rather than a divine miracle.

…

In March, Al-Azhar, Egypt’s top Islamic body, banned the screening of “Noah”, another Hollywood biblical epic starring Russell Crowe, saying it violated Islam by portraying a prophet.

The film triggered controversy in the United States where some Christian institutions criticising Crowe’s reportedly unconventional portrayal of Noah.

“Exodus” has also sparked unkind reviews and upset some Christian groups, with critics saying Scott took too many liberties with the Bible and cast Western actors in Middle East roles.

Egypt has censored other movies in the past, including the blockbuster “The Da Vinci Code” after protests from the Orthodox Coptic Church.

But it did allow the screening of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ”, which depicts Jesus being crucified.

Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet and was not crucified.

news.yahoo.com/egypt-axes-exodus-film-citing-historical-mistakes-194046196.html

I must say +1 for Egypt. Meanwhile in the West clueless Christians buy Da Vinci Code stuff etc.

 

[Robyn_p]

I have mixed feelings on it. I don’t agree with the reviewers calling it a misrepresentation. It wasn’t. There were some deviations from the biblical narrative, some of which I really didn’t like. But overall I felt it took the source material seriously.

In the end, I appreciate it. It wasn’t perfect, there were too many things I didn’t like for me to fully embrace it, but I’m still glad I saw it.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I have mixed feelings on it. I don’t agree with the reviewers calling it a misrepresentation. It wasn’t. There were some deviations from the biblical narrative, some of which I really didn’t like. But overall I felt it took the source material seriously.

In the end, I appreciate it. It wasn’t perfect, there were too many things I didn’t like for me to fully embrace it, but I’m still glad I saw it.

These are my feelings as well. It wasn’t a documentary. It was a story of Moses’ faith. In the beginning of the film, Moses was a rationalist, he relied on himself. Even as God told Moses he would use him, Moses thought it was through his own works that God would set the Hebrews free. It showed Moses struggling with God’s will. One of my favorite lines in the movies was when Moses questioned how God would accomplish this victory without an army. God said, “Watch me.”

It showed how difficult following God’s will can be. We can’t always understand God’s ways and will, but in the end, God wins.

I’m glad I saw it. I went with my kids, who don’t practice the faith, and it sparked some thoughtful conversation in an nonthreatening manner.

 

[Luvz2travel]

I will likely just wait for the free DVD from the Library.

 

[cathgal]

Haven’t watch it but read many user reviews on it and it’s bad as far as biblical story goes. To put it simply, it’s more of an atheistic version of Exodus. Any miracle is explained by natural occurrences, Moses’ staff is replaced by a sword, and the most climatic miracle of all is parting of the red sea, but no, all you’ll get is a natural phenomenon which is a tsunami. Any miracle that can’t be explained by nature is eliminated, like pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, that includes the fire that separates the Egyptian from the Israelite during the crossing of the red sea. These are just some examples and there many inaccuracies with the story line. With today technology, I expect to see the greatest biblical Exodus story and all its miracles ever to be put on film, but noooo, was I wrong. In this Godless culture, that is a joke. No wonder the film is directed by an atheist. Scripture is very clear on the storyline but Scott Ridley chose not to follow it, because he doesn’t believe it.

Can’t understand why atheist love to direct a religious film (Noah was also directed by an atheist) and Hollywood lets them. Maybe they want to convert rather than make money.

Stick with the 1960’s The 10 Commandments or the animated version.

 

[Tenofovir]

Haven’t watch it but read many user reviews on it and it’s bad as far as biblical story goes. To put it simply, it’s more of an atheistic version of Exodus. Any miracle is explained by natural occurrences, Moses’ staff is replaced by a sword, and the most climatic miracle of all is parting of the red sea, but no, all you’ll get is a natural phenomenon which is a tsunami. Any miracle that can’t be explained by nature is eliminated, like pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, that includes the fire that separates the Egyptian from the Israelite during the crossing of the red sea. These are just some examples and there many inaccuracies with the story line. With today technology, I expect to see the greatest biblical Exodus story and all its miracles ever to be put on film, but noooo, was I wrong. In this Godless culture, that is a joke. No wonder the film is directed by an atheist. Scripture is very clear on the storyline but Scott Ridley chose not to follow it, because he doesn’t believe it.

Can’t understand why atheist love to direct a religious film (Noah was also directed by an atheist) and Hollywood lets them. Maybe they want to convert rather than make money.

Stick with the 1960’s The 10 Commandments or the animated version.

Note that God can perform miracles though acts of nature. So a very convenient tsunami need not mean it’s not a miracle.

And agree about this film not beeing worthwhile. Mr Scott wants to usurp this? Fine. Just don’t give him money.

 

[cathgal]

Note that God can perform miracles though acts of nature. So a very convenient tsunami need not mean it’s not a miracle.

It it can be explained, then it is not a miracle…in the truest sense.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I read the tale someplace of a young Jewish lad rejoicing in God’s parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites. An older student, who has read too much, explains to him that it was a natural phenomena, that there was only about 6" of water where they crossed.

The young lad thinks a moment and begins to rejoice twice as loud. When asked why, he explains that it is most wonderful that God drowned the entire Egyptian army in 6" of water.

 

[Robyn_p]

Fr. Barron has a pretty fair commentary on the movie here:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=h5syURgIL94

This is basically why I had mixed feelings about the film. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it was missing something. I couldn’t articulate exactly what it was though until he pointed it out.

What I like about his review is he focuses on the real flaw of the movie, what it really missed the mark on, and not the controversial plagues or messenger boy that most reviewers complained about.

Anyways, just thought I’d share another perspective on the movie for those still on the fence.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I read the tale someplace of a young Jewish lad rejoicing in God’s parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites. An older student, who has read too much, explains to him that it was a natural phenomena, that there was only about 6" of water where they crossed.

The young lad thinks a moment and begins to rejoice twice as loud. When asked why, he explains that it is most wonderful that God drowned the entire Egyptian army in 6" of water.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Fr. Barron has a pretty fair commentary on the movie here:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=h5syURgIL94

This is basically why I had mixed feelings about the film. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it was missing something. I couldn’t articulate exactly what it was though until he pointed it out.

What I like about his review is he focuses on the real flaw of the movie, what it really missed the mark on, and not the controversial plagues or messenger boy that most reviewers complained about.

Anyways, just thought I’d share another perspective on the movie for those still on the fence.

As usual Fr. Barron is right on the mark. He says the movie missed the spiritual and the theological points of the Exodus story. RIGHT ON! I’ll bet most Christians never understood the importance of the plagues being attacks on the Egyptian gods! I never did. Fr. Barron points to the deeper meaning of the story.

Thanks for sharing.