Noah

 

I love to watch movies in the theatre.  The whole experience is mesmerising to me.  A giant screen showing larger than life images of every imagineable situation possible.  I am also a graphics nerd and the bigger and better the CGI the more likely I will enjoy a show.  But, there is occasion where I would rather skip the theatre and just sit down and watch the movie at home.   Those would be the more involved thought provoking movies that I can rewind to rewatch a scene, or the romantic comedies that I can curl up with wife and enjoy the night, or that I just didn't feel warranted a big screen review.  It is the main reason why I have a Netflix subscription.  Well, for the movies and it keeps my children occupied watching cartoon reruns.  I decided therefore to write a review of a movie that was released earlier this year but I was unable to watch at the theatre.  I didn't feel a strong desire to watch Noah when released but was curious as to how Hollywood would interpret a book that has possibly sold more copies than any other book known to man.  I am a fairly religious person and know the story of Noah and the Ark.  I do admit that I had to sit down and re-read the story to "fact check" some of the finer points in the movie.  I would say that Hollywood has taken a huge literal interpretive stick to this movie.  The basics of the story are there; men are wicked, Noah builds an ark, animals fill the ark, earth is flooded, everyone dies, and olive branch.  The writers of this script  took many liberties with their thoughts and may have put what I call the "Hollywood Touch" to a story.  I find it amazing that the story of Noah isn't a huge epic scrawling tome of novels, it actually covers only a few pages.  Why then does Hollywood feel the need to make things a little weird?  Only way I can explain that is... It's Hollywood.

I actually think if one is able to set aside the actual story and watch this movie with a disregard to any religious afiliation or even think of it as a good Fantasy story then the movie itself is a good watch.  Russell Crowe plays Noah and Jennifer Connely plays Naameh, Noah's Wife.  The acting is very well done and the effects are actually pretty good.  I was amazed that they were able to take CGI and make it actually look like stop motion.

I woud recommend this to anyone that is able to look past the actual story and watch a movie that has some pretty good CGI and some decent action to it.  The pace of the movie flows and keeps one engaged.  If you are easily offended by someone's interpretation of biblical stories whether wrong or right, then this one isn't for you.  I would also say it isn't for the younger children, it is dark and can be violent at times.  I would agree with the rating and keep it above the 13 year old threshold.