Exodus: Gods and Kings

Exodus: Gods and Kings

Rated PG-13 and Released 12/17/14

Reviewed 12/17/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

If you are looking for the biblical account of Moses then you will be disappointed with this film. Christian Bale is a great actor and does a fine job playing Moses. He even reminded Gary of Charlton Heston at times from the 1950s TV movie, Ten Commandments.

Moses is raised as Egyptian royalty by Pharaoh's sister. He and Ramses (Joel Edgerton) grow up together as brothers and despite Ramses being Pharaoh's son, it is Moses who finds favor. Meanwhile the Hebrew people have been brutally enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years laboring endlessly. After the beloved Pharaoh dies, the arrogant Ramses begins his regime. The new Pharaoh is soon confronted with the discovery on his "brother" after the truth about his birth is revealed. Moses is banished and he ends up wandering the desert, finds a wife, and starts a family. God seeks Moses out, although very strangely in this movie. He converses with Moses about leading the Hebrew people. Plagues have been disposed on Egypt in such a way to to convince Pharaoh to let "His" people go.

The crossing of the Red Sea by the Hebrews, with the Egyptians in hot pursuit, is my favorite scene. That being said, there are some bizarre ways the film's creators explain away some aspects of the story. Exodus doesn't follow its namesake per se but neither does the TV epic Ten Commandments that we know and love. Plan on an entertaining film and know that it is all Hollywood through and through!

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  Jj