Exodus: Gods and Kings from director Ridley Scott ( Gladiator , Alien ) hits theaters December 12 , and audiences can now have a look via trailer to see just how faithful it is to the biblical tale.
What they’ll find is something vaguely familiar with a whole lot of action, and that could rub some the wrong way.
This incarnation of the story will run with the theory that Rhamses (Joel Edgerton) and Moses (Christian Bale) were “like brothers,” and that when Moses returned to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, he was going up against an intimately familiar enemy.
Of course, the Old Testament never states that such a relationship existed, and that could be a major point of contention for some evangelical Christians and perhaps also followers of Judaism.
(Then again, the idea that Moses was reportedly raised by Pharaoh’s daughter lends credence that such a connection might have been possible.)
Anyhow, let’s stop rambling about it and let you guys decide if Scott is being faithful to the source material:
While it’s still questionable that this will be a straight-laced adaptation or something more akin to Darren Aronofsky’s Noah , we do like what we see here from a movie standpoint.
The plagues look like they’ll be a major set piece as does the legendary parting of the Red Sea. All in all, there’s nothing too objectionable about the Exodus: Gods and Kings trailer, but over on the official Facebook page , the skepticism is already at a fever pitch.
“I hope Ridley Scott will respect our religion! after Noah movie I don’t trust Hollywood,” said one commenter.
“That’s just like making a movie on Budda and making him a Christian,” said another.
“I dunno, I feel like the story as told in the Bible was already cool enough as is, but okay.”
“Hollywood condemns Christianity enough, now to add insult to injury they have to twist the Bible around to make a few bucks? Just sink California into the ocean already.”
“All I’m worried about is how Ridley Scott treats God and if the battles are appropriately placed when Moses was a prince.”
“This looks like more garbage to me. Not the slightest bit historically accurate.”
“How Ridley portrays God is my biggest worry because Ridley is a well known atheist. If Moses says to Rameses that he brought it on himself, I’ll be happy about it.”
What do you think about the Exodus: Gods and Kings trailer? And are religious people getting too far ahead of themselves with this footage, or do they have a right to be upset?