MovieChat Forums > Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) Discussion > The biggest problem...

The biggest problem...

posted 8 years ago by BaggyT
10 replies | jump to latest

People always use films like "Exodus: Gods and Kings" to start religious debates. Atheists use it to attack people with a belief in a higher power (one review which made its way onto the film main page is titled "Excellent to expose the stupidity of biblical literalists" and uses the opportunity to berate everything supporting Biblical history); religious people use it to condemn people with their "You're gonna burn in hell!" tactics an open rejection of any form of reason.

In short, not many people on these message boards seem to operate in love. Christians should, because they are commanded to by Jesus. Atheists should too, because (in my experience) they all seem to feel 'superior' to Christians because they believe they have the answers to all of life's origins, and if that were the case then they should have a deeper sense of love towards their fellow human.

At the end of the day, and I am happy to be proved wrong about this, people on here are not professional archaeologists, not experts in ancient cultures, not experts in Biblical theology of the ancient languages in which the Bible was written, and most aren't even experts on film. Now, that shouldn't stop the discussion from taking place, but it's something that seems to be forgotten and results in so much anger and hatred being thrown around.

If we're the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution, why don't people act like it? If we're the result of a supreme Creator, made in His image, then why don't we act like it? I feel ashamed to be the same species as such people.

That aside, the problem with "Exodus: Gods and Kings" is that it deviates from the the Biblical text.

Before you start thinking, "But the Bible isn't real anyway!" you need to think of it like this: have you ever read a book and then watched the film and been annoyed that the film was different?

I was disappointed with "Lord of the Rings" because they missed out Tom Bombadil, as well as other things, and also added extra things. This is the same problem with "Exodus". As with most book-to-film adaptations, it doesn't do the source text justice.

The only times I've enjoyed both book and film are when I've seen the film first. I loved "Starship Troopers", and then I found the book incredibly different (including one character having changed gender as a result of the adaptation!) but it was still great. The same with "The Neverending Story": fantastic film from my childhood, and a great read later on (I was an adult when I read it).

So the debate isn't about Biblical historical facts or religious propaganda, it's about whether the film does any justice to the source material. Sure, some things do need to change in order for the film not to be dull, but that should be the exception, not the rule.

If a filmmaker wants to produce a story about a bunch of slaves being freed as they followed their religious leaders, but doesn't want to stick to a certain source material, why not just make up their own story? (Of course, by using the Bible as the source material, it ensures the film is a box-office hit: for Christians because they think it'll support their beliefs; for atheists to criticise it for how "stupid" it is.)

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When it comes to being a role model, "good enough" usually isn't.

[–] waluburg 8 years ago

Very fine!

[–] SquidChickens 8 years ago

So the debate isn't about Biblical historical facts or religious propaganda, it's about whether the film does any justice to the source material. Sure, some things do need to change in order for the film not to be dull, but that should be the exception, not the rule.

While I get what you're saying, I think it's unfair to compare a story of myth with just any fictional book/novel. Myths, legends, folklore, etc change over time. Passed down through centuries by oral tradition. Depending on the interpreter, these stories can change very little to drastically. These stories aren't meant to be taken at face value. They are metaphorical in nature. Which is why they are MYTHS.

To further my point, the KJB only holds one interpretation of these said myths. So to regard the KJB's version of the Exodus story as the ultimate source material is being just as narrow minded as you're pointing everyone else out to be in your post. Just to use the overused comparison as an example: the movie Noah is certainly not the KJB version of the story. It wasn't meant to be. It was a retelling, interpretation, adaptation- however you want to label it- of a centuries old myth that has been altered thousands of times through the years already. Using "source material" as an argument just doesn't work with myths. You want to argue that you didn't like Harry Potter because it was nothing like the book, fine. That's a fair argument because there's one definite source material for Harry Potter. Not the case for bible stories.

To quote Emerson, “The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next.” It's entertainment, not a documentary on the KJB. Lighten up and enjoy it for what it is.

[–] yurenchu 8 years ago

To further my point, the KJB only holds one interpretation of these said myths.

What are the other "interpretations"?

Aren't the KJB and those other "interpretations" just different translations from the same source material? (Namely from the same Hebrew/Aramaic texts.) How much do those "interpretations" really differ from eachother?

I'm sure Harry Potter has been subjected to several translations as well (and will be even moreso in the future). Carlo Collodi's children's novel Le avventure di Pinocchio has seen at least three different well-regarded English language translations throughout the years. Does that mean that "The Adventures Of Pinocchio" also counts as a myth now? (or more precisely: that it warrants the same treatment regarding film adaptation criticism as myths are warranted?)

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Keiko Matsui & Carl Anderson - "A Drop of Water"
http://youtu.be/kPUENUUuqSk

[–] BaggyT 8 years ago

To further my point, the KJB only holds one interpretation of these said myths. So to regard the KJB's version of the Exodus story as the ultimate source material is being just as narrow minded as you're pointing everyone else out to be in your post.

Although I can't claim to have read every translation of the Bible, I have read 4 or 5. There's not much difference, especially concerning the story of the Exodus. It's easy enough to look up different versions (plenty of online websites to save buying hard copies) and then compare them.

My point is that when it comes to biblical films, filmmakers tend to change it or add bits to provoke a reaction. (Another example is "Noah" with Russell Crowe.) The reaction they are after is a box-office hit: Christians (or other religious people) go to see it because it's about the Bible; atheists go to see it so they can criticise it and continue believing that it's all a load of rubbish. The problem is that it's a poor representation. But the filmmakers don't care about that, because they're getting a chunk of cash for it.

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When it comes to being a role model, "good enough" usually isn't.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18430) 5 years ago

My biggest complain is that the movie is just boring.

[–] pjl69 (2647) 5 years ago

Should have been 4 hours long with an intermission, like other biblical epics. Scott is an excellent director, but he tends to ruin his movies in editing stage.

[–] olioz (3860) 4 years ago

Yes and miscast.

[–] MartyMoose1977 (225) 2 years ago

Starship Troopers the movie is great because it deviates from the text. It's basically a parody of the book.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 2 years ago

They made the movie more believable. Were the plagues sent by God, or just the result of natural processes? Was Moses really speaking with God, or just delusional from years of wandering in the desert?

The movie had great special effects and a good story and great acting from Moses and Ramses. The problem was that none of the secondary characters got much development at all.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7983) 2 years ago

I'm a Christian who has never seen this because a Christian friend said that Moses favored the Egyptions through out most of it and only did what God said so as not to get destroyed by God. I don't want to see a version of the story like that.