Noah
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Russell Crowe, Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Douglas Booth
When God tells Noah (Russell Crowe) that he is going to cleanse the world of sin’s darkness by sacrificing mankind in a flood, Noah must break the shackles of his own distorted logic to protect his family and illuminate the true meaning of God’s purpose.
Sacrifice is a powerful theme in Noah, and it is portrayed in both a positive and a negative light. The primary example of sacrifice in Noah stems from Noah’s struggle to understand God’s purpose in destroying the world and allowing Noah and his family to live. While he follows God’s plan to a certain extent by building the ark and safeguarding his family and the animals during the flood, his lack of understanding to the true purpose of God’s plan causes Noah to see God’s purpose for him almost as a burden rather than a blessing.
Ila, (Emma Watson) is a character whose love for her adopted family reflects sacrifice in a positive light. The essence of Ila’s womanhood has been sacrificed (albeit against her will) because the injury she sustained as a child rendered her barren and unable to conceive children of her own. Although she has given her heart to Noah’s eldest son, Shem, (Douglas Booth) the painful burden she carries at not being able to conceive compels Ila to sacrifice her love for Shem, instead of marrying him, so that he might have the chance to marry a “perfect” woman who can give him children. When Ila’s barrenness is healed by Grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins) she and Shem must protect their own children from Noah whose distorted perception of God’s plan compels him to sacrifice them.
Since Noah was released on March 28, 2014, there has been an intense controversy regarding the film and the creative license that director Darren Aronofsky took while making it. First of all, Noah is a story rooted in Biblical truth and the problem that most people seem to have with this movie is that while the essence of the Biblical account of Noah remains predominantly intact, there is another layer of the story which is steeped in fantasy. While I concede that the creative storyline of the movie differs from the essence of what is conveyed in Genesis what with the addition of the son’s love interest, Ila, and the boulder-like, angelic guardians known as Watchers, I went into this movie comfortable in the knowledge that there would be changes, but willing to give the movie a chance anyway. To be honest, I was impressed. The essence of Biblical account remained intact, and the changes that Darren Aronofsky made strengthened the story and conveyed a powerful message.
As a believer, I have always taken films that convey stories from the Bible with a grain of salt. While I know the truth of the stories conveyed on film, I also accept that sometimes the story is changed for the sake of man’s vision. Noah is an excellent example of this. It is a powerfully told story with an exceptional cast, stunning visual artistry and a deeply emotional tone that leaves the audience with a unique impression of Noah’s experience during the flood.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Russell Crowe, Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Douglas Booth
When God tells Noah (Russell Crowe) that he is going to cleanse the world of sin’s darkness by sacrificing mankind in a flood, Noah must break the shackles of his own distorted logic to protect his family and illuminate the true meaning of God’s purpose.
Sacrifice is a powerful theme in Noah, and it is portrayed in both a positive and a negative light. The primary example of sacrifice in Noah stems from Noah’s struggle to understand God’s purpose in destroying the world and allowing Noah and his family to live. While he follows God’s plan to a certain extent by building the ark and safeguarding his family and the animals during the flood, his lack of understanding to the true purpose of God’s plan causes Noah to see God’s purpose for him almost as a burden rather than a blessing.
Ila, (Emma Watson) is a character whose love for her adopted family reflects sacrifice in a positive light. The essence of Ila’s womanhood has been sacrificed (albeit against her will) because the injury she sustained as a child rendered her barren and unable to conceive children of her own. Although she has given her heart to Noah’s eldest son, Shem, (Douglas Booth) the painful burden she carries at not being able to conceive compels Ila to sacrifice her love for Shem, instead of marrying him, so that he might have the chance to marry a “perfect” woman who can give him children. When Ila’s barrenness is healed by Grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins) she and Shem must protect their own children from Noah whose distorted perception of God’s plan compels him to sacrifice them.
Since Noah was released on March 28, 2014, there has been an intense controversy regarding the film and the creative license that director Darren Aronofsky took while making it. First of all, Noah is a story rooted in Biblical truth and the problem that most people seem to have with this movie is that while the essence of the Biblical account of Noah remains predominantly intact, there is another layer of the story which is steeped in fantasy. While I concede that the creative storyline of the movie differs from the essence of what is conveyed in Genesis what with the addition of the son’s love interest, Ila, and the boulder-like, angelic guardians known as Watchers, I went into this movie comfortable in the knowledge that there would be changes, but willing to give the movie a chance anyway. To be honest, I was impressed. The essence of Biblical account remained intact, and the changes that Darren Aronofsky made strengthened the story and conveyed a powerful message.
As a believer, I have always taken films that convey stories from the Bible with a grain of salt. While I know the truth of the stories conveyed on film, I also accept that sometimes the story is changed for the sake of man’s vision. Noah is an excellent example of this. It is a powerfully told story with an exceptional cast, stunning visual artistry and a deeply emotional tone that leaves the audience with a unique impression of Noah’s experience during the flood.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.