Noah: the Real Story
  • Home
    • The Story
    • The Flood
    • The Ark
    • The Animals
    • The Search
    • The Movie >
      • Noah Discussion Guide
    • Other Flood Stories
    • Noah's Secret
  • See the Ark
  • The Author
  • Blog
  • Buy the Book
  • Contact

What "Noah" Got Wrong; a review

3/28/2014

7 Comments

 
Picture
When I managed three book clubs, members had to mail in a card if they did not want a main selection. If you wanted to buy the main offering, you did nothing. (Please stick with me on this!)

Then I got the bright idea of offering dual main selections—two books at once—on the theory that members would have twice as many opportunities to say, “yes.”

I was wrong. Instead, I gave the members twice as many reasons to say, “no.” The number of cards we received skyrocketed. Members didn’t want one or the other or both of the books.

That’s what the movie Noah got wrong. Very wrong. By trying to offer something for everyone, it offers viewers twice as many reasons to say, “no.”

Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post says, “If you liked Braveheart, Gladiator, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones or Titanic, you will like Noah.” Kathleen Parker is behind the times. If you liked the movies that were in previews when I viewed Noah in my local theater, you’ll like Noah—Guardian of the Galaxy (based on a Marvel Comic, it involves a manhunt in the far reaches of space), The Amazing Spiderman 2, Transformers: Age of Extinction (by the way, the Watchers in Noah bear a remarkable resemblance to Transformers), and Transcendence (A researcher in Artificial Intelligence creates a machine combining intelligence and emotions).

Asking if Noah is biblically accurate is like asking if Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is green. The question doesn’t make sense. It’s irrelevant. Paramount’s disclaimer that "The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken” is accurate. The rest of the disclaimer is a somewhat questionable: “We believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide.”

Noah was not written to cater to evangelical Christians. It was written by two self-described "not very religious Jewish guys" from New York City. The story written by Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel first appeared in a French-language graphic novel with a six-armed giant rock-angel on the cover. Noah was described by Slashfilm as a ‘Mad Max-style warrior.’ The movie was written for an audience that loves graphic novels and Mad Max (a 1979 Australian dystopian action film).

Noah “lives with his wife and three children in a land barren and hostile, in the grip of severe drought. (It’s) a world marked by violence and barbarism,” says the publisher of Aronofsky’s graphic novel.

Darren Arronofsky and Ari Handel wrote their story of Noah for themselves; they produced it to appeal to those who like graphic novels and Transformers: Age of Extinction. There’s nothing wrong with that, but trying to retrofit the movie to appeal to Christians has resulted in something that gives viewers twice the opportunity to say, “no thanks.” I’m sorry, but a scene of giant six-armed transformer-like rock angels defending the ark and throwing the wicked followers of Tubal-Cain around does not mix well with a 1950s-type sappy ending of everyone living happily ever after, Noah telling his children to “be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth” (in the Bible God said that), and a rainbow filling the screen with comforting colors.

Yes, the movie deals with some important theological questions. Balancing justice and mercy is an important theme in the movie. But it’s not really resolved. Robert Schuller said God creatively combined justice and mercy at the cross. Noah never makes it to the cross. What Noah does do is gives us the opportunity of talking about justice and mercy.

Noah also gives us the opportunity of asking if we are always sure of what God is telling us. And if we are sure, how do we deal with people who disagree with us? And if we are not sure, how do we deal with that uncertainty? Noah didn’t deal with his uncertainty very well. He alienated his entire family when he attempted to do what he thought God was telling him.

But we don’t need the movie Noah to lead us into theological and moral discussions. Schindler’s List—or several dozen other movies—will do just fine for that, thank you.

The question frequently asked is, “Should I go see Noah?” If you would enjoy seeing Guardian of the Galaxy, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Transformers: Age of Extinction, or Transcendence, by all means see Noah. It’s creatively done, a terrific adventure, the stars are great, and the special effects and digital creations are amazing.

But if you’re expecting a retelling of the biblical account with traditional-type additions to the story, you’ll probably be disappointed.

But if you do go, I would encourage you to go with friends, take some time afterwards to discuss the movie over pizza or dinner, and use the Discussion Guide on this website. You'll have a good time.

7 Comments
luchiafesseha
3/28/2014 03:29:05 pm

DO NOT HE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES FEAR THE LORD AND DEPART FROM EVIL IT WILL BE HEALTH TO YOUR FLESH AND STRENGTH TO YOUR BONES

Reply
Laura Troup
3/29/2014 01:15:09 am

I remember Bryan Curtis, early in my publishing career, explaining the concept that "if you make it for everyone, you make it for no one." I appreciate your perspective here. I haven't decided yet if I'll see it. We don't get to many movies anyway (with 3 kids and crazy schedules) so it would probably be a Redbox experience!

Reply
Gabriel Ansley Erb link
3/29/2014 01:52:08 am

Thanks for the review Mr. Stone. I'll be passing on seeing the unbiblical movie "Noah" because in 2008 God showed me the stunning prophetic TRUTH behind the story, and it is sobering!

The story of Noah is unfulfilled prophecy concerning Jesus Christ's Second Coming. As Noah worked building rooms in the Ark, he was a picture of Jesus preparing rooms in the Kingdom of Heaven for his righteous house (sons and daughters).

In other words, the "Ark" was/is a picture of Heaven, having rooms, windows, 3 levels, and one door. ALL of these things the Bible declares heaven has in John 14:2 (Greek "monē" = rooms, not "mansions"), Malachi 3:10, II Corinthians 12:2, John 10:9, respectively.

Then, on the day Noah's house (wife, sons & daughters) entered the Ark it took them HIGH UP INTO THE AIR, as simultaneously the destructive flood waters annihilated the entire surface of planet Earth and ALL the wicked. This is a precise prophetic picture of Christ's Second Coming, for on that day his righteous family (sons & daughters) will rise HIGH UP INTO THE AIR (known as the "gathering event" or "rapture") to meet him in the clouds, as a world of ungodly people perish in a global flood of fire below. (II Peter 3:10).

Oh, there's MUCH MORE about the story of Noah and the whole Bible that God has revealed to me, and I wrote it all down in a book entitled "Undeniable Biblical Proof Jesus Christ Will Return to Planet Earth Exactly 2,000 Years After the Year of His Death". There's even a movie I created called "2028 END", which includes the Noah revelation, at http://www.2028END.com.

Yes, I'll be passing on seeing the mockery I've heard Darren Arronofsky's made of the story of Noah, when it's such a grave story pertinent to our generation, for it's about to be prophetically fulfilled!


Reply
Dwight
5/24/2016 12:42:43 pm

Biblical nonsense. Christ is a myth. Religion is for the weak, but hey at least they have fire insurance, bunch of bull the whole Christianity thing is for sure.

Reply
Gabriel Ansley Erb link
5/25/2016 09:35:22 am

It's not nonsense, it's just you do not understand what the stories in the Bible are about. God controlled them to be real-life parables, where the details of the stories were delivering a prophetic message! It's really quite incredible to understand, but only those who are willing to listen will do so. Are you one? Visit www.UndendeniableBiblicalProof.com to learn what the stories in the Bible are about, and MUCH more! God bless.

Reply
Larry Stone
5/25/2016 07:54:37 am

Dwight, You may not realize it, but your sentence about "Religion is for the weak" is almost quoting from the Apostle Paul: "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful" (1 Corinthians 1:27). Larry

Reply
GBA4iOS for iOS 10 link
9/23/2016 12:05:57 pm

Enjoying your comments discussion.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Larry Stone is the author of Noah: The Real Story and The Story of the Bible.

    Archives

    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All

    THE STORY
    THE FLOOD
    THE ARK
     THE ANIMALS
    THE SEARCH
    THE MOVIE
    OTHER FLOODS
    NOAH’S SECRET

    RSS Feed

This is the official website for Noah: The Real Story.  Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.