Exodus: Gods and Kings

Dir: Ridley Scott

2014

**

I would say that most people know the story of Moses and what he did, not everyone will know the complete story but the parting of the waves, the plagues and the Ten Commandments are known by most. This isn’t the first time Moses has been depicted in a film, indeed, it isn’t the first time he’s been depicted by an English speaking white man either but It’s Hollywood, I’m not sure the talk of white-washing etc is relevant here as this is just a big dumb epic, as big and as dumb as the genre has ever been. It’s all just a bit too ridiculous to take seriously. Ridley Scott loves an epic but I can’t say I love a Ridley Scott epic. I still, after all these years, still stick by my guns when I say Gladiator is overrated. 1492: Conquest of Paradise, Kingdom of Heaven and Robin Hood were colour-by-numbers epics and none of them were particularly popular, and yet Scott decides to try the formula once more, hoping that nobody will notice. There are many things I like about Exodus: Gods and Kings but I’m not sure they were intentional. For example, I loved that John Turturro plays Seti I. The casting couldn’t be more wrong but now I’ve seen him in the role I wouldn’t want anyone else to play him again ever. I’ve seen the film twice now and on the second viewing I still waited for him to pull out a gun and to start shouting in a thick New York accent. I loved that God was played by a petulant child because, as an atheist, I would argue that if God does exist, that is exactly what he is, based on his behaviour. I liked how Scott looked at natural causes for the miracles, such as a tsunami for the parting of the Red Sea. According to Scott, the parting of the Red Sea was inspired by a tsunami believed to have been triggered by an underwater earthquake off the Italian coast around 3000 BC. The ten plagues are also explained scientifically and in a brilliant interview just before the film came out Christian Bale (who plays Moses) stated that "I think the man was likely schizophrenic and was one of the most barbaric individuals that I ever read about in my life" and that is why he was so keen to portray him. I loved how so many people were outraged by it all, even though its all nonsense. Why weren’t people outraged by the melodramatic The Ten Commandments? Christians were actually more upset about Ridley Scott’s film than they were about 1980’s Wholly Moses! Which doesn’t make any sense – but then Wholly Moses! Is a masterpiece. For those that don’t know the story, it all starts in 1300 BC. Moses, a general and accepted member of the Egyptian royal family, prepares to attack the Hittite army with Prince Ramesses (Joel Edgerton) at the Battle of Kadesh. A High Priestess of Sekhmet (the war goddess) divines a prophecy from animal intestines, which she relates to Ramesses' father, Seti I. She tells the two men of the prophecy, in which one of Moses and Ramesses will save the other and become a leader. During the attack on the Hittites, Moses saves Ramesses' life, leaving both men troubled, as neither had much time for prophecy, especial those read from the entrails of birds. Later, Moses is sent to the city of Pithom to meet with the Viceroy Hegep, who oversees the Hebrew slaves. Upon his arrival, he encounters the slave Joshua (Aaron Paul), who is a descendant of Joseph, and Moses is appalled by the horrific conditions of the slaves. Shortly afterwards, Moses meets Nun (Ben Kingsley), Joshua’s father, who informs him of his true lineage; he is the child of Hebrew parents who was sent by his sister Miriam to be raised by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses is stunned at the revelation and leaves angrily. However, two Hebrews also overhear Nun's story and report their discovery to Hegep. Seti dies soon after Moses' return to Memphis and Ramesses becomes the new Pharaoh (Ramesses II). Hegep arrives to reveal Moses' true identity, but Ramesses is conflicted about whether to believe the story. At the urging of Queen Tuya (the criminally underused Sigourney Weaver), he interrogates the servant Miriam, who denies being Moses' sister. When Ramesses threatens to cut off Miriam's arm, Moses comes to her defense, revealing he is indeed a Hebrew. Although Tuya wants Moses to be put to death, Ramesses decides to send him into exile. Before leaving Egypt, Moses meets with his adopted mother and Miriam, who refer to him by his birth name of Moishe. Following a journey into the desert, Moses comes to Midian where he meets Zipporah (María Valverde) and her father, Jethro. Moses becomes a shepherd, marries Zipporah (in the most unconvincing romance ever seen on film) and has a son Gershom. Nine years later, Moses gets injured during a rock slide and knocks himself out. When he comes round he comes face to face with a burning bush and a boy, who serves as a manifestation of the God of Abraham. After being asked by Moses who he is, he simply says "I am". Quite the knock on the head. While recovering, Moses confesses his past to Zipporah and reveals what God has asked him to do. This drives a wedge between the couple, because Zipporah fears he will leave their family. After he arrives in Egypt, Moses reunites with Nun and Joshua, as well as meeting his brother Aaron for the first time. Moses returns to confront Ramesses, demanding the Hebrews be released from servitude. Ramesses refuses to listen, insisting that to free the slaves would be economically impossible. Upon Moses threatening Ramesses' life, Ramesses orders the death of Moses, executing random Hebrew families until he is found. Using his military skills, Moses trains the slaves in the art of war. The Hebrews start attacking the Egyptians, prompting Ramesses to raid slave villages. God's manifestation appears to Moses and explains that ten plagues will affect Egypt. All the water in the land turns to blood, and the Egyptians are further afflicted by the arrival of frogs (lice omitted in this telling) and flies. The plagues of the death of livestock, boils, hail and thunder, locusts, and darkness then affect the country. While conversing with God, Moses is horrified at learning the tenth plague will be the death of all firstborn children. The Hebrews protect themselves by covering their doors with the blood of lambs, as instructed by Moses. Ramesses is devastated over his son's death and relents, telling Moses and the Hebrews to leave. During the exodus from Egypt, the Hebrews follow Moses' original path through the desert and towards the Red Sea. Still grieving for his son, Ramesses decides to go after the Hebrews with his army. After making their way through a dangerous mountain pass, Moses and the Hebrews arrive at the edge of the sea, uncertain about what to do. Out of despair, Moses flings his sword into the sea, which begins to recede. Ramesses and his army pursue the Hebrews, but Moses stays behind to confront them. The Red Sea reverts to its normal state, drowning the majority of the Egyptians crossing the Red Sea. Moses survives and makes his way back to the Hebrews. Ramesses is revealed to have survived, but he is distraught over the destruction of his army. Moses leads the Hebrews back to Midian, where he reunites with Zipporah and Gershom. At Mount Sinai, after seeing God's displeasure at the Hebrews' construction of the Golden Calf, Moses transcribes the Ten Commandments. Years later, an elderly Moses riding with the Ark of the Covenant sees God's manifestations walking with the Hebrews through the desert, suggesting his work here is done. The parting of the waves should have been something epic, but it wasn’t, and the ten plagues were pretty disappointing also. There were plenty of pointless action scenes but no real drama. It’s another recycled/recyclable epic, all I really learned was that Joel Edgerton looks terrible without hair.