Movie Review - Exodus: Gods and Kings

By Sandipan Dalal

Genre: Biblical drama

Rating: ***1/2

Cast: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul

Director: Ridley Scott

Language: English



As expected, director Ridley Scott's latest epic Exodus: Gods and Kings is quite the visual spectacle. But, even though it's a good film, it could have been a great one. At two-and-a-half hours, Exodus is too long for all its visual effects driven havoc meant to make it a blockbuster.

The film begins with Moses (Christian Bale) as an accomplished general in the Egyptian army and the adoptive brother of pharaoh Ramses (Edgerton).



When Moses learns of his true heritage, it leads to a confrontation with Ramses that ends with him being forced out of Egypt, which would later see him become the leader of the enslaved Hebrews. After marrying a Jewish girl out in the desert, Moses leads his people to return to his homeland.

Scott deserves kudos for the film being masterfully shot and especially for making the scenes between Moses and an angry, vengeful God as some of the most captivating in the film. Bale gives yet another stellar performance which is both engaging and compelling. The Oscar-winning actor is such a natural on screen that you just believe him, no matter what.



The director tells a complex tale filled with enough action and spectacle, but misses the mark on the interpersonal conflict between the lead characters and the internal struggle of Moses.

Furthermore, character development is very limited, especially that of the supporting actors like Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver and Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul.



They hardly have any lines throughout the film and are easily forgettable. In the end, watch it for some of the film's breathtaking scenes.





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