Noah: Joy Brackett

Going into this movie I was very curious. I had heard from many people it doesn't follow scripture, etc. and had also heard many strong opinions on why that is or is not OK. With that debate aside, I just went in curious of what all the talk and discussion was about overall. I was just looking forward to seeing a new movie, cinematography, beauty, and all. I will start off with why I appreciated this movie.

I appreciated this movie because it raised interest in the story of Noah and biblical stories as a whole. Whether good or bad, talk was occurring among people which caused many to want to see it and learn more. The fact that a movie with such a strong base on the Bible was even popular is incredible. I also absolutely loved and appreciated the cinematography. The creation and fall scene was brilliant and I found myself not wanting it to end. It was beautiful how they brought in contemporary nations and strife going on in the world today. The fall affects everyone and that was portrayed in a great way. I also appreciated the cinematography because it was done so well and not seen as cheesy as many "faith films" can be. Overall, I would say this movie was epic! One of my favorite things about the movie was the humanness found in Noah. I didn't appreciate it much until our discussion after which really got me thinking. Noah was not a superhero, he was a human just as we are and he had many human struggles just as we do. It allowed the audience to relate to Noah and the family while still keeping the epic theme going. It also depicted how God uses normal and imperfect people to do large things for His kingdom. Even though this is not seen in the Bible, I love the incorporation of Methusala (the oldest man in the Bible). He was the strong character throughout the movie who God really used to guide Noah and his family. He was used by God in great ways even at his old age. The last thing I enjoyed about the movie was their physical creation of the ark. The dimensions were the same and I believe it looked a lot like how the real ark looked. They didn't fantasize it and make it some beautiful, big boat, but made it in accordance to how it is described in the Bible. That brought a great truth to the story that I appreciated.

While I respect the movie maker and did enjoy this movie, there were certainly things I did not appreciate about the movie. My biggest critique of the movie is that it took away from the sovereignty of God and diminished His power in a way. It was cool to see Noah's struggle of not knowing what to do, but I believe this is an important time in history and God was very clear about his intentions and reasons for the flood. He was showing Noah grace and mercy which is why He chose to save their family. In the movie Noah was confused because God was not talking to him, but an all powerful God would surely guide him and He has the power to make sure His will is fulfilled no matter what. Also, the extra evil man on the boat was a little much for me because that was clearly out of God's plan, but I understand how it added to the intensity. From a movie point of view, I like how Noah was portrayed as human, but they writers kind of made him an unlikeable character in general. He became a man of hate and I believe God did choose a loving man who loved His creation and appreciated it. I know it is not supposed to be accurate to the Bible, but there were definitely ways they could have made Noah more likeable to allow the audience to sympathize with him more. There were definitely a few small other things I thought seemed out of place but overall the movie kept the theme of this story in place which is important. That theme is redemption. God has redeemed us and saved us from what we deserve. Although it was through hard circumstances, God still showed grace and redemption which all humans can have if they follow Christ.