There has been a lot of buzz about the upcoming Darren Aronofsky’s film “Noah” starring Russell Crowe. How can Hollywood take less than a chapter of scripture and turn it into a blockbuster movie? Can they make a bible based movie without Hollywood corruption? That is the $200 million (at least) question.
The 2:25 trailer, which is close to 30 seconds shorter than a preview that leaked last month, hints that Noah’s internal turmoil at following through and building the ark and his community’s response to his boat and prophecy will drive most of the movie’s tension.
At the start of a trailer, Noah (Russell Crowe) wakes from a dream to inform his wife (Jennifer Connelly) that God “is going to destroy the world.” Later in the preview, Ila, Noah’s daughter, is shown confiding in her father about her fears of the flood (Emma Watson).
Earlier Genesis stories are also alluded to through imagery of an outstretched hand picking an apple and (presumably) Cain murdering his brother Abel.
It appears that Russell Crowe will have to defend the Ark from a military attack. The trailer seems to suggest that God is the defender.
Previous attempts at telling the story of the flood have done something similar. It should be pointed out though, that the bible tells us that Noah preached of the impending judgement, but few would listen. In fact, only Noah, his three sons and their wives peacefully boarded the ark. But that does not make a very good blockbuster movie.
The trailer also gives viewers a first taste of the scope of special and digital effects used in the film from the hundreds of animals seen walking, flying and slithering towards the ark to asteroids hitting the planet to the sheer volume of water in the latter half of the trailer.
The digital effects were reportedly largely responsible for driving up the cost of the film that surpassed its original $150 million budget and created tension between the Paramount and Aronofsky, the film’s director, who were not aligned on who would bear responsibility for the film’s final edits, as alleged by The Hollywood Reporter.
It is doubtful that we will see the gospel presented with any clarity or that the true nature of why the Lord was forced to flood the earth. But one can hope.
“Noah” will open in theaters on March 28, 2014.
Think I might just stick with the version I read about in the greatest production EVER!
The B I B L E !!!!