Exodus: Gods and Kings (M)
Starring: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver
IT’S Christmas – so it’s time to break out the swords and sandals.
Enter epic director Ridley Scott, and Moses no less, in the form of Christian Bale – guess the role of Jesus was already taken.
It’s a different Moses to the one we’re used to – rather than an old man with tablets, this Moses is an angry young man with a sword.
He loves nothing better than a bit of smiting, too, does young Moses.
And if you think that’s a surprise, wait until you see God …
The dramatic foil to Moses is Joel Edgerton, as Ramses, who proves you should never trust a bald man with eyeliner. There’s a life lesson there, kids.
The plot is “biblically inspired“ and certainly it’s a big film.
The battle scenes are impressive, and the climactic journey through the parted sea is very well done indeed.
At near on three hours, it’s a bladder-buster par excellence – and frankly, it didn’t need to be that long – but rest assured, these Hittites are a hit.
– Jason Beck
