The story of Moses has been told many times, in countless different ways. Some consider the story to be one of the single most important tales in the entire Christian bible, and the story of Moses leading his people to freedom is so well known that even those outside of Christianity know the tale. The story is ingrained in our popular culture, and numerous adaptations have been made over the past century.
Ridley Scott announced that he would create his own take on the classic story with Exodus: Gods and Kings, and with the release of a new trailer, it's clear that this new film is unlike any that came before it.
It's clear that Exodus is very different from any other version of Moses' story. Most adaptations, up until this point, have portrayed Moses as a kind, gentle man; there's definitely never been a version where Moses is essentially a gladiator. The trailer is loud and violent, though not in the few places where some may expect it. The parting of the Red Sea has traditionally been shown as a non-violent escape from the armies of Egypt, not a brutal confrontation between masses of soldiers.
Since 1923, the story of Moses has been documented in film numerous times, beginning with the silent film The Ten Commandments. The role of Moses was most famously portrayed by actor Charlton Heston, who played the part on-screen in 1956. In 1998, Dreamworks released the animated musical film The Prince of Egypt, which starred Val Kilmer as Moses, and was the last film based on the story to be released prior to Exodus.
The tale of Moses is a timeless one. It's the quintessential story of a man liberating his people. The story has become a basis for so many like it in fiction, and countless films and novels have cited the Bible passages as inspiration. That being said, Exodus faces a problem unlike any other adaptation before it.
Without dropping Moses' name or showing off recognizable set pieces like the Red Sea escape, it's hard to believe that anyone would assume that the film is about the Bible. There are parts of the trailer that seem far more at home in a summer blockbuster than a retelling of Moses' escape from slavery.
The film has had other troubles to deal with as well. As soon as the film's final cast was announced, people began accusing the producers of white-washing the production. The story of Moses takes place in Egypt, and people were understandably confused when Christian Bale (English) and Joel Edgerton (Australian) were cast as the two main leads. Online petitions were formed and thousands of people complained, though no major action on the studio's part was ever taken.
It'll be interesting to see how director Ridley Scott handles such an epic. Over the past decade, Scott's track record has been wildly inconsistent, with one film releasing to universal critical acclaim and the next being panned upon release. It's easy to compare the style of Exodus to Scott's own Robin Hood, which wasn't very well-received by critics, though it's impossible to judge the final product before the film is released.
Exodus: Gods and Kings is scheduled to be released on Dec. 12.
