Exodus: Gods and Kings

Although visually breathtaking and filled with superb moments, most of Exodus: Gods and Kings feels strained and heavy handed. Director Ridley Scott's talent for staging grand spectacle has never been more apparent. There are truly some beautiful shots sprinkled throughout this epic, seamlessly blending thousands of extras with some terrific CGI to create a wholly gigantic cinematic experience. The film is at its very best once the plagues begin, yet what becomes clear is that they are the only element treated with any sort of reverence. It feels as if the sole reason this film was greenlit was so we could see it hail in Egypt, see crocodiles go crazy and witness rivers of blood complete with dead fish. It's really nothing but a gimmick show, akin to a carnival. How else do you explain hiring actors like Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver for roles that are basically non-exixtent? Why does Bale, a superior talent to be sure, seem out of place as Moses? Why is Joel Edgerton as Ramses, the only one who seems like he belongs and the only character with any sort of depth? All lead me to conclude that nobody really cared about the character details and clearly all of the focus and energy was spent on trying to make a giant wave look as real as possible. In that and other special effect endeavors, the film succeeds quite well. Yet somebody has to explain to me what audiences are supposed to do for an 1hr 45 minutes waiting for all that to start? For there certainly isn't enough thought provoking material to last even half that time.