EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS is a flawed but worthwhile attempt to bring the story of Moses to the screen. Its magnificent battle scenes and spectacular special effects are genuinely thrilling, and the movie keeps its violence from becoming gory or bloody. Most importantly, God remains the hero, and Moses’ journey from unbelief to service gives the story a strong moral center.

The weaknesses are substantial. The movie rushes through biblical events, offers mediocre character development, and often fails to set up its dramatic moments. Its treatment of the supernatural is also confusing, particularly in the presentation of God’s messenger as a young boy. The film’s theology is weak, even though it can be interpreted in a positive and orthodox way.

If you want a visually impressive introduction to the Exodus story and are willing to discuss its shortcomings afterward, older children and adults can take the trip. Younger children may be better served by reading the biblical account or watching a stronger adaptation.

Moses and Ramses grow up as adoptive brothers in the Egyptian royal household. When Moses learns that he is actually Hebrew, a violent encounter leads Ramses to banish him into the desert.

Moses survives, marries Jethro’s daughter, Zipporah, and begins a new life. Nine years later, he encounters a messenger of God at a burning bush and is sent back to Egypt to rescue the Hebrews from slavery. There he must face Ramses, the empire, and a calling he once rejected.

Three stars means this is an entertaining but uneven film. Ridley Scott delivers magnificent battle scenes, spectacular special effects, and plenty of action adventure. The movie is gloriously junky in places, and its large-scale sequences can be thrilling.

But the drama never matches the spectacle. Biblical events are compressed, sometimes into meaninglessness, while the movie provides too little setup for its major moments. The main characters lack depth and proper arcs, making the film tedious instead of emotionally satisfying. Some scenes are goofy or strange, and the story’s dramatic structure is clunky and clumsy.

The film has a strong God-centered and moral foundation. God is the real hero, using Moses to set His people free, while Moses moves from unbelief toward becoming a servant of God. The false god of Egypt is renounced, and the story retains its central longing for liberation from slavery.

Still, EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS avoids much of the richness of the biblical story. The plagues appear with little dramatic preparation, and major events such as the giving of the Ten Commandments and the golden calf are compressed. The messenger of God is presented as a young boy who may be an angel, a visible manifestation of God, or a young Jesus. That representation is confusing, but the source review notes that it is not necessarily theologically aberrant. The movie can be interpreted positively, though viewers may find its supernatural presentation puzzling.

The film’s central message remains an opportunity to consider how God sets people free. Scripture says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS is a spectacular but spotty Biblical epic. Its battles thrill, its central message points toward God’s saving power, and its weaknesses invite a helpful conversation with Scripture. For older children and adults who can use discernment, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP.