Noah

I finally went and saw Noah tonight.

First off, I would like to preference two things. #1 I am by no means a movie critique AT ALL. I personally just like to watch movies and I also appreciate the art behind them. #2 I'm not too big into controversial things. I personally like to sit back and listen to peoples opinions and share my thoughts when I feel it's necessary. For the most part though, I prefer to fight about bigger things in life..... like people's needs.

With all that being said, I have oddly been intrigued by all the controversy behind the movie Noah. I remember seeing the trailer for the first time and thought, "Oh! That looks like it's going to be great! I want to see it." Then I started seeing all these post and articles about how you SHOULDN'T go see the movie Noah for blah blah blah reasons.

Well, I was a bit curious, so I started reading reviews to see what's up. Half of the articles I read were by people who hadn't even stepped foot into the movie theater to see the movie. They were mostly upset with the fact that it was directed by Darren Aronofsky who publicly confesses to being an atheist. 

After reading reviews, I was pumped and ready to see this movie. 

My official feelings about the movie? I LOVED IT!

Is it historically correct? No.

Does it follow the story precisely as it is written in the Bible? Nope.

Does it ultimately depict the message of who God is? I THINK SO!

It isn't accurate as a whole the way the story is told in the Bible, but PLEASE tell me a book that has been turned into a movie that is? They are never the same. 

Also, this movie was not created to tell a true and accurate story of Noah. No one, absolutely no one, said that was the intention of the movie. 

I will tell you somethings that were accurate though. Genesis 6:22 says, "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him." Aronofsky created his creator of Noah under this exact description. Despite doubts and confusion, the character Noah in the movie did everything the Lord commanded him to do. He was very obedient to the Lord.

Aronofsky also depicted God in a very accurate way. He gave a depiction of the world in a very low and wretched place, making God out to be justified in his decision to wipe out the earth. He also showed God to be very powerful and present through the whole process. Noah even mentioned a couple of times in the movie that God was providing all their needs. He also showed God's merciful and loving side. One part in the movie, Noah realizes that he has as much capability of wickedness as the people in the city. He even concludes that him and his family are not intended to live either. Yet, they do live, they make it out alive, showing that God is merciful to us. 

There is one part in the movie that I really liked. The king of the city is talking to God demanding that God speak with him, for he claims to be equal to God. When he does not hear from God, he decides to take matters into his own hands. He concludes that God does not choose his fate, that he chooses his own and will make sure that he makes it out alive. 

All I could think after hearing that was, "Wow, I know I have found myself thinking something very similar. Thinking that I can prevent something from happening. Thinking I can out smart God." He was so arrogant..... as am I at times. 

There is one part in the movie that literally brought tears to my eyes. Noah is telling the story of creation. Of how there was nothing..... then one voice came and brought it to life. The visual they added with this was unbelievable. I had chills and tears. All I could see was the power of God. The power he has to create something out of nothing. It was INCREDIBLE. 

Aronofsky did an excellent job portraying the reality of how horrible it must have been as people were dying. You could hear screaming as people were trying to prevent from drowning. All I could think is how much God's heart was breaking when all that was happening and I believe Aronofsky portrayed that heart break well through his characters in the movie. 

I really loved this movie. I could go into details about some of the inaccuracy but I'm not going to go there. Aronofsky definitely took some creative liberties in the movie. He filled in spaces with his own creative mind to help build a movie that is full of symbolism, creativity, and climax. He created a piece of art that would be intriguing and exciting. 

Did he have any intention of portraying who God is in this movie? I don't think so.

Is God's presence in the movie? ABSOLUTELY

Wanna know why? Because God doesn't need our help in telling His story. We don't have to have him in mind behind what we create for Him to be there. 

I was thinking about how I was making cookies with Ella one time. I could very easily had made the cookies by myself but instead I included her in the process. I did it because I wanted her to feel involved, for her to know she has purpose and meaning. I think this is how God is with us. He doesn't need us to tell his story but he wants us to help. He could do it without us perfectly, but He loves for us to be involved, he wants to show us that he has given us worth and meaning, because he HAS! 

Let's not be too quick to judge a movie just because the director has no intention of portraying God in it. God is much bigger than our intentions and He will show up if he wants to, because he CAN!

Aronofsky might not believe in God, but to be honest, I saw and felt God more in that movie than I have seen or felt through many church sermons. 

I love finding God in unlikely places.......

I. LOVE. IT!