Review of Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) by Jay Q — 26 Sep 2015

As I write this, the "tomatometer" has this rated at 27%. I think this reveals the problem with RT's non-weighted review system. If all critics rate a movie at, say, 50%, that's a 0% in RT land, but the movie might still be worth watching. That's how I feel about Exodus; it wasn't great but was worth watching -- definitely better than 27% worth.

The movie succeeds as spectacle. Scott obviously knows how to be cinematic, and the acting is solid, occasionally great (with an underutilized Ben Kingsley). What's missing is the emotional impact. Whereas the classic Ten Commandants gets under your skin and makes you feel connected to Moses -- and I'm non-religious, so that was the result of good story-telling -- Scott's Moses feels too emotionally remote. I enjoyed watching the epic sweep past, but I just never felt emotionally connected.

I also enjoyed the confrontational and conversational relationship between Moses and God -- noticeably different from DeMille's version -- but, again, something about it just felt too detached.

So watch for the spectacle, but don't expect much emotional impact.