The Bible: In the Beginning ...
(C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
As you could imagine, 'The Bible: In the Beginning' (directed by John Huston) is a huge, elaborate, 3 hour-long religious epic that recounts the first 22 chapters of the Book of Genesis. The film begins, as it would, with the creation of the world. After a long, static, & wholly uninteresting display of dry narration mixed with a color/light/clouds show, we are introduced to Adam & Eve (Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd), who exude child-like innocence. After their fall/banishment from Eden, they are cursed by God to suffer for their disobedience, although it becomes clear that they have not been abandoned by 'him'. They have 2 sons, Cain & Abel (Richard Harris, Franco Nero). This story naturally follows Adam & Eve's. And it is a sad, jarring segment to watch; Richard Harris rivets in the small portrayal.
The next segment of the film is the also the one with the most levity: Noah's building of the Ark. John Huston (who also directed) brings a nice sense of humor to the role (though he intended Charlie Chaplin to play Noah, originally). The flood sequence is pretty great. Any animal lover will likely love this section. And I found it simply AMAZING what they were able to do with many of these wild animals (behaving harmoniously; confined to a cramped space together). Of course, if you are to believe that Noah existed & that he achieved this, then you don't mind the assumption that lions & tigers would naturally sit side by side with a zebra or giraffe and not attack them ... surrrre!!! Totally believable. Magical, even. But I digress.
Next is the somber & reverential story of Abraham & Sarah (George C. Scott, Ava Gardner) the beleaguered biblical patriarch & matriarch of the nation of Israel. Scott gives a typically compelling, if brief performance; ditto Gardner. In the Tower of Babel sequence (magnificently shot & designed), Stephen Boyd brings a scary look to match his booming voice as Nimrod - a man who let his vanity run wild. The story of Lot & the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah by the Angel of God is depicted next {and wohhh, what a scene of mayhem}. Throughout the 3 Old Testament segments of Babel, Nimrod, & Sodom/Gomorrah, we are visited by 3 angels; all of whom are played by the great Peter O'Toole. And I must also mention child actor Alberto Lucantoni, who gives real feeling to the role of Isaac. It's a demanding little role/task of a child actor, & he acquits himself mighty well.
So as you can see, I respect & enjoy quite a few things IN 'The Bible: In the Beginning'. Unfortunately, there is not nearly enough "wow" spread throughout the nearly 3 hour running to time to give it a glowing recommendation. If you are religious, then you're likely to appreciate this movie. But while there are superb actors & some magnificent set pieces in here, there is absolutely no epic scope (The Ten Commandments, this is not). There are some sequences that are so static, so dreary, & so dry that you figure that a slide show could have been shown and produced a similar effect -- that's bad. So overall, I commend the intentions of all involved and my interest was piqued several times. But the epic look & length of this film did not produce the type of greatness that's expected OF an epic.
The next segment of the film is the also the one with the most levity: Noah's building of the Ark. John Huston (who also directed) brings a nice sense of humor to the role (though he intended Charlie Chaplin to play Noah, originally). The flood sequence is pretty great. Any animal lover will likely love this section. And I found it simply AMAZING what they were able to do with many of these wild animals (behaving harmoniously; confined to a cramped space together). Of course, if you are to believe that Noah existed & that he achieved this, then you don't mind the assumption that lions & tigers would naturally sit side by side with a zebra or giraffe and not attack them ... surrrre!!! Totally believable. Magical, even. But I digress.
Next is the somber & reverential story of Abraham & Sarah (George C. Scott, Ava Gardner) the beleaguered biblical patriarch & matriarch of the nation of Israel. Scott gives a typically compelling, if brief performance; ditto Gardner. In the Tower of Babel sequence (magnificently shot & designed), Stephen Boyd brings a scary look to match his booming voice as Nimrod - a man who let his vanity run wild. The story of Lot & the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah by the Angel of God is depicted next {and wohhh, what a scene of mayhem}. Throughout the 3 Old Testament segments of Babel, Nimrod, & Sodom/Gomorrah, we are visited by 3 angels; all of whom are played by the great Peter O'Toole. And I must also mention child actor Alberto Lucantoni, who gives real feeling to the role of Isaac. It's a demanding little role/task of a child actor, & he acquits himself mighty well.
So as you can see, I respect & enjoy quite a few things IN 'The Bible: In the Beginning'. Unfortunately, there is not nearly enough "wow" spread throughout the nearly 3 hour running to time to give it a glowing recommendation. If you are religious, then you're likely to appreciate this movie. But while there are superb actors & some magnificent set pieces in here, there is absolutely no epic scope (The Ten Commandments, this is not). There are some sequences that are so static, so dreary, & so dry that you figure that a slide show could have been shown and produced a similar effect -- that's bad. So overall, I commend the intentions of all involved and my interest was piqued several times. But the epic look & length of this film did not produce the type of greatness that's expected OF an epic.