Noah

After years of development, director Darren Aronofsky's take on the Biblical story of Noah has finally set sail.

The basics of the story are the same. God (referred to as "The Creator" in the story) plans to flood the World to get rid of the bad people ruining it. Noah (Russell Crowe) is told by God to build a big Ark to save the world's animals from the storm to come. Storm comes and Noah, his family and the critters ride it out. New World.

Here's a bit of what Aronofsky put in. Fallen Angels called Watchers who've become Giant Rock Monsters. An evil King named Tubal-Cain (Ray Winstone) who stows away on the Ark. And Noah, who's become convinced that not even his family is supposed to live past the Flood.

It's not an easy film to evaluate. It's a good looking film thanks to ILM and cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Its flashbacks to the time of Eden are colorful, while the approaching flood is appropriately scary. Inside the Ark, Tubal-Cain's inconsiderateness is the scariest thing. He eats an animal or two, the last animals on Earth. Whole generations of animals are ruined. The confines of the Ark lends gravity to the situation.

Anyone expecting a "light" Bible story should look elsewhere. The film's 138 minute run-time is seriousness upon seriousness. And it was a bit overwhelming when all was said and done. So much so that if you're greeted upon leaving the theater with an actual rainstorm, as I was, you'd have cause for concern. Or not.

In the end, Noah is about our hero learning that there is good in Man. So the seriousness of it all is a bit warranted. It's only in Flatscreen here, though some countries have a 3D version just for them. Be prepared for how unconventional this take on the story gets.