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Summary: THE BIBLE...IN THE BEGINNING
Review: Legendary director John Huston's "The Bible...In the Beginning" is something of a mixed bag. Though undeniably reverent and generally (though not totally) faithful to the original Scriptures, Huston's film is ultimately epic in scope but too often cold and unmoving. There are certainly some fine scenes, particularly in the Creation , the story of the Garden of Eden (Adam and Eve's storm-shrouded exile from Paradise is perhaps the most powerful moment in the whole film), Cain and Abel, and an especially moving interlude between Abraham and only son Isaac in the ruins of sinful Sodom. But Huston fails to make the movie emotionally appealing on a consistent basis, so that what should have been an enthralling picture is merely adequate--which, after all, is not so bad. The cast is very powerful, featuring Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, George C. Scott, Peter O'Toole, and Huston himself as an endearing Noah. If only Huston had let his performers live a little on camera, this might have rivaled The Ten Commandments. As it is, the whole is respectable but flawed, too passionless and slow-paced to match The Ten Commandment's grandeur. Even so, "The Bible" does bring the opening chapters of Scripture to life, and if this movie is not thrilling, it is nonetheless enlightening.
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Summary: BACK TO THE SOURCE
Review: New on DVD is John Huston's all star "THE BIBLE" . Not really the whole Bible, or even the first five Books of Moses, rather, this is a condensation of the first 22 chapters of the Book of Genesis. There's the Creation, the Flood, Tower of Babel, Abraham (George C. Scott) and his family problems. Huston seemed to not have his heart in the production but certainly brings to life the character of Noah, whom he plays with a comical turn. Some of the scenes are startling in their scope -- like the view from atop the Tower of Babel -- but many are not, even though there is a somewhat faithful adherence to the source material. What remains on screen, and lingers in the mind after final fade out, is the initial dysfunctional family split that has given rise to the historical conflict of the two great family lines that were promised to Abraham's seed. Is our world a bomb whose fuse was lit because Abraham doubted God? Someone recently said to me in earnest, "Why can't everyonejust quit fighting and act like Christians." While the world still exists, check out "MOHAMMAD: MESSENEGER OF GOD," "THE MIRACLE MAKER" and consider what's behind the screen. Go back to the source...
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Summary: My Review
Review: Ok, i have seen this movie twice and it annoys me when film makers or directors do not seem to spend time on research. Although it ran (as well as it could) along the events of Genisis i'm afraid the charcters or the mood is not as alive as it is in the scriptures. Hey you film makers the scriptures has a living message throughout it's pages, do you think you can make your movies as alive and living as the 'Word Of God'?.
Come on guys the Bible is older than us all and it has brought inspiration to millions throughout the centuries to both great and small, rich and poor, selfish and humble.....
Thats just my opinion.
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Summary: The Bible according to Dino De Laurentiis
Review: Read the book! Nice cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno, but, read the book! The only good scene is when Stephen Boyd confronts the Tower of Babble. This is the type of film that put good actors like Stephen Boyd, rest his soul, out of work. By the way, I must say that Stephen had nice eye shadow. That is a sad testament for a team of good filmmakers.
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Summary: a valid epic minus the silly serpent in the tree
Review: Sit back and enjoy the artistic vision of the commencement of judeo-christian culture. i like my Bible and history movies to be as accurate as possible and this one did okay. the serpent in the tree was portrayed by an ominous man hidden in the shadows of the branches which was silly. all of the "bad" characters use lots of dark make-up and jewelry made of bones in order to villify themselves. it's slow, but grand. One wishes it could go on and tell the story of jacob and joseph and moses and joshua, but i guess a movie about the whole bible might be a bit of work.
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Summary: if adam & eve were this dull, they 'd never have multiplied
Review: thank god (pun intended)that the bible characters werent really this over inflated and boring because if they were, they would have never had the energy to recreate, to be fruitful and to multiply.
the where would be?
if disney or some other company were to take their fairy tales this seriousely they be laughed off the planet.
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Summary: A star-studded, somewhat kooky dramatization of Genesis 1-22
Review: The Bible ... in the Beginning is a most interesting motion picture. Over the course of almost three hours, the people and events of the first twenty-two chapters of the Book of Genesis are brought to life by a star-studded cast of characters under the direction of John Huston (with Dino Delaurentiis as the producer). It is a strange film; at times it is very moving and communicative of the Biblical message, but at other times it becomes strangely surrealistic or downright comical. It is, with a few exceptions, a pretty faithful reenactment of the Biblical text, however, and that certainly does count for something. The film can basically be broken down into several sections: the Creation, original sin, and the first murder; Noah's flood; the tower of Babel; and the life of Abraham.
The creation of the world is given a slow and sonorous treatment that tends to drag just a little bit. Then we have the creation of Adam and Eve (although there's no mention of the whole rib business). I found it somewhat strange to see Eve drawn to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil almost immediately - the serpent's job was made quite easy, and I must say I rather liked the manner in which the serpent was represented here. The ejection of Adam and Eve from the Garden is pretty powerful stuff, as is the later murder of Abel by his jealous brother Cain (played by a young Richard Harris).
Then comes the story of Noah and the Great Flood, which has to be my favorite part of the movie. John Huston himself plays Noah, and it is a remarkable performance that oscillates between seriousness and downright goofiness. The Ark is impressive and truly communicates the immense size of the thing, and one cannot but get a big kick out of seeing all the animals trot in two by two (including lions, tigers, polar bears, elephants, penguins, etc.). I also thought the Tower of Babel was presented in an impressive fashion, and the sight of Nimrod climbing to the top in order to shoot an arrow up into the heavens was a nice touch that more than earned God's anger and resulted in the dispersal of different languages among the people.
I have mixed feelings over the action surrounding Abraham. George C. Scott is one of the greatest actors to ever live, but I'm just not sure he was a good choice to play the Hebrew patriarch. Ava Gardner also did not thrill me with her performance as Sarah, who came off as a cold and rather unbecoming figure. Her first scene is apparently supposed to show the love she and Abraham share with one another, but the whole episode makes Sarah seem wanton and made me feel pretty darn icky long before it was over. Of course, Sarah's wish to have her servant Hagar bear Abraham the child she could not give him has always hurt my opinion of the couple, a feeling only exacerbated by Abraham's abandonment of Hagar and Ishmael after God delivers on His promise that the elderly, barren Sarah would bear a son to be named Isaac. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is of course interesting, and Huston certainly made the point about Sodom being a den of pure evil as the angels of the Lord enter to save Lot and his family (including his wife who would pay for disobeying God's order not to look back as the family is fleeing).
The film ends with Abraham's almost-sacrifice of his beloved son Isaac. Abraham totally wigs out a couple of times, especially as he and Isaac make their way through the ruins of Sodom, but the reaction is understandable. This was the hardest test God could have given to Abraham, and the man's faith cannot be questioned by God or man as the film's credits begin to roll.
This film really isn't that well-known these days, and I think it does have some weaknesses. Ironically, the humor that works its way into the story of Noah makes an otherwise long, dry film much more bearable, however. No other film I know of sets out to do what this film does, however, and that makes it more than worth one's time. I don't think it will necessarily help to convert unbelievers, but those of Christian or Jewish faith may well benefit from this recreation of the earliest stories recorded in the Bible and Torah.
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Summary: Dull, Dark, and Dank
Review: The Book is definitely better than the movie. The motion picture is a ponderous, sometimes goofy, piece of garbage that tends to trivialize the Biblical story. For example, King Nimrod's eye liner is really too much. The lighting is very uneven. The picture practically goes black in spots. Save your money and read the Bible instead. You will get more out of it.
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Summary: The Bible with Passion!!!
Review: There have been former reviews of this film, which have weighed in on the pro or con, but aside from all that hoopla, this is the DEFINITIVE movie by John Huston. As not only the director, but the one who portrays "Noah," my family and I found this to be very close to the first 22 chapters of Genesis, which the film is adapted from. Huston is a phenomenal Noah, and you can actually believe that the period before, during, and after the Flood occurred in this fashion. He is remarkable as the Patriarch who's in love with the animals which the Lord God brings his way and preserves - two-by-two - in order to replenish the Earth after the Flood. Aside from Noah, probably the most engrossing of them all is Abraham's depiction by George C. Scott, and at times, Scott played Abraham with a heavy hand, and the scene before he is asked to sacrifice Isaac was a bit much, with Scott carrying on very melodramatically. But overall, it was still worth the price for the film. Do yourself a favor and get this film. Don't take this reviewer's word for it, although I think my word is pretty good, but be the judge for yourself, and while you're watching the film, crack open the Bible and follow along. You'll find it not only instructional, but enjoyable as well. And it may give you a new passion for what's taking place before your eyes. Highly recommended!!!
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Summary: visually beautiful, but it fizzles...
Review: This film is entertaining on many levels, and if you appreciate good art direction, you'll enjoy this film.
The cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno, and the classical score by Toshiro Mayuzumi are also superb.
Outstanding are the first 15 minutes, with director Huston narrating a mix of verses from Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 (KJV), and I have a special fondness for the sprawling "Tree of Knowledge", with its strange looking white leaves. Other favorite sections:
The great Richard Harris, fabulous in a highly choreographed telling of the Cain and Abel story.
The animals going into Noah's Ark, with its wonderful music, is a delight for kids of all ages.
The Tower of Babel, as an awesome ziggurat, with Stephen Boyd looking simply stunning in exotic makeup.
Peter O'Toole as the Angel, always a fascinating actor, and even in a small part, a scene stealer. Yes, it's abysmally slow in parts, especially in the final Abraham section, which could have used some serious editing. A half an hour could easily have been cut from this portion, and also, this is where most of the stilted dialogue can be found...but nevertheless, even though it dwindles as the film progresses, this telling of the first 22 chapters of Genesis is one I've seen numerous times, and am sure to view again.
My tape is unfortunately, on the dark side, but still a visual treat at its best.
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