Exodus: Gods and Kings

John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley add support in this sometimes campy and shallow, sometimes solemn, but mostly absorbing interpretation of the story of Moses.

[Bale] a brilliant thespian. However, his Moses is a sullen and aloof man who is never compelling.

As a whole, Scott's version of this ancient tale feels oddly toothless -- neither religious or secular viewers will find much substance beyond the basics of the spectacle in play.

It's a story that has been told and retold for thousands of years, but this po-faced, dutifully spectacular retelling barely lingers in the memory beyond the end credits.

This sour Moses - whose visions come after a biff on the head - emerges as a certifiable lunatic who gets lucky with a few meteorological, geographical and zoological anomalies.

Yes, there is spectacle, although the initially promising parting of the Red Sea is almost drowned by waves of climactic silliness.

Exodus: Gods and Kings might just take the cake for being the worst biblical epic ever made in cinematic history.

Ridley Scott has directed an entertaining and competent version of a story we all know and has imbued it with the “realism” with which we sweeten today's fantastic stories of yesteryear. [Full review in Spanish]

The most essential element lacking from the production, beyond even its historically inaccurate cast, remains the film's inability to find a new or novel relevance for an audience who has heard this story countless times before.

How so many talented people came together here and just so completely whiffed on one of the most incredible stories ever written is beyond me.