GODS OF EGYPT
Australia/US, 2016, 127 Minutes, Colour.
Nikolaj Coster- Waldau, Gerard Butler, Brenton Thwaites, Rufus Sewel, Geoffrey Rush, Elodi Yung, Bryan Brown, Rachael Blake, Courtney Eaton, Chadwick Boseman, Felix Williamson, Robyn Nevin, Bruce Spence, Tiriel Mora.
Directed by Alex Proyas.
Big, Blooming, Brash, Blustering. Somebody remarked that this is really a popcorn fantasy for the Multiplex audience. And why not?
If you are a serious student of ancient Egypt, give this one a miss.you might get confused as to the history of the gods.Or, perhaps, you might just put it on hold, waiting for a time of relaxation and an alternative view of what those gods were up to in pre-history times.
Back in the 50s, when Cinemascope was introduced, this kind of film was very popular, even a big budget one like The Egyptian.Then, in the 1960s and 70s, there were adventure films, fantasies about Sinbad and other heroes, taking us back into our fantasy past, conflicts and loves, with special effects by the expert, Ray Harryhausen. One of the peaks of this kind of film was the 1980s, clash of the Titans, even starring Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith.
In more recent times, the Titans have come back with both a Clash and a Wrath. There have been several Hercules films lately and another about the gods, The Immortals. So, there is a tradition for this kind of entertainment, this Time brash, big-budget, an enormous range of special effects and, through CGI, seeming cast of millions. The director is Australian Alex prey us and most of the film was made in Fox Studios in Sydney, with additional work in Canada. Prizes best known for his science fiction film, dark city Dark City, 1998.
We might remember the names of the gods from study of the movies, O Cyrus, Set, Chorus, Rather. They are all here.
Back in those days, it seems that the gods lived amongst mortals, mortals being ordinary height and the gods much taller – which takes a little getting used to. At the opening, the benign King of Cyrus (Brian Brown polishing up his Aussie accent to make it sound a little more British) is about to Crown his rather irresponsible son, Horus (Nikolaj Coster- Waldau, a solid import from Game Of Thrones). In the presence of those CGI millions, who should arrive but the bad God-ruler, Set (Gerard Butler remembered from 300, having decided to keep his Scottish accent and all), seemingly friendly, his up to no good and soon takes over, killing his brother, exciting his nephew, subjugating all the mortals who become the equivalent of the Hebrews in later times, building Pyramids and monuments in slavery.
But the story is told by human in his old age, Bek. Young, he is played by Brenton Thwaites, an enthusiastic young mortal in love with Zaya (Courtney Eaton) who teams up with Horus, the god not above exploiting the human, the human with a sense of adventure, especially when his loved one is killed and is on a journey to the afterlife and has a quest to save her before she reaches the final gate.
Also on hand, later, is the grandfather God, Rather, played unexpectedly by Geoffrey rush who has an extraordinary apotheosis scene towards the end.
This means that there are all kinds of adventures, battles, betrayals, deaths and, of course, a huge and lengthy confrontation between Horus and set, especially involving an enormous Tower which puts, height wise, the Tower of Babel into insignificance.
This is the kind of film that used to be described as Saturday matinee material, all kinds of adventures in cliffhangers, not a great deal put into depth of characterisation. Rather hear other heroes and villains, here are the situations, here are the battles – and goodwill triumph over evil.
1. Audience enjoyment of popular methodologies? Ancient history? The history of Egypt? Audience familiarity, stories of the gods?
2. The elaborate sets, spectacle, costumes and decor? Lavish aspects? Action sequences, special effects? Musical score?
3. The voice-over and the history of the gods, the narrative, the gods taller than mortals, the role of the mortals? The two kingdoms? Peace between the kingdoms?
4. The coronation of Horus, Osiris standing down, his wife, the court? Horus, the son, lacks, irresponsible? The challenge of being crowned? Pomp, the crowds of people present, acclaim?
5. Bek, his age, ordinary young man, in the crowd, experiences, using his wits, Zaya, present at the coronation?
6. The arrival of Set, imposing, with his brother, speeches, turning on Osiris, killing him? Fighting with Horus? Taking control, the lengths he went to maintain control?
7. Horus exiled, in the desert, the encounter with Bek, his help, deal, the adventures, the betrayal? The death of Zaya
8. Set, the goddess, as wife to Horus, her relationship with Set?
9. Ra, the grandfather, the wisdom figure, his sons, his grandson, his appearance, his words, bequest, destruction, his apotheosis?
10. In the city, Set, the role of the builder, his pride, his betrayals, the tall tower, the mortals and their slavery in building?
11. The members of the court, the attendants, advisers, supervisors?
12. Bek and Horus in the desert, the journey, the quest, finding Ra, the underworld, the judgements, the various steps, the final gate, the rescue of Zaya?
13. Horus, his return to the city, the buildup to the confrontation with Set, climbing the tall tower, the death of the builder, the collapse of
the tower?
14. Horus, the confrontation, the battle, the seeming to feet, Bek and his help?
15. The death of Set, order restored, Horus taking responsibility, the friendship with Bek – and Bek recounting the story in the voice-over?
