There is no doubt in the movie that God is the creator of the universe and of man. Noah (Russell Crowe) even presents the story of creation to his family and this was nice to see in the film. Crowe does a credible job playing Noah although the plot does steer off in some unusual directions, including an evil warrior, Tubal-cain (Ray Winstone), making it on the ark with a plot to kill Noah. Noah misinterprets God’s plan after the flood, and believes that no-one, including Noah and his family, deserve to live. He carries this out to a nearly disastrous result. (Earlier in the movie, Noah said that the flood would not be the end of life but be a beginning). Fortunately the situation ends well. There are many instances of artistic license such as Noah’s own sons attempting to kill him. It was generally disappointing that Mr. Aronofsky steered so far from the Biblical account of the story.
This movie is not “anti-Biblical”, but it is “extra-biblical” to a fault. It concentrates more on the flawed character of Noah than on the Biblical account of the building of the ark and the flood. One of the most unsettling scenes involves angels called “Watchers” who came to earth wanting to help Adam and Eve after the fall but were encrusted in rock so that they would remain on earth. In this movie they help Noah build the ark. During a battle between the evil men and Noah’s family these creatures appear to rise up to heaven!
The intense violence and men’s magic in the place of God’s power keep us from awarding Noah the Dove “Family-Approved” Seal.