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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Don’t expect a literal adaptation of the ‘Noah’ story

Dan Webster

It's a simple description: "A man is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission of rescue before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world." Only thing is, the man is called Noah. And the story that filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is telling comes from the Bible (specifically the Old Testament, Genesis 5:32-10:1).

But let's be clear: Aronofsky isn't telling a literal Bible story. In fact, his movie — which opens wide on Friday — even carries a disclaimer: "The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis."

Aronofsky's "artistic license" clearly will prove upsetting to some people, especially those who were so taken with Mel Gibson's 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ." But it isn't impressing some critics either.

The guy does make interesting movies, from "Pi" to "Requiem" for a Dream" to "The Wrestler" to "Black Swan." His version of "Noah" should prove no different. Question is, will it be satisfying?

Here's hoping the answer will have us, uh … floating on air?