127 minutes, Fantasy Adventure/Action, M

What do MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and GODS OF EGYPT have in common? Not only were they both shot entirely in Australia, but off the back of FURY ROAD’s outstanding success, which will likely further strengthen at Sunday night’s Academy Awards, GODS OF EGYPT has employed over two hundred of the same cast and crew. From the writers of THE LAST WITCH HUNTER and DRACULA UNTOLD comes a story based on an Egyptian myth starring Gerard Butler and GOT’s Nicolaj Coster-Waldau (who shed down to a whopping 7% body fat for this role). In a battle of the Gods, a young and fearless mortal named Bek joins forces with the God Horus to try and bring down the reign of the merciless God of Darkness, Set who is oppressively ruling all of Egypt.

As was expected, not even two hundred plus of FURY ROAD’s staff could inject some of the awe and adrenalin that dominated MAD MAX, into the bland storytelling that is lazily opted for in GODS OF EGYPT. Needless to say, director Alex Proyas (he made that Nicolas Cage film, KNOWING, that almost everybody hated!) is certainly no George Miller either. An over-reliance on (some admittedly striking) CGI to do all the visual talking and terribly wooden dialogue and acting throughout continually sour the light-hearted nature of the film. Entertainment levels never really exceed the moderate level and hit their peak about half way through during a sequence involving some very big human-steered serpents. A fantasy-lovers affair only, GODS OF EGYPT is easy to understand for all ages and Mr Butler does make a worthy antagonist in this adventure movie that ought to satisfy the same crowd who liked THE LAST WITCH HUNTER and SEVENTH SON.

2 out of 5

GODS OF EGYPT – Film Trailer

Footnote to Parents
Does have an M rating here and contains fantasy action violence and some sexual content. The violence isn’t anything unexpected or to be concerned about for ages about 10 and up. The sexual content is some scenes of intimacy where we get very close to seeing body parts, but never do. Some parents may also wish to know that some of the costumes are a little revealing.

Moviedoc wishes to thank Claire from Entertainment One, Entertainment One and Hoyts Melbourne Central for the invite to the Melbourne Media Screening of  GODS OF EGYPT.

Review by Moviedoc
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