The Bible: In the Beginning [Blu-ray]

Some background: when I was perhaps 4-5 years old, in a family that was not religious in thought, word, or deed - except for some traditional commitments to Catholicism, I saw this movie but had no idea what I was looking at until I saw the scene of the king shooting an arrow into the sky (what I know now was the "creatively fleshed out but not thematically inaccurate" account of the Tower of Babel). When that arrow-shot happened, I understood it as a revolt and also perceived the scene as a jolting portrayal of the pride, hatred and foolishness fueling it. Fast-forwarding to my life as an adult, I eventually became an informal student of scripture, one who has given ear and intellect and heart to the "inspiration and inerrancy" side of biblical schools of thought. And over those years, from time-to-time the thought would bubble up, "What about that movie where the man shoots the arrow into the sky?"Now that I have finally gotten the movie, and on blu-ray, I am swept off my feet, bowled over as it were by the cinematography, sound and acting. After many years of CGI and sophisticated green-screen movies which are cutting edge, I was jaw-droppingly mystified as to how the special effects of "The Bible" could be that good way back then. The bare cinematography and sound are astounding from the outset, but it is the Noah's Ark story which floored me. Yes, you can see some of the unfocused line-of-eye-sight when "Noah" is watching animals go into the ark, but this is no worse than when Gandalf chuckles at bedside when Sam, Merry and Pippin are reunited with a recovering Frodo in Rivendell (in that scene, it appears - at least to me - that Gandalf is chuckling at a green screen). HOWEVER, returning to Noah, when he and his family are on the ark, it is astounding how real the acting is... and perhaps it is true that back then they put big name actors in the same space as animals that could kill them with a single swat or swipe. I cannot speak to that. What I can say is that the Noah's Ark story was especially impressive and pulled me entirely into the story because the realism was not just impressive for the movie's age, but for the realism actually delivered by the production.I also gave a nod to the depictions of the scattering and the innate viciousness of fallen mankind in the Tower of Bablylon story. Looking at the organized and sophisticated work on the Tower (i.e. a ziggurat), albeit due to enslavement, that devolves into terrified brawls, murder and flight, one cannot fail to notice the movie's creators' attention to detail in the background of the plains as seen from the top of the Tower - the flight and scattering of man in the throes of self-destruction. I think the movie's creators get that spot-on. As well, the internal torment of Abraham in the test of his faith through the sacrifice of his "first-born son of promise" was achingly helpful in understanding a couple things: 1) Abraham was not ignorant of child sacrifice and cults which wove such things into their practices, and 2) the trek which took Abraham and Isaac through the destroyed city - perhaps Sodom or Gomorrah, which had altars (some cults built statues of gods with outstretched arms) upon which children would have likely been placed for burning is leveling to a sensitive father in Abraham. The portrayal should make us, as Abraham was, convinced that the charges against mankind leveled by God are not without justification.Is this movie for kids? I would say not without parental guidance. The nudity is artistically and cinematically well-done, and is - quite refreshingly - almost clinical... if one knows the story. But, it is the brutality and the no-holds-barred depictions of man's depravity which might give pause to some. On the other side, there is a world of good in the characters who, despite the surrounding idolatrous cultures, remain faithful to the commands of a just Creator who has written onto their hearts - if not spoken to them by Him directly - the ultimate rule of law which says love and serve Him and others, as well.Finally, is this movie good for a Bible study? I don't think it would hurt... but, it doesn't come through as a vehicle for that. It is better suited to people who have lived long years acquainted with their Bibles, in churches committed to inerrancy and inspiration, and who have lived alongside (not withdrawn from) a world of popular entertainment. I would feel totally comfortable having some artistically- and theologically-minded people from church over for dinner, a glass of wine, and this movie.

1st original Bible Movie!!

Absolutely love this movie, recommend it to many friends. I’ve watched it for most of my life and my children and grandchildren live it. Very accurate, and very true to scripture. Yes it is old, but it is worth it.

This movie is excellent. I enjoyed watching it. I recognized Peter O'Toole, John Huston, George C. Scott, and Richard Harris in that movie. Those guys are wonderful actors I've known about until they passed away.I read the Bible since I was a girl. That special book is telling the truth. It wants readers to believe in God. I've heard about Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, and Lot and his family. I forgot a chapter about the Tower of Babel. I didn't get an information about the Tower of Babel much until I figured out what happened while I was watching the next chapter in the movie. I understood it.I would recommend this movie to believers because I found out this movie has received so many awards according to Wikipedia.

Very entertaining and enjoyable!! Love this movie!!! Watch it over and over!! Saw it when I was a child and consider it to be a classic!!

I hope the Blu-ray is good -- the DVD is an inferior transfer. * John Huston's The Bible ... In the Beginning was one of two films photographed in D-150 (the other was Patton), designed to be projected on a deeply curved screen 92 feet wide from a 70mm print. In any home theater I've ever seen it would be impossible to get the hypnotic immersion and suspension of disbelief available in either a D-150 equipped theater or in one of the other 70 mm theaters ... and suspension of disbelief is especially helpful with a film like The Bible. * The older DVD of The Bible was very substandard, but in 70mm the film had a marvelously clear "walk into it" quality. If the Blu-ray is good, sitting much closer to your screen than usual may help get some of the involvement back. This would be true with most Blu-rays made from 70 mm prints (or 65 mm original color negatives). * At the San Francisco Film Festival John Huston said he regarded the film as "a poem of a myth, like the Illiad." Most reviewers didn't get that. Religious liberals tended to object to, and were mystified by, the literalist treatment of the subject matter, and some fundamentalists didn't like the (few) liberties taken. * Certain sequences (e.g., The Creation) do constitute a visual poem, and a good one at that. Huston's portrayal of Noah was utterly charming, as was that whole sequence. * The Noah's Ark sequence was shown during Huston's appearance at the film festival. Immediately afterward, someone in the audience asked him "How could the critics so dislike this film?" Huston answered, "They really missed the boat on this one." That got a laugh.For a description of D-150, see the widescreen museum (online), page 14 of Todd-AO

Loved this movie since I was a child. I would recommend.

It brings back memories of when me and my grandma used to watch movies together on Easter when I was a kid.

Love the pictures in the videoWell made love ❤️ itLove shopping at Amazon especially what ever comes to your head that you want it appears on internet I give that what comes to my head and it appears 95% or soJust got to love Amazon ❤️ love it

Es una verdadera joya cinematográfica

Es macht einfach spaß alte Biblische Klassiker zu sehen. Und daraus auch noch zu lernen. Sofern man das will.Wenn man die Bibel zur Hand nimmt und vergleicht. Stellt man fest dass das ke für die Zukunft.in Geschichtsbuch ist, sondern ein Lehrbuch

Cadeau pour Noël

Gran película del año 1966 dirigida por J. Huston, ideal para entender El Génesis y los acontecimientos históricos que sucedieron desde la creación del ser humano hasta los tiempos de Abraham.