Introduction
Gods Of Egypt is a 2016 mythological action-adventure film directed by Alex Proyas The film features cast members such ass Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler, Brenton Thwaites, and Elodie Yung, and is set in an ancient Egypt inspired world. Proyas is a director known for visually focused works like The Crow and Dark City. This film attempts to create a world that blends mortals and gods. It is full of betrayal, love, and heroism. The film, like many of Proyas’ works, heavily relies on CGI and visuals for world-building.
The film is ambitious in scope as it leans into fantasy. It is rich in imagination for sure as it blends science fantasy and mythology. It sure is a unique addition to the genre. However, the mythology and fantasy is met with controversy, primality for the casting choices.
Plot Summary
Gods of Egypt depicts Bek, a young mortal thief, as the protagonist who is later joined by Horus, the god of the sky. Together, the two work on a plan to take down Set, the god of darkness and chaos, and try to get the kingdom of Egypt back.
In the beginning of the movie, the kind god Osiris governs Egypt and plans to give his throne to his son Horus. During the coronation ceremony, Osiris is killed by his envious brother Set, who takes the throne for himself. Set brutally defeats Horus, tearing out his eyes, which are the symbols of his divine power, and casting him into exile. Set then enacts a tyrannical reign, enslaving mortals and waging war on other gods.
One of the mortals, Bek, is clever and fearless, and does not approve of Set’s reign. Bek, out of love for his girlfriend Zaya, steals one of Horus’s eyes from a well-guarded temple with the hopes of Horus regaining his strength and battling Set. Sadly, Zaya dies during the temple escape, which leads Bek to make a bargain with Horus: with the promise of resurrecting Zaya, Bek will help Horus regain his powers and locate Set.
The two very different characters embark on a dangerous journey through deserts and rivers, even into the stars. They encounter magical traps, monsters from the gods, and face moral conflicts, all while forging a supernatural friendship. This friendship explains the bond between a mortal and a diety. Along the journey, the two gods receive help from other gods like Thoth, the god of wisdom, and Hathor, the goddess of love and consort of Horus.
Near the climax of the film, Set reveals the full extent of his plan as he tries to absorb the powers of other gods to become immortal. With the climax defeating Set alongside Horus regaining his godly powers, the two duel Set, bringing back peace and balance in the process. In the wake of Zaya’s death, Horus begs Ra, the sun god, silently praising Bek’s bravery, thus rewarding the mortals for their role provided in saving Egypt.
The final scenes showcase Horus promising Bek a seat as his advisor while vowing to rule Egypt fairly and justly.
Key Characters and Roles
Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
Horus, the god of the sky, starts the movie as a brash and arrogant prince, and he follows a typical hero’s journey arc. While he brings some charm and charisma to the role, his performance, like many others in the film, suffers from stilted dialogue and the film’s heavy reliance on CGI to tell the story.
Bek (Brenton Thwaites)
Bek the human protagonist, brings courage and cleverness to the story. Brenton Thwaites breathes some energy and sincerity to the role which helps to frame the deeply divine tale in human emotion. His character’s love for Zaya, portrayed by Courtney Eaton, provides the film’s emotional anchor.
Set (Gerard Butler)
Set, the main antagonist, a god consumed by the desire to attain power and immortality. Butler’s forceful and dramatic take on the character, while not as well received, did bring to the film some of his shades of King Leonidas from 300. While captivating, his Scottish accent did not blend well with the film’s Egyptian setting, which the critics noted.
Zaya (Courtney Eaton)
Zaya is Bek’s love interest and moral compass. Although her role is relatively limited, she plays a crucial role in inspiring Bek’s quest and embodies the story’s theme of eternal love.
Hathor (Elodie Yung)
As the goddess of love, Hathor struggles because of her history with Horus and her mandatory partnership with Set. Yung’s performance bestows elegance and fragility and balances the film’s action-laden sequences.
Thoth (Chadwick Boseman)
The god of wisdom, Thoth, comes off with quirky pomp. Boseman enriches the dull narrative with humor and depth, and that’s not easy considering how one-dimensional the storyline is.
Visual Style and Effects
Gods of Egypt is, in an overwhelming manner, both visually ambitious and striving for spectacle. CGI is put to work in the construction of environments, including the towering temples, golden pyramids, expansive deserts, and floating celestial bodies. The deities transform into colossal figures and occasionally shift into their metallic battle forms which are adorned with animals.
Imaginative as the visuals are, their lack of grounded tactile realism resulted in criticism. The film’s heavy reliance on CGI made it feel more like a video game than a grand cinematic film.
Nonetheless, the film has been praised for its originality in world-building. The battle of Ra against a colossal spaceworm that threatens to consume the world is a blend of ancient myth with blockbuster science fiction that is rarely found in Hollywood.
Motifs and Topics
Divine Power and Human Agency
The film explores the conflict between gods and human beings as one of its main themes. Gods have physical power, while mortals exhibit moral power and emotional strength. Bek’s human heroism is portrayed as being on par—if not greater—with godly attributes.
Love and Sacrifice
Love is shown as transcending even the power of death. The devotion that Beck displays for Zaya and the sacrifices that Hathor makes for Horus shows that even the most powerful entities can be influenced by strong emotional connections.
Balance and Order
Set’s power-driven obsession creates an imbalance in the cosmos. His defeat is what restores harmony. The film touches upon the idea of Ma’at, the Egyptian myth of truth, balance, and order, but does so in a way that is easy to follow for an action movie.
Controversy and Reception
Gods of Egypt was released amidst criticisms of whitewashing, as most of the main cast was Caucasian while the film was based on an African myth. This casting decision resulted in public outrage and led to apologies from the director and studio. The backlash became the film’s most significant marketing narrative.
The film received criticism for the dialogue, excessive CGI, and predictable story. Still, some people enjoyed the unapologetic embrace of camp and fantasy. Even with a budget of $140 million, the film performed poorly at the box office, only earning $150 million worldwide.
Conclusion
Gods of Egypt attempts to be colorful and mythologically daring. Although the visuals and certain casting choices can be overdone, the film has a distinct blend of ancient mythology and modern fantasy.
Gods of Egypt is tailored to fans of epic storytelling, enormous battles between gods, and epic adventures on a cosmic scale. Even though the film is full of flaws, it stands as an entertaining entry into the fantasy genre. Although the film is remembered for its complicated legacy, it is still an imaginative and visually captivating story reflecting the modern excess of myth-making in cinema.
Watch Free Movies on Sflix