David et Goliath

This may as well be The CW's interpretation of the Bible. David fights (and kills) Goliath's shield bearer using bad Krav Maga moves and engages Goliath in a 3-1/2 minute sword-and-fist fight before climaxing with the iconic slingshotted stone, which turns out to be a godawful CG effect that looks like it belongs in Dragonball Z. I could go on for a few more paragraphs, but that should be enough to keep you away from this garbage, unless you're watching it for the same reasons you'd watch a Neil Breen film. I'm an atheist and was still somehow offended by it.

This movie was better than some of the interpretations of David and Goliath I've seen; however, it still was a far cry from the actual biblical story. I wondered if all the producers took from the narrative was the names!

Regardless, the quality of the movie was very good. High resolution, good CG, wonderful scenery, and an okay job on the costume designs. My favorite part was when Goliath came onto the scene. The guy who played him was huge and convincing as Goliath. I like the interpretation of David as a masculine man and not a pubescent boy. One of the problems I've always had with a David portrayal is that he's portrayed as young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. This David was masculine and manly. I mean, if we're going with the biblical narrative, David took out animals to protect his father's sheep. That's not a thin, skinny pale boy. Plus, David lived in warm climate and was a Jew. Chances are, he's at least tanned with dark hair.

But I digress.

All in all, I watched the movie fully aware there was a lot of creative tampering with the biblical narrative BUT I did like the action scenes.

The film does a great job of showing what could have happened in the life of King David. The introduction of Goliath is great, but looks like it was an afterthought. Most of the performances are well done, except the lead. His lines come off as read.

This film essentially begins with the prophet "Samuel" (John Knox) wandering through the desert in search of a young man who is destined to become the next King of Israel. Needless to say, after passing over all of his brothers he finds "David" (Matt Berberi) tending his father's flock and after a bit of conversation anoints him as the heir apparent to "Saul" (Rodger Halston). So far so good. Unfortunately, the film goes totally off the rails after this as Samuel now takes it upon himself to train David for an extended period of time for combat. Not only that but he also convinces 4 other young men to assist as well. To that end, the actual combat with "Goliath" (Michael Foster) is of a very short duration and--other than possibly the presence of Devin Brooke (as "Michal")--is the only thing of any interest as the rest of the film was exceedingly boring. That being said, this is one of those pictures which I cannot recommend to anybody and I have rated it according.

This lacked so many aspects of the story. David,though young, was fearless and brave, not timid as portrayed in the movie. He was not a trained Warrior like his brothers were, he was a shepherd. He did not need to be trained because God was on his side. This lscked the perspective of David and God's relationship. And so many inaccurate details through the whole movie. Sad. If this were any other movie based on a book or true story it would have to be accurate and depict the story as written, even down to the small details because that's what is expected be the viewers, author and critics. Why, when it comes to the Bible, film makers feel they have to change it to make it seem more interesting? Shame.