A FILM ON NOAH based on an ongoing graphic novel series is in the works, according to Movies.com: Just How Much of a Fantasy is Aronofsky's 'Noah'?
The author of the piece, one Peter Hall, seems to think that Darren Aronofsky is making up everything that is not in the canonical story in Genesis. It's more complicated than that, as anyone who is familiar with the Book of 1 Enoch, the Genesis Apocryphon, and the Book of Giants will realize. Hall evidently is not, so he does not realize that the Watchers come from the ancient non-canonical traditions. Perhaps Noah's consultation with Methuselah is also inspired by Methuselah's visit to Enoch at the ends of the earth in the ancient texts and Noah's dreams may be likewise inspired by the dreams of the giants. Hall also does not understand the distinction between Watchers (fallen angels) and giants (their offspring with mortal women).
True, Aronofsky seems to have made some of the story up; e.g., Noah as a "Mad Max" figure; the drought; Noah's attempt to recruit the giants; and six arms on the Watchers. But why retell this good of a story without making some more stuff up for it?
The casting of Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah just seems inspired to me. I'm looking forward to the movie.
And how could I not bring up Bill Cosby's Noah again in this post?
(HT Michael A. Lyons via my colleague William Tooman.)
