GODS OF EGYPT

Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless
Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler
Strengths: Original premise    
Weakness: Lack of casting diversity, Low-grade CGI
Runtime: 127 minutes
Rating: 0.5/5

Plot: Mortal hero Bek teams with the god Horus in an alliance against Set, the merciless god of darkness who has usurped Egypt's throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict.

Review: The premise of the film is based on an alternate timeline where the gods of Egypt lived among the mortals. Good-but-arrogant Horus is supposed to take over the Head God position from his father, but his coronation is interrupted by his evil uncle Set, God of Darkness, who fights him for control. Set eventually wins the fight and rips out Horus's eyes, stripping him of his god powers. 

A year later, a mortal thief named Bek steals one of the eyes that Set was keeping in a vault, takes his girlfriend Zaya, and goes off to see the exiled Horus. However, she gets killed as they are fleeing. Bek returns the eye to Horus, giving him some of his power back, and strikes a deal: he'll do what he can to help Horus if he brings Zaya back from the dead. He agrees, and the unlikely duo set off on an adventure.

It's a true bittersweet moment that we may never see another movie like Gods of Egypt. A premise like this has never been done, and after this, no one will ever make a movie like this again. Let's start with the CGI, something that movies like these banks on heavily. In this day and age, we are used to special effects that feel real enough to duck our heads when a truck is thrown. The best way to describe the effects here would be nostalgic; in that you have seen effects like this in 80s television shows. Second is the casting. Unrealistic would be the best way to describe the choice. A white-only cast doesn't exactly scream Egyptian in any way. Finally, the premise of the film doesn't really add up to the finished product. If it had been done right, this could have been the start of a new franchise. However, this is film turned out to be more like a leftover special; borrowing elements from movies like Thor, Aladdin, and 300.

Consider it a consumer advice but if you are planning on watching this film, I implore you to do more productive things like going for a walk, cleaning your room, studying for an exam. Anything, as long as you don't have to watch this. 

Reviewed by Intisab Shahriyar