Film review: Gods Of Egypt (12A)

I do like a film about ancient Egypt, no matter how ridiculous they can be.

The Mummy films were full of nonsensical stuff but still worked, while I didn’t mind the more recent Exodus: Gods and Kings despite it being much more serious in tone (while also keeping plenty of crazy threads).

Gods Of Egypt cranks up the crazy to the absolute maximum as it offers a vastly different take on Horus, Anubis, Ra and co.

I’ll be honest with you from the off, it’s a pretty bad film. But, in its defence, not bad as in unwatchable bad.

The basic premise of the film, directed by Alex Proyas (I, Robot), is that the Gods have decided to make Egypt their home on earth.

They are bigger than the mortals and all have powers that allow them to manifest into Iron-Man like fighting machines (I know).

The plot centres on the god of air Horus (Game of Thrones’ – Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and mortal Bek (Brenton Thwaites – Maleficent).

The pair find their paths intertwined after Horus’ coronation as King by father Osiris (Bryan Brown – Australia) is interupted by his uncle Set (Gerard Butler – London Has Fallen).

Bek must convince a downtrodden Horus to fulfil his destiny and take back the land from Set, while also trying to save his love Zaya (Courtney Eaton – Mad Max: Fury Road) from death.

The pair receive help from Ra (Geoffrey Rush) – who essentially lives in space – the goddess of love Hathor (Daredevil’s Elodie Yung) and god of wisdom Toth (Chadwick Boseman – Captain America: Civil War) along the way in what is essentially a CGI action-fest.

Gods of Egypt boasts a strong cast, but the acting is pretty wooden – despite the best efforts of the excellent Yung.

Coster-Waldau and Butler bring gravitas to the table, but both struggle to shine in what ends up being a very cheesy sci-fi offering.

Voice Verdict: 5.5/10
+ Elodie Yung impresses as Hathor
+ Embraces the sci-fi crazy
– Action scenes aren’t the best
– Acting is largely pretty wooden
– Ridiculous story that doesn’t get close to delivering

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, June 24 to Thurs, June 30)

**INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE 2D (12A)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 8pm (daily)

**INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE 3D (12A)
3.15pm (daily), 6pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

**SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2D (U)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Sat/Sun), 5.30pm (daily)

**SECRET LIFE OF PETS 3D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.10pm (Sat/Sun), 2.20pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 4.30pm (daily), 6.40pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

**CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (12A)
5.30pm (Weds/Thurs)

THE CONJURING 2 (15)
2.30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (Fri-Sun), 8.20pm (daily)

GODS OF EGYPT (12A)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.30pm (Wed), 4pm (not Sat/Sun/Wed)

ME BEFORE YOU (12A)
1.30pm (Wed), 4pm (Wed), 6.20pm (not Wed/Thurs), 8.45pm (not Mon/Wed/Thurs)

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2 2D (12A)
3.20pm (Sat/Sun)

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 3D (PG)
12.40pm (Sat/Sun)

ANGRY BIRDS 2D (U)
10am (Sun), 12.15pm (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.15am – Goosebumps 3D (PG)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Me Before You (12A)

**FREE LIST SUSPENDED

SHOWTIMES

South Holland Centre
(Fri, June 24 to Thurs, June 30)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (12A)
6.30pm (Mon), 7.30pm (Fri – in 3D)