Sandy Kenyon reviews Moses epic 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- It's one of history's most enduring stories and one of Hollywood's favorite topics.

Moses has seen the big screen in all forms, from classics to animated versions. And now, we're getting a fresh take on the Exodus story, with Christian Bale in the lead role.

In this new version, entitled "Exodus: Gods and Kings," the man who frees the Jews from slavery is played by a gentile, while the Egyptian pharoh is portrayed by an Italian-American originally from Brooklyn.

The final film is just as phony as that description would suggest.

You can't blaim John Turturo for trying, and Christian Bale makes a bold bid to redefine Moses.

This isn't the traditional old man with a beard. He even has a sexy wife, played by Maria Valverde.

Joel Edgerton, who plays Moses' stepbrother and rival the Pharoah Ramses, is justly praised for his versatility. But he hails from Australia, not Egypt, and he's got little to do except glower.

While the scene early in the movie where Ramses gets rescued is exciting, that's followed by a seemingly endless hour of Moses meandering. And that caused my eyes to glaze over from boredom.

By the time God unleashes the plagues on Egypt, even the stunning visuals couldn't make me care. The less-than-spectacular parting of the Red Sea left me cold and contemplating a movie that I predict will satisfy almost nobody.