I came across a review of Noah that makes some interesting claims about kabbalistic themes in the film. I haven't seen the film and know little about kabbalah, and I'm wondering whether what the reviewer says about those themes holds water. Specifically the parts about the creator being a lesser divine being (dualism) and the snake being wisdom (and right) -- really? Or is the author conflating kabbalah and gnosticism?

Note that the reviewer is a Christian and probably has an agenda.

I'm not sure if this is suitable as a question on main (feels broad and vague, partly because my background here is so weak), but if folks think it's better there I'm willing to ask it.

@MonicaCellio Is the christian view of Noah actually different from the Jewish view?

@Chad I don't know enough about the Christian view to say. He doesn't talk a lot about that here; I only mentioned it because his perspective could color how he reads and talks about, or how accurately he understands, kabbalah, since he probably has even less of a foundation for understanding it than I do (and I have very little).

Are questions about Kabbalah on topic here?

Yes they are.

(I'd ask it, but I don't know if I can formulate it well enough.)

Yeah I dont know it felt Noah was a screenwriters take on what the story would have been had you asked JRR Tolkien to rewrite it for his world. Rather than an attempt to do what Discovery did with its The Bible series

This often happens with mass-market films. They're trying to tell a good disaster story, which is enhanced by special effects and violence; fidelity to the biblical source is generally not a priority. (Again, I haven't seen this particular movie yet; I'll probably wait until it hits Nefflix in a few months.)

@MonicaCellio But they were trying to cash in on the same success that Discovery had when it stayed fairly true to the Bible. Its an incredible story without making it extra fantastic. I was really hoping it would be something more like the 10 commandments that was respectful of the religious aspect while still being entertaining.

@Chad it's certainly possible to make a good, engaging movie that sticks to the biblical source. For whatever reason, Hollywood tends not to do that -- so I'm pleasantly surprised when it happens but not shocked when it doesn't.

@MonicaCellio agreed