Darren Aronofsky's retelling of the story of Noah was never going to be a straight biblical tale. We knew that after Lionsgate executives began sweating, pushing for a more religious slant and suggesting a Christian rock song for the final moments. Aronofsky - the man behind Black Swan, Pi and The Fountain - has described Noah as the least biblical, biblical story, ever and he's probably right.

NoahRussell Crowe Stars As 'Noah'

The film fails to mention God once and paints Noah - played here by Russell Crowe - as more of an environmentalist. Critics aren't completely blown away, but there's no doubt that Noah is one of the more ambitious and visually spectacular movies in recent years.

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap described the big-budget epic as "neither fish nor fowl; in no way is it a straightforward Bible tale...nor is it the sort of unfettered freak-out that fans ofBlack Swan, Pi or The Fountain would expect from its director [Aronofsky] and co-writer (with Ari Handel)."

Ty Burr of the Boston Globe calls the film "the strangest, most visionary cinematic parable yet," but reasons it's "equal parts ridiculous and magnificent."

Todd McCarthy over at the Hollywood Reporter suggested the movie is "pushing some aggressive environmentalism" adding, "Noah's ultimate sense of having failed in his mission feels off-kilter giving the overriding theme of providing the world with as does the inevitable question of with whom, exactly, Noah's heirs are supposed to repopulate the land."

Noah is on track to take somewhere in the region of $35 million this weekend, though probably won't stay on top once Captain America: The Winter Soldier is released on April 3, 2014.

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Watch the Noah featurette: