Biblical blockbuster puts Moses on big screen

Watch out, “The Ten Commandments,” and “The Prince of Egypt:” a new Exodus film adaptation set to be released this winter strives to imbue the ancient account with the vivid special effects, the heroic angst, and blockbuster-like quality that the other classic films lack.

But its lead actor, Christian Bale, who plays Moses, insisted that you can’t “‘out Heston’ Charlton Heston,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The full trailer of “Exodus: Gods and Kings” (directed by Ridley Scott) was released on Wednesday, and the biblical story’s various plagues, the sea splitting, the burning bush, and the redemption of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage all make an appearance, with cinematography reminiscent of Scott’s “The Gladiator.”

The film is set to be released on December 12.

In researching the character of Moses, Bale said: “He was a very troubled, tumultuous man and mercurial. But the biggest surprise was the nature of God. He was equally very mercurial.”

In the movie, Bale stars alongside Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver, and Aaron Paul. Bill Collage and Adam Cooper are responsible for the screen story, while Steven Zaillian, of “Schindler’s List” fame, penned the screenplay.