Gods of Egypt Blu-ray Review

By: Lynn Barker

In Gods of Egypt, two royal brothers fight over their father’s throne while young lovers are caught up in the drama. Could be the description of many films, except, in this one, the brothers are 9 foot Egyptian Gods and the lovers are the humans they live beside. Quite a different twist on a basic tale.  

Gerard Butler as the God SetCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Who Will be King?

In a fantasy Egypt where Men and Gods live side-by side, kindly god Osiris (Bryan Brown) is giving the throne to his son Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) but his angry and treacherous brother Set (Gerard Butler) brings an army and attacks the ceremony, kills Osiris, rips out Horus’s magical eyes and takes over…all for the worse. He wants all the riches of the kingdom and slave-like respect. Watching in horror are cute, good guy thief Bek (Brenton Thwaites) and his hot lady love Zaya (Courtney Eaton). They are separated in the huge, terrified crowd.

Bek grabbed by HorusCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Quest for Justice

When Set’s master builder Urshu (Rufus Sewell) takes Zaya as his slave, Bek is able to team up with the now blind, withdrawn and hiding Horus to rescue her. Horus’s power lies in his missing eyes which Set has hidden in a huge pyramid. Bek will have to go get them. He is only able to find one of the magical eyes and rescues Zaya but she is mortally shot with Urshu’s arrow. Bek returns the eye to Horus.

Bek and Zaya attend the coronation of HathorCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Can Zaya Come Back?

Horus can see well enough now with one eye although his powers are limited. He promises to bring Zaya back from the land of the dead before she crosses over permanently if Bek will go find his other eye. The duo teams up to find it together, defeat Set and get back the throne.

Set and his invading armyCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Final Adventure

Horus’s old girlfriend, the love goddess Hathor (Elodie Yung) seems an enemy as consort to Set but is really on the good guy side and, teaming up, Hathor, Bek and Horus race against time to save Zaya, regain Horus’s eye and depose Set from the throne that should belong to the way more benevolent Horus. This will involve trips to the afterlife, a meeting with god of all gods Ra (Geoffrey Rush) and some major battles. Will they succeed at any of this?

Thoth and Hathor confront SphinxCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Special Extra Features

• 2 Deleted Storyboards consist of computer-animated pre-visualization scenes with dialogue. Both are fun to watch.
• A Divine Vision: Creating a Cinematic Action Fantasy is the “making-of” featurette that includes animated storyboards, Production Design, Costume Design, etc. all presented with gorgeous artwork!
• The Producer and filmmakers were determined on doing a different Egyptian story with a new “look”, not just pyramids in the desert. Shooting against blue screen is discussed and the whole movie was shot in animated “cartoon-like” storyboards. We see real sets and CGI . All of this looks just beautiful. The actors also comment.
• Of Gods and Mortals: The Cast – presents the actors on set acting against blue screen. The filmmakers introduce each character and each actor talks about his or her character and challenges they faced filming. Very complete and fun to watch.
• Transformation: Costume, Make-Up and Hair – centers on the amazing, rich, colorful Egyptian costumes, hair and headpieces, Costume Designer and Make-up head elaborate and actors describe their “look”. Really an entertaining extra
• On Location: Shooting in Australia is more about the amazing Special Visual Effects than anything else. Australian art departments and craftspeople are shown working and actors talk about working on blue screen sets. We learn how Gods were made to look bigger than the humans beside them. Chadwick Bozeman says it was more like doing a play.  Interesting.
• The Battle for Eternity: Stunts – focuses on the many battles and fight sequences. We see actors rehearsing and training with stunt masters, on wires etc. Gerard Butler who plays Set is especially enthusiastic.  Lots of fun.
• A Window Into Another World: Visual Effects – This extra further examines the impressive worlds created in computer and the many effects companies who took on various phases of the film.  Each major effects shot is taken apart (I love the one with the two giant snakes). Well worth a watch. You’ll learn a lot!

Hathor and Beck must fight a giant snakeCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Wrapping Up

Gods of Egypt is more focused on being an eye-popping fantasy action spectacle (break out the popcorn) than a deep, dramatic story but if you missed it in theaters, the home entertainment version is very worth a rental or a buy. This Blu-ray set contains some great extras that really take apart how the unusual film was created. Gerry Butler (of 300 fame) is just hilarious and infectious in his enthusiastic commentary through most extras. The artwork alone is so beautiful that I’m enjoying seeing the extras again and again to marvel at it.  We go four stars. 

Gods of Egypt Blu-ray Rating:

Gods of Egypt Blu-rayCourtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Gods of Egypt is now available on Blu-ray & DVD!