Director Darren Aronofsky is one of the greatest American directors working today. The Black Swan and Pi director has proven time and time again that he can create highly engaging, larger than life pictures with quality acting and great vision. He only reaffirmed his lofty position by directing the epicly good Noah.

Perhaps the most famous biblical story there is, Noah adheres to the Old Testament pretty well while taking some storytelling liberties necessary for a motion picture. Among the addition's are Noah's action-packed sequences, spiritual and supernatural shamanism and fallen angels who now resemble rock monsters.

Such changes were brought up by The Washington Post during an interview with the filmmaker. When asked, "You take some creative liberties; do you anticipate any pushback?" Aronofsky fully defended his directorial decisions.

"Where are there liberties? Find me a contradiction in there that can't be explained. Of course there's liberties, I mean, we're making a movie here. If you read the four chapters that the Noah story takes place in, Noah doesn't even speak. How are you going to cast Russell Crowe and not have him talk? Noah's wife and his sons' three wives aren't even named in the Bible."

That definitely would've made the movie very strange, though such silent openings are not unprecedented in Hollywood history. Nevertheless, the fans and critics in attendance didn't care all that much. Noah has a 6.9 rating on IMDB at the time of this writing and Rotten Tomatoes has certified it fresh.

Thus the film brought in an estimated $44 million dollars over the weekend. The films domestic distributor Paramount Pictures was, of course, ecstatic by the overwhelming success.

"It was a fantastic result," remarked Megan Colligan, president of domestic marketing and distribution. "I think the movie really surprises people and makes them want to talk about it."

Not everyone sought out the film for its religious storyline. Rather there were "lots of Aronofsky fans in major cities" that just wanted to see his handiwork back on the silver screen for the first time since "Black Swan."

A 36-year-old Santa Monica, California fan thought the movie would bomb at first. 

"At first I thought maybe we walked into the wrong movie -- it was a little cheesy of a start," Astacia Christenson told the Los Angeles Times. "But it worked out because you got into the characters, there was some good acting and the story picked up and got more interesting. The movie saved itself."

"Noah" proves that the Old Testament (and Bible as a whole) can still attract moviegoers attention. But will Hollywood dare to release another religion-charged film anytime soon? 

Watch the trailer here.

Are you a biblical scholar? If so, what did you think of the muscular Noah and his overly gorgeous brood. Additionally, did "Noah" please you or enrage you with its interpretation of the Bible? Let us know in the comments section below.