Alternative Noah surpasses one million YouTube views

The artist Edward Hicks' 1846 interpretation of Noah's Ark, housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

New Zealand-born author and evangelist Ray Comfort's thirty minute 'documovie' which looks at the story of Noah and the reality of the flood has been watched over one million times on YouTube.

"Noah and the Last Days" combines conversations with people on the streets with scripture referencing the Last Days.

It asks people what they really think about the Bible, judgement and salvation, and before asking them to examine their own beliefs in detail.

In response to Darren Aronofsky's latest blockbuster, it also looks specifically at the Genesis account of Noah, and the science behind just how a worldwide flood could indeed have happened.

"When I saw that Hollywood has originally listed their version as 'fantasy' I felt compelled to produce something that would show that the story of Noah is historical fact, despite what the mockers believe," Comfort explains.

"We placed it for free on www.TheNoahMovie.com and the reaction has been extremely positive."

In less than a month, the documentary has received over 1,075,000 YouTube hits, is being aired on 14 major TV networks and has now even won a Telly Award.

Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis, which is building a full size Noah's Ark in Ohio, has labelled it "a powerful evangelistic tool", while President of Creation Today Erik Hovind found the movie both "inspiring and convicting".

"With classic Comfort and warm confrontation, my friend Ray gets to the heart of this generation's greatest need. Hollywood may have a Crowe, but the gospel has a Kiwi," adds actor Kirk Cameron, star of Growing Pains and Fireproof.

Aronofsky's controversial film has been generally well-received by the secular market – and indeed by many Christians, despite taking liberties with the Scriptural account.  It has just surpassed $300 million in the global box office, although it has slipped down the US table to the number nine spot on its fourth weekend in theatres.

With a budget of just $12 million, in comparison to Noah's $125 million, Heaven is for Real - a faith-friendly drama about a 4-year-old's vision of heaven produced by megachurch pastor Bishop TD Jakes - debuted at number two, exceeding expectations by earning a staggering $21.5 million on its opening weekend.

Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post praised the movie for its portrayal of a real, human struggle: "What could have been merely a feel-good exercise in Eschatology Life instead becomes a wholesome but also surprisingly tough-minded portrait of a man wrestling with his faith," she writes.

"It is hopeful, entertaining, inspirational and unique," says Faith Driven Consumer founder Chris Stone.

God's Not Dead – another faith movie starring Kevin Sorbo - is currently holding on to 10<sup>th place, with a total box office figure of over $48 million.

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