Noah: 7 Biblical Films That Should Have Come Before

3. David vs. Saul

In Case You Missed Sunday SchoolDavid is most famous as the guy who killed Goliath, but he did a lot after that. He became a celebrity in Israel, which earned him the enmity of King Saul, who felt his power threatened by David. So Saul decided that David was his enemy, drove him away, and spent years hunting him. It was a long cat-and-mouse game in which David and his followers had to take risky chances to stay alive, such as pretending to serve the Philistines, one of Israel's most hated enemies. Why It Should Be a MovieThere are so many delicious twists and turns in this conflict. Saul, once a good and fair ruler, destroys himself in his pursuit of David. He massacres priests who shelter his quarry, and a small town as well. For his part, David has several chances to kill Saul, but spares him on principle. You could build a compelling narrative around David using the experience to come into his own as a leader, while Saul slowly disintegrates. And an even greater potential for drama comes from the fact that Saul's son Jonathan is David's best friend. He even helps David escape from Saul. His story, caught between two people he loves, throws another terrific wrench in the works. It all culminates in a dramatic battle that sees the deaths of both Saul and Jonathan. It's even better if the film takes the time to revisit when everyone was buddy buddy, just to torque up the tragic elements.
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Dan Schindel loves movies more than you do. He considers it an accomplishment to have survived a year and counting in Los Angeles. Someday, he'll be the greatest critic in the world. He spent a year watching a documentary every day, so now he knows everything.