Russell Crowe [Photo/Agencies]

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The 49-year-old actor - who plays the titular character in the forthcoming epic - thinks people need to watch the movie before they slam it and has found viewers have appreciated how "respectful" Darren Aronofsky's adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah's Ark is.

Speaking on the US show 'Good Morning America', he said: "We've had probably over a year now of harsh criticism from a bunch of people who have put their name and stamp on an opinion that's not even based on the movie or seeing the movie, just an assumption of what it could be or how bad it could be or, you know, how wrong it could be in their eyes. Which, you know, I think quite frankly is bordering on absolute stupidity. Because now, I think, people are seeing the movie and they're realising how respectful it is and how potent it is."

Crowe is thrilled 'Noah' can spark philosophical discussions which explore issue in the world we live in.

He added: "You come out of this movie and you want to talk ... about our stewardship of the earth, our relationship to animals, what is spirituality, who am I in this world - all these fantastic subjects for conversation ... Art that can do that for people is a wonderful thing."