The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas Amazon.com

Ashira L' Adonai...There Can be Miracles if You Believe

This 1998 animated smash hit musical about the Biblical Exodus combines all the drama, authenticity of costumes and location, and emotion of the time period from whence mankind was ultimately given the Ten Commandments.
The commencement provides a view of an initially arid, serene, and timeless place whose calm is abruptly shattered by the brutality of the ancient Egyptian slave system and the anguished Israelis nearly crushed under its weight.
The voice of the late Israeli folk singer Ofra Haza takes over from the gospel choir's vocal lament of the Hebrew's plight, as the young slave mother Yocheved, who along with her older son and daughter (the latter of whom is voiced by Eden Riegel) scurry to protect their infant son and brother from legalized infancticide.
When so many women were unable to, Yocheved succeeded, placing her infant son in a basket and leaving him to float on the Nile as her daughter, Miriam struggles to follow it.Through this retelling of the story, a mother's cries over parting with her child at the dawn of time echo through the ages.
The journey in this version of the story, is not a smooth one. The basket encounters some realistic hazards of the Nile, including snapping crocodiles, hippopotami, and a fisherman's net before reaching its place of salvation, which ironically, is the royal palace, where the Pharaoh's wife (Helen Mirren) is playing with her toddler princeling at the river's edge. Young Miriam expresses relief at her brother's safety and prays for their eventual reunion and Moses' deliverance of their people from bondage.
The Queen's ascenscion of the stairs with the rescued infant in the midst of the slave's continuing toil and agony around the palace is symbolic about the occasional initial subtleness of how Man's prayers may be answered.
The Bible leaves us to guess about Moses' life as a prince of Egypt.This film paints a life of carefree recklessness for Moses( Val Kilmer) and his brother, Rameses( a serious and sometimes authoritarian Ralph Fiennes), but suggests Moses' behavior towards the opposite sex was tempered by his adoptive mother as we see in his treatment of the seized Midian girl Tzipporah( Michelle Pfeiffer), who will later have a major impact on his life.
While this screenplay takes liberties with the story, it fleshes out a realistic scenario of how Moses may have learned of his true heritage via a chance encounter with his now-grown biological siblings(Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum), and in frustration and rage over their plight, kills a taskmaster in defense of a slave.
Fleeing Egypt in devastation, he makes his way to Midian, and en route allows himself to be buried in a sandstorm in a very dramatic scene.
True to Biblical form, he saves the daughters of a bison-like Jethro (Danny Glover) from brigands, and is welcomed the Sheik of Midian's tent. Brian Stokes Mitchell's exuberant rendering of " Through Heaven's Eyes" comes into play, chronicling Moses's life among the Midianites and marriage to Tzipporah.
While searching for a lost sheep, Moses is addressed by God through the burning bush, and is told the time has come to lead Israel out of bondage.
A reluctant Moses confronts his one-time brother at the palace with Tzipporah (in actuality, his brother, Aaron)in tow, and the realistic feelings Moses may have had about seeing his brother again are featured in this scene. But Moses stays focused on his mission. When letting his staff turn to a serpent to demonstrate God's power, he is challenged by magicians Hotep and Huy ( Steve Martin and Martin Short, the film's comic relief), and defeats them. The song "Playing With the Big Boys Now" provides an education about the deities worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.
Life for the slaves becomes harder before things improve. But Miriam encourages her brother , and the long-suffering slaves are shielded from the 10 plagues through which the Egyptians will suffer before God's will is done on Israel's behalf. Huy and Hotep come across as a pair of Ancient Egyptian Amway salesmen when explaining the first plague to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh forgoes the final opportunity to free the Hebrews before the final plague is sent; its aftermath reveals Moses at his most humane, weeping for a boy to whom he might have been an uncle.
Slowly, subtly and benignly, the day of deliverance dawns.
The Exodus begins and is summed up in the reverent song, "There Can Be Miracles When You Believe" . Fear and anguish subside. Joy and dignity are abound . Children who previously cowered and hid play openly in a soul-stirring moment as the newly liberated travel over the Sinai.
An embittered Pharaoh and his army pursue the former captives. But Moses parts the sea,and a pillar of fire bars Pharaoh and his hosts from reaching them. The nighttime sojourn through the parted sea is more dramatic here than in the 1956 version of "The Ten Commandments".
Pharaoh's continued pursuit of the Israelites is to his own detriment.
While Moses' deals with emotional issues pertaining to the permanent separation from Rameses, he soon joins the Israelites in rejoicing at their defeat.
The vocal talents of Patrick Stewart as Sethi, and the singing talents of Amick Byram (Moses), Sally Dworsky ( Miriam), Donnie McClurkin, Shira Roth, et al complete this superb retelling of the ancient tale. While not completely recommendable for young children, it is a masterful and stirring work of art. A triumph from the crew of Dreamworks! November 14, 2008

Among the best animated films ever.

A classic must own film. A fantastic rendition of the story of Moses. Very moving. Appealing to an audience of all ages. Buy it today. September 27, 2008

Prince of Egypt

Brand new disk skipped on first play and has continued to do so.
Movie is good.
September 6, 2008

FELICITACIONES

Permitame enviarles mis calurosas felicitaciones de llevar al cine y en dibujos animados la vida de Moises, "EL PRINCIPE DE EGIPTO" es una manera de difundir la palabra de Dios y enseña como la fe en Dios mueve montañas.
Mi consejos es que sigan haciendo peliculas infantiles basados en capitulos de la Biblia, por ejemplo EL ARCA DE NOE, SANSON, DAVID, etc. hay muchos pasajes muy bellos que pueden ser inspiracion de productores. Favor pongan la pelicula que se escuche en Español o subtitulada en Español
Dios bendiga a los productores y actores que participaron en la pelicula. August 17, 2008

Best Animated Movie Ever

This is probably the best animated movie I have ever seen; even compared to the Disney classics such as Toy Story and Cinderella. It is by far the best movie Dreamworks has ever made. The stunning visual animation along with the beautiful soundtrack make for an amazing movie that follows very closely to the actual Biblical story of Moses. June 22, 2008

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