Movie Review: The Prince of Egypt
"The Prince of Egypt" is not only my favorite animated film, it's one of my all-time favorite movies. Why do I love it? Here are some of my many reasons:
- the creators took great pains to stay true to the Exodus story. While some parts were added (and a few minor things changed), they didn't deviate in any way that would alter the truth of the story. The end result was an entertaining movie that showed great respect for Jewish and Christian history.
- while Moses is clearly the hero of the story, it is also very clear that he was not acting alone. God is given due credit, and it is obvious that He is the miracle worker, while Moses is just a tool.
- the human-ness of Moses and Rameses. They are close brothers reluctantly thrown on opposite sides of a major struggle. They both want to work it out together, yet they both understand that there can be no compromise on either side.
- the bits of humor. When we saw this in the theater, Didder and I burst into giggles at the story of Moses and Rameses switching the heads of the idols in the temple. (we used to switch the Baby Jesuses in our mom's nativity sets, although thankfully she never thought it was a sign from above)
- Miriam. I love the faith she shows, especially when they're facing the Red Sea. Everybody else looks scared, but Miriam has a look that says, "Cool - I can't wait to see God get us out of this mess."
- Tzipporah. She's strong, and yet she'll follow her husband and take her place at his side.
- Aaron. He doesn't have Miriam's faith, and he doesn't see Moses as the deliverer. And yet when it's time to cross the Sea, he's the one who steps forward (my absolute favorite part!)
- all the little touches of dialogue and artistry. Rameses foretelling that there will be a loud cry rising out of Egypt, not realizing that it will be the Egyptians crying, not the Hebrews. The little girl clasping the elderly woman's hand as the Hebrews are leaving, and the woman taking the girl's hand again as they cross the Red Sea. The look on Moses's mother's face when he humiliates Tzipporah. The picture of the water turning to blood. The way they depict the plagues and the Passover - real, but not scary. And the parting of the Red Sea is breathtaking (someday I'm going to ask God if I can see it for real).
- the creators took great pains to stay true to the Exodus story. While some parts were added (and a few minor things changed), they didn't deviate in any way that would alter the truth of the story. The end result was an entertaining movie that showed great respect for Jewish and Christian history.
- while Moses is clearly the hero of the story, it is also very clear that he was not acting alone. God is given due credit, and it is obvious that He is the miracle worker, while Moses is just a tool.
- the human-ness of Moses and Rameses. They are close brothers reluctantly thrown on opposite sides of a major struggle. They both want to work it out together, yet they both understand that there can be no compromise on either side.
- the bits of humor. When we saw this in the theater, Didder and I burst into giggles at the story of Moses and Rameses switching the heads of the idols in the temple. (we used to switch the Baby Jesuses in our mom's nativity sets, although thankfully she never thought it was a sign from above)
- Miriam. I love the faith she shows, especially when they're facing the Red Sea. Everybody else looks scared, but Miriam has a look that says, "Cool - I can't wait to see God get us out of this mess."
- Tzipporah. She's strong, and yet she'll follow her husband and take her place at his side.
- Aaron. He doesn't have Miriam's faith, and he doesn't see Moses as the deliverer. And yet when it's time to cross the Sea, he's the one who steps forward (my absolute favorite part!)
- all the little touches of dialogue and artistry. Rameses foretelling that there will be a loud cry rising out of Egypt, not realizing that it will be the Egyptians crying, not the Hebrews. The little girl clasping the elderly woman's hand as the Hebrews are leaving, and the woman taking the girl's hand again as they cross the Red Sea. The look on Moses's mother's face when he humiliates Tzipporah. The picture of the water turning to blood. The way they depict the plagues and the Passover - real, but not scary. And the parting of the Red Sea is breathtaking (someday I'm going to ask God if I can see it for real).
Labels: Movie Reviews
posted by hobbitsister @ 6:24 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
i really liked it too! and it had a lot to live up to, b/c that's one of my favorite sections in the Bible (anyone who doesn't think the Old Testament's interesting needs to read about the exodus) ... I agree that they did a great job portraying everything important in the movie ... and an animated movie, no less! :) uh-oh ... i think you may have inspired me to go out and buy another dvd! (remember P&P and Anne?) ... can we stop talking about movies unless we're bashing them? ;)
i need to get it on dvd. we have a vhs copy, because we're so 20th century
i love it, too. and i appreciate that at the very beginning it tells you to read Exodus to hear the real story, and that at the very end it quotes the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran (even if that one's not right). and they did do very well with showing that it was GOD doing it, not moses (although i still think james earl jones should've been the VOICE).
they did very well showing that moses struggled with being the one to bring down the plagues on egypt. i hadn't really thought about the fact that GOD was using moses to work against his former people until i saw this. it must've hurt him badly. especially knowing that his cousin (or in the movie, his nephew) would be killed in the final plague.
and then, on the other side, i thought they did really well showing when pharoah hardened his heart.
and of course, i do still laugh at the switching the heads thing. who just thinks of doing that?
oh, and all three cds are good, too
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