The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Let's be realistic.

Good concept, poorly executed.

A Disappointing Continuation

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

I decided to watch this movie to familiarize myself with one of the greatest stories in western culture. After some 90 minutes I have to ask, what did I just watch? This was morally so disturbing that it made me feel sick. Listening "There can be miracles/When You Believe" didn't feel quite right after seeing God killing city full of Egyptian families and children just cause their race. There were plenty of scenes where I found it easier to identify myself with the antagonist, which is always a good sign...

A common complaint I see is how many differences there are between this movie and the story in the bible. While I do not refute this, I don't think these differences should be held against the film. I was 6 when The Prince of Egypt came out and I remember watching it with my family. This movie has become a pillar in my faith. A source of faith when I am lacking and a dose of hope when I feel none. Game of Thrones is a tv series based on a book. As graphic as it is, it is nothing compared to the violence in the books. If Game of Thrones were made into a tv series, many things would have to be left out or altered. Still, it is an amazing, highly ranked series. My point on being tangent here, is that if you discredit this film because it is different from the bible, you are missing out on a great film. The movie is adapted for children but still conveys an unfathomable message of faith and hope even when there seems to be none. If you are looking for a more realistic version of the story, watch The Ten Commandments. But I will leave you with this; this movie came out when I was six. I am now twenty five and as a (potentially biased) Christian, I have watched this movie countless times and I never tire of its message and feeling of hope, faith and inspiration.

First off, if you didn't already know, the movie is based on the story of Moses from the book of Exodus. This might seem like heavy stuff for an animated movie, but I think it's handled well; the writing ensures darker implications of the story aren't skimped out on to make it more child-friendly but the movie still managed to rein enough in to make it so even young children can access the message in the story. I think there needed to be a little more fleshing out of Moses and his childhood and some downtime with the protagonists to slow down the (in my opinion) very quick pace of the movie and let the movie breathe a bit, but on the whole the story hits all the key points and takes itself seriously (particularly in its dramatic flair), which might be for the best since it proclaims itself as a respectful and accurate recount of the story of Moses.Now in terms of visuals and animation, this movie looks really good even by today's standards. For me it was the greatest achievement of the movie; the movie looked like a mix between beautiful hand-drawn and painterly style with a little bit of CGI thrown in and I have great respect for those who worked on it. If you have a problem with the movie, it will definitely not be the animation because it is really, really outstanding and the attention to detail put into the animation really helps sell the characters and story.Another aspect that the movie shined in was the soundtrack - it was phenomenal. This movie has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a long time, with the fantastic art and animation, the music goes a long way in helping you connect with the characters in the relatively short time they have on-screen.The movie is definitely worth watching, the dramatic story, masterful animation and moving soundtrack all ensure that but the one shortfall that the movie suffers is that far too many things are brushed over; years are skipped over, significant events happen in quick succession before you have time to digest their consequences and there isn't enough quieter moments to disperse the high emotion, energetic scenes. Still... I recommend it, it's a good watch.

The 90s were a very interesting and great time for animated films. With hit after hit, becoming classics, even the ones that didn't do well gained more appreciation over time. After all, it was the same year in which the highest 2D animated grossing movie came out, the lion king, and also the birth of CGI animated film with toy story. And, in my opinion, the best American animated film of the era (I say American, because the best was easily princess Mononoke) was the prince of Egypt. This film truly is one of the most beautifully animated movies of all time, combining classical hand drawn art with 3D computer graphics, giving a new life and style to the story. The architectural design and scope is absolutely breathtaking. Speaking of the story, its about, who else? Moses himself. Its a different re-imagining than the epic one by acclaimed director Cecil B Demile, as this film is more family friendly and more Disney-esque. And, believe it or not, this actually is the better movie. It never dumbs down itself to kids, or is too childish to adults, it just has the perfect balance. There is the typical humor that is funny, but there is also an underlying tragedy between all of this, and its done wonderfully and maturely. The best thing about this film is that there is no real villain. Its just a tragic misunderstanding of the characters lost in their paths. Ramses wants to honor his father by being the best pharaoh he can be, while Moses wants to do his job as the prophet of God and save his people. Its a great battle of epic proportions. The characters are done superb in the film. Moses is very much relatable, kind and empathetic. You really feel the weight and responsibility given to him. Ramses is also given good amount of depth. They are both brothers who love each other, but their path lead to a tragic rivalry that neither want to partake in it, adding even more drama that truly gets you invested in it. And its all supported by great voice acting who are all pitch perfect for the role. The side characters are done pretty good as well. And the songs, by god are they amazing. The singing in this film gives me goosebumps every time I hear one of them. Deliver us, when you believe, through the eyes of heaven and of course, the plague. They are all used to further the story, sometimes even visually. I dare to say they are much better than vast majority of the Disney songs. Prince of Egypt truly helped transcending the animation with its story, its artistic style, its writing etc. I adore this movie and can't get enough of it. Truly a work of art