Esther (1999)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Best movie ever!

Am I Missing Something?

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This movie's directing, editing, dialogue, scenography, acting and music are all 10/10. I really cannot find a fault and I find faults in most movies.I may not agree with the roles of women in the society or that the proposed solution to the massacre is a massacre, but then again, a movie doesn't have to be feminist or pacifist, but to describe a story, and this is a nice story, though not of our time.I suspect it may be looked down upon for its being a movie from the Bible and not being a big production. Probably no one expects excellency from it and its merits are not recognized. Its vote may depend more on what is expected such a production to be rated.

Keeping in mind the fact that this film was made in 1999 when technology was much more limited than it is today, this film is very good. It stays faithful to the book of Esther, but brings in other characters of the Bible, such as Ezra and Nehemiah. I'm not sure how historically accurate the timing is, but it was an interesting addition that helped keep the story in perspective.I also enjoyed the brilliant acting on the part of the main characters. On this note, the king seemed a bit too childish for a king, but in a way it does seem possible for a pampered palace brat to remain so even when grown. Still, he gets really mature and romantic when it really counts, so all is forgiven. :) The setting was alright, but I'm looking forward to a more recent version with a larger budget that will show Persia in all its glory.

This was the second version of the story of Esther that I have watched (third if you count the VeggieTales version), and it was much better than the other I'd watched. As far as I can remember the other Esther I watched--"One Night With the King"--had poor acting, and I was not pleased with it's adaptation of the Bible story. I was concerned that I'd find the same problems with this version; however, I was pleasantly surprised. "Esther" follows the Biblical account very well (which is one of the most romantic and exciting Bible stories--it has its own book of the Bible); in fact it brought some aspects of the story to light that I'd never noticed before. The actress playing Esther was perfect for the role (in fact, all the casting was well done). There was beautiful romance, but it did not "cross the lines" (in other words, minimal skin showed), and my mother and I fully enjoyed watching it together.

This is a delightful production albeit a few notches below "Ester the Queen." I am surprised at the previous reviews that extol its Scriptural accuracy since Esther is the one book of Scripture that never mentions G*d by name, while the movie takes profound liberties in having numerous Jews calling on the Lord to save them from extermination and mentioning Him by name.It is indeed irony worthy of G*d that the one book in which He not mentioned by name by the largely apostate Jewish remnant remaining in Persia, that He acts to elevate his people to high positions of trust and authority that eventually save the remnant from extinction.Enjoy this movie and be sure to hiss at every mention of Haman's name.