“The Prince of Egypt” is a beautifully rendered and directed piece of animation, with gorgeous songs and visuals. This animated version based on the legends of Moses and his people proves that animation frees the imagination from the shackles of gravity and reality, and allows a story to soar as it will.
The story of Exodus has its parallels in many religions, always with the same result: God chooses one of his peoples over the others.
The film follows Moses (voice of Val Kilmer) from the day when he is plucked from the Nile by the queen (Helen Mirren) to the day when he returns from the mountain with the Ten Commandments. The movie simply tells the Biblical story of Moses, and how he freed his people from slavery.
Visual and Artistic Triumphs
“The Prince of Egypt” is one of the best-looking animated films ever made. It employs computer-generated animation as an aid to traditional techniques, rather than as a substitute for them, and we sense the touch of human artists in the vision behind the Egyptian monuments, the lonely desert vistas, the thrill of the chariot race, the personalities of the characters.
That’s established dramatically in the wonderful prologue scenes, which show the kingdom and Hebrew slaves building pyramids under the whips of the Pharaoh’s taskmasters. The “sets” here are inspired by some of the great movie sets of the past, including those in de Mille’s original film and D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance.” A vast Sphinx gazes out over the desert, and slaves bend to the weight of mighty blocks of stone.
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The artwork was fabulous when it came out in 1999. Some of the prettiest colors I've seen on film have been in animated movies the last decade, and this is a prime example. The parting of the Red Sea in here is awesomely-done by the artists.
Animated films have been entertaining audiences since the early 1900s. Even 22 years after its release, it remains one of the best looking animated films ever.
The Prince of Egypt (1998) | Behind the Scenes
Story and Characters
What it emphasizes more than earlier versions is how completely the orphan child is taken into the family of the Pharaoh (Patrick Stewart); he is a well-loved adopted son who becomes the playmate and best friend of Rameses (Ralph Fiennes), the Pharaoh’s son. As boys, they get in trouble together (one drag race in chariots, which speed excitingly down collapsing scaffolds, results in the destruction of a temple).
But something within Moses knows that the Egyptians are not his people. After he happens to meet his real brother and sister, Aaron (Jeff Goldblum) and Miriam (Sandra Bullock), and learns the truth about his heritage, he runs away into the desert.
At an oasis, Moses encounters a former slave girl, whom he had helped to escape from the Pharoah’s empire, and who is the daughter of the Hebrew high priest Jethro (Danny Glover). While staying with them, Moses hears the voice from the Burning Bush: “I am that I am, the God of your fathers.”
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For Moses, accepting this god means renouncing untold power and riches, and Rameses (now the Pharaoh) is first incredulous, then angered. “I am a Hebrew,” Moses sternly informs him, “and the God of the Hebrews came to me and commands that you let my people go.” When Rameses disagrees (and doubles the slaves’ workload), God unleashes a series of punishments. Fire rains from the sky, locusts descend in clouds, and all the first-born are killed.
The movie is not shy about being entertaining, but it maintains a certain seriousness. In place of the usual twosomes and threesomes of little characters doing comic relief, we get two temple magicians (voices of Steve Martin and Martin Short), and a duet (“Playing With the Big Boys”). Moses turns his staff into a snake to impress Rameses, and magicians show how the trick has been done.
The film strikes a fine balance between the young target audience and the violent tone of the source material. The film did an excellent job of retelling the story of Moses in a way that was entertaining and respectful to the source material. It exceptionally well did Moses and Ramses' relationship, and I invested in their story from beginning to end.
Music and Voice Acting
The music of “The Prince of Egypt” is one of its most memorable aspects. Stephen Schwartz and Hans Zimmer’s score and songs were nominated for “Best Original Score” at the Oscars and Golden Globes. Their song, When You Believe, won “Best Original Song” at the Oscars and a pop version was recorded by superstars Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
You hear the Hebrews singing in Hebrew as well as instruments common to that part of the world. Israeli pop star, Ofra Haza lent her voice to Yocheved (Moses’s mom) in 17 different languages. She adds several heartbreaking verses to the film’s opening number, Deliver Us.
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The voice acting was top-notch, with great performances from the entire cast. The voice talents are superlative, here we have Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Steve Martin and Martin Short voicing fairly complex and beautifully-drawn characters flawlessly.
Themes and Impact
The film’s introduction states it is “true to the essence, values and integrity” of the story. So although DreamWorks SKG carefully secured the views of many theologians and religious leaders. The film’s central theme is clear. In the words of DreamWorks principal Jeffrey Katzenberg. This experience for Moses is witnessing God speaking through a burning bush.
The main characters are well-realized, three-dimensional characters. The focus of the film is the conflict between Ramses and his adopted brother, Moses, set against the backdrop of the epic events in the book of Exodus. The result is a religious tale that treats the oft-ignored human element. Instead of merely relating the tale as it is, the story asks "how would a person *feel* if God appeared to them and told them to do this? How would others react?" The script is light-years beyond any past biblical epic.
Let's focus on the huge amount of creativity and greatness that made this masterpiece. It's a story of two real brothers who love each other to the core but they were obliged to become enemies due to their differences in beliefs and religion. Don't you think that it's time for people to forget about their differences and become compassionate and empathetic?
The movie simply tells the Biblical story of Moses, and how he freed his people from slavery. While it is a kids and family movie, it still manages to tackle the more mature topics of death, enslavement, brutality, and oppression.
Accolades and Legacy
“The Prince of Egypt” is one of the greatest animated movies of all time. It has a captivating story, unforgettable music, and beautiful animation which appeals to all viewers, even if they don’t practice one of the religions that feature the story of Moses.
This was writer and artist Brenda Chapman’s first film as a director as well as the first animated film featuring a woman director at a major studio. Chapman would later go on to be the first woman to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars for “Brave” (2012).
Table: Voice Cast of The Prince of Egypt
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Moses | Val Kilmer |
| Rameses | Ralph Fiennes |
| Pharaoh Seti | Patrick Stewart |
| The Queen | Helen Mirren |
| Tzipporah | Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Miriam | Sandra Bullock |
| Aaron | Jeff Goldblum |
| Jethro | Danny Glover |
| Hotep | Steve Martin |
| Huy | Martin Short |
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