The Prince of Egypt (1998)

I liked this as a kid, but adore it now. It is a religious movie-as Moses is the story being told, but many non-religious people like it and even starred in it! It's a powerful film all people can enjoy. The movie is mainly known for it's song When You Believe, which has a Whitney Houston rendition in the credits. The song also won an Academy Award for Best Song. The movie also has an all-star cast including Vil Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Michelle Pfiffer, Saundra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, etc. Also, the Red Sea Parting took 2 years to animate! It's a shortened versaion of The 10 Commandments, and I actually prefer this! See this and enjoy!

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.

20 years ago to this day, Dreamworks Animation released their second feature film, The Prince of Egypt, based off the book of exodus. Although it received critical acclaim and did pretty well financially, it isn't really looked upon as much as other Dreamworks films like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda or How to Train Your Dragon. That being said, I personally think that this is one of their most outstanding achievements in both film and animation, and a highly respectable adaptation from the Bible. What's interesting about this adaptation is that at its core, it's a story about brothers: Moses and Ramses. The two different sides they choose end up tarnishing their relationship, making it very hard to feel sorry for either side. Moses transitions from a pompous son of Pharaoh to a man determined on freeing the enslaved Hebrews tremendously and the film really displays just how conflicted he becomes over his duty and trying to fulfill his task without harming anyone. Even though Ramses is despicable for his crimes as Pharaoh, it's made clear that his prejudice was passed down from generation to generation. As such, the film becomes all the more heartbreaking once the inevitable plagues come afloat, ruining both Egypt and siblings forever.Speaking of the plagues, it's remarkable how the film never shies away or sugarcoats the biblical story, showing off many mature themes and horrific imagery throughout the feature. In addition, the feature appropriately takes itself rather seriously, avoiding a lot of juvenile antics and cliches found in animated family films. While it may frighten some, it's always important to remember the horrible tragedies that had to take place in order to free the Israelis. For the first ever hand-drawn animated film made at the studio, the crew really went all out in creating a grand epic scale that truly showcases the impressive monuments in Egypt, from their rise to their demise. Along with realistic albeit stylized character designs and solid character animation, the visuals practically scream ancient Egypt, down to a scene depicting the killing of the first born Hebrew children being done in wall art. The parting of the Red Sea is a legendary moment in animation, really pushing the envelope of what computer animation and effects could pull off back in the day.As this film is a musical, it more than ever delivers with stunning and gut wrenching songs done by the wonderful Stephen Schwartz. "Deliver Us" sets the tone of the movie by showcasing the proper hardships that the Hebrews faced, "Through Heaven's Eyes" enlightens Moses in his reformed culture with the right amount of cheers and wonderment, and "The Plagues" song really showcases just how horrific the plagues really were while also rightfully showing the pain and devastation shown through Moses and Ramses. Finally, the Oscar winning "When You Believe" presents true exhilaration as the Hebrews taste the freedom that they desired for years. Not to mention, Hans Zimmer brings his usual poetically epic and spiritual score to elevate the raw emotional and grandiose aspects the film exhibits.Given how rare it is to see animated retellings from the Bible, this film truly is remarkable in how respectful, passionate and mature it is in doing so. With an epic scope, a heartbreaking story of sibling rivalry, and a fantastic score, The Prince of Egypt still shines as one of the greatest non-Disney animated films of the 1990s, if not of all time. Without a doubt, even if you're not religious, check this film out to gain a great taste of this well developed adaptation of biblical text to see what Dreamworks could have become if they stuck to this. It's kind of a shame Dreamworks hasn't done anything like this since its release, but considering that it's playing at Annecy soon to commemorate its 20th anniversary, here's to a bright legacy for the film in the following years.

I loved this movie as a kid! I used to watch it over and over and it would never get old... I still enjoy years later. Bravo!