The Prince of Egypt [1998](REGION 1) (NTSC)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful
  • A GOOD FILM
  • Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects
  • Not an evangelical Christian movie
  • Brilliant stuff!
 The Prince of Egypt [1998](REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
Director: Brenda Chapman , and Steve Hickner
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000] Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000]
  2. First Bible Stories First Bible Stories
  3. The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt
  4. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]
  5. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]

ASIN: B00000JGOQ
Release Date: 1999-09-14
The Prince of Egypt [1998](REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film, The Prince of Egypt was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2008-03-07

This is a wonderful adaptation of the exodus story from the bible. The music is beautiful, the animation is superb and Ralph Fienes as the Pharroh is excellent.

I am disappointed to see that another reviewer has branded it as religious extremism. I fail to see how telling one of the most famous stories of all time counts as extremism. What is moving about this version, is that we see Ramesees as a young man, full of loyalty and love for his "brother" Moses. it's later on that we see him form into an arrogent man, convinced, as some Egyptions were, that he was a God. Ultimately, Egypt pays the price for his cruelty and arrogance.

My children love this film and want to watch it all the time. Far from religious extremism, it has taught them the importance of treating people well and how arrogance often causes people to be cruel.

4 out of 5 stars A GOOD FILM.......2007-12-09

This is very possibly the finest animation I've seen. Before commenting on the film as a whole, I want to make that clear, because in the inevitable rush to pick this film apart (the plot, the voices, the religious significance, the literary accuracy, the moral issues, the music, the comparisons with Disney and de Mille, etc...) one might easily become distracted from the aesthetic and technical triumphs of The Prince of Egypt, and that would be unfortunate. As someone who has an interest and appreciation of animation, I can say that this is the first film I've seen that successfully integrates computer-generated animation and traditional animation (and I've seen many attempts). More importantly, as someone who has eyes, I can say that the result is a visual experience of intense style and beauty. In fact, the initial depiction of Egypt is so breathtaking, that it seriously hinders the film's later efforts to vilify it.

Comparisons with Disney are inevitable, especially because Prince of Egypt employs tired Disney formula in an attempt, I assume, to remain economically viable. What a shame, since Disney hasn't made a decent film since Aladdin. I am referring, of course, to the unnecessary musical numbers and the two high priests, the film's comic relief, who are drawn grossly out of proportion to the other characters. Even worse than their unoriginality, however, is the open mockery of ancient Egyption religion and culture, which these two characters embody. I found their musical number especially appalling. On the other hand, it's a story in which the protagonists succeed only through a greater capacity for cruelty and destruction and the slaughter of innocent children, so it's kind of hard to nail down any concrete moral standard here.

In general, I thought the story was well told, with solid direction and a good script. The only complaint I have about the voice acting is that Jeff Goldblum's unmistakable mannerisms seriously distract from his character. I suspect that I wasn't really bothered by the others only because I hadn't seen a cast list before seeing the film. I wish they would stop relying on celebrity voices for animated features. No character can be effective if the viewer can't separate the voice from the actor supplying it.

The bottom line is, despite any objections, complaints, or concerns I might have about this film, despite the moral, religious, or idealogical issues it brings up, and despite the $8 and two hours you'll spend, this film is worth seeing. It's worth seeing because of the animation. I hope it sets a new standard for feature-length animated films. At the very least, I think it will show the movie-going public what the medium is capable of.

5 out of 5 stars Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects.......2007-09-14

The Prince of Egypt is about a story that is central to three of the world's religions, but if you are not religious you can set all that aside and enjoy the story for itself and the magnificent animation that is used to tell it. This is about Moses the man and the Royal 'brother' that he grew up with.
I have bought this DVD as part of my collection of the work of the late great Israeli singer Ofra Haza and it is one of my gripes with the producers of this film that she has been under-credited. (Add to that all of the 'singing doubles' who stood in for the actors in the musical parts). When you listen to the music carefully you will discover that Ofra's presence runs throughout this film like a golden thread; from her part as Yocheved, Moses mother, in the opening number "Deliver Us" through the incidental music for the dream hieroglyphs, 'Goodbye Brother', 'Cry', the burning bush, etc. - to the very last voice of the film crying out "Deliver us !". This is just a hint of what a wonderful singer Ofra was. As talented as all of the big acting names that are splashed all over this film, they were eclipsed in song by Ofra Haza.
My second big complaint is, why bring in Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to massacre the uplifting song "When You Believe" ? The version in the film by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer is perfect - couldn't be better.
My third little moan is that, whilst great pains were taken to make the human characters not too 'cartoony', the animals all looked a bit like bad caricatures.

Gripes out of the way ! This film is worth buying. Do not expect it to be a cutesy kiddy-cartoon. It is a story told through animation. I would like to watch it all of the way through with the sound off just to enjoy the artwork - the light flashing on Moses golden breastplate, or the basket floating on the water which you forget is animation it looks so real!!!
[Remember the next animation Dreamworks did was Shrek.]
Of course, I cannot turn the sound off because I am compelled to listen to those two songs 'Deliver Us' and 'When You Believe'.

Footnote:
Ofra Haza died in 2000, in a tragically ironic way, you could say 'killed by marriage'. She had much more to give. My challenge to film-makers (Spielberg ?) is how about a bio-doc film of Ofra's life ? You cannot reproduce that singing voice but you could tell the story and give the world a good look and listen to what it missed.

4 out of 5 stars Not an evangelical Christian movie.......2007-06-24

A couple of points to note: it's not an evangelical Christian movie, it just retells the Old Testament story that stars Moses, Pharoah, and God, with a few embellishments such as a chariot race. In fact, the DVD points out that the filmmakers consulted with Christians, Jews and Muslims to make sure the script fitted all traditions.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant stuff!.......2006-06-11

Firstly, I am not at all religious, and though I am not fully aware of the changes made to the original story, I can't say it differed much from the story I remember being taught as a child. In my mind, this film does it exactly as it sets out to do, entertain whilst delivering one of the most well-known and influential biblical stories of all time.
The animation is top notch, a mixture of both CGI and hand-drawn, whilst the characters all have a beautifully chiselled design I have come to know and love from Dreamworks animation. The voice actors all do a top-notch job and I can say there is not one song in this film that I don't adore! All the songs and music just fit perfectly.
I first saw this film when I was about ten years old, a year or so after it came out and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, as an older teen, I still do and can see no reason why other children or adults wouldn't. Perhaps younger children under the age of eight might find the graphical interpretation of the plagues distressing but as a ten year old I certainly didn't and doubt I would have had I been even younger.
Perhaps what I find most attractive about this film is the fact that although it depicts a religious story, it in no way screams for the watcher to either believe or disbelieve the story it portrays, instead it merely points them to the book of Exodus if they want to read it for themselves.
Whatever your beliefs this is a fantastic film all round.
The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
    Director: Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , Simon Wells , Rob LaDuca , and Robert C. Ramirez
    Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    All World Cinema All World Cinema | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video
    Other Languages Other Languages | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video
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    All Family Favourites All Family Favourites | Family Favourites | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video
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    ASIN: B000LC4C10
    Release Date: 2007-02-06
    The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful
    • A GOOD FILM
    • Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects
    • Not an evangelical Christian movie
    • Brilliant stuff!
    		 The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
    Director: Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , and Simon Wells
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    Categories Categories | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | Children's DVD | Classics | Comedy | Crime, Thrillers & Mystery | Documentary | Drama | Fitness | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Interactive DVDs | Music DVDs | Musicals & Classical | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Sports | Television | World Cinema
    DVD DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000] Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000]
    2. First Bible Stories First Bible Stories
    3. The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt
    4. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]
    5. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]

    ASIN: 6305532869
    The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

    Amazon.co.uk Review

    Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film, The Prince of Egypt was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

    Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

    Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2008-03-07

    This is a wonderful adaptation of the exodus story from the bible. The music is beautiful, the animation is superb and Ralph Fienes as the Pharroh is excellent.

    I am disappointed to see that another reviewer has branded it as religious extremism. I fail to see how telling one of the most famous stories of all time counts as extremism. What is moving about this version, is that we see Ramesees as a young man, full of loyalty and love for his "brother" Moses. it's later on that we see him form into an arrogent man, convinced, as some Egyptions were, that he was a God. Ultimately, Egypt pays the price for his cruelty and arrogance.

    My children love this film and want to watch it all the time. Far from religious extremism, it has taught them the importance of treating people well and how arrogance often causes people to be cruel.

    4 out of 5 stars A GOOD FILM.......2007-12-09

    This is very possibly the finest animation I've seen. Before commenting on the film as a whole, I want to make that clear, because in the inevitable rush to pick this film apart (the plot, the voices, the religious significance, the literary accuracy, the moral issues, the music, the comparisons with Disney and de Mille, etc...) one might easily become distracted from the aesthetic and technical triumphs of The Prince of Egypt, and that would be unfortunate. As someone who has an interest and appreciation of animation, I can say that this is the first film I've seen that successfully integrates computer-generated animation and traditional animation (and I've seen many attempts). More importantly, as someone who has eyes, I can say that the result is a visual experience of intense style and beauty. In fact, the initial depiction of Egypt is so breathtaking, that it seriously hinders the film's later efforts to vilify it.

    Comparisons with Disney are inevitable, especially because Prince of Egypt employs tired Disney formula in an attempt, I assume, to remain economically viable. What a shame, since Disney hasn't made a decent film since Aladdin. I am referring, of course, to the unnecessary musical numbers and the two high priests, the film's comic relief, who are drawn grossly out of proportion to the other characters. Even worse than their unoriginality, however, is the open mockery of ancient Egyption religion and culture, which these two characters embody. I found their musical number especially appalling. On the other hand, it's a story in which the protagonists succeed only through a greater capacity for cruelty and destruction and the slaughter of innocent children, so it's kind of hard to nail down any concrete moral standard here.

    In general, I thought the story was well told, with solid direction and a good script. The only complaint I have about the voice acting is that Jeff Goldblum's unmistakable mannerisms seriously distract from his character. I suspect that I wasn't really bothered by the others only because I hadn't seen a cast list before seeing the film. I wish they would stop relying on celebrity voices for animated features. No character can be effective if the viewer can't separate the voice from the actor supplying it.

    The bottom line is, despite any objections, complaints, or concerns I might have about this film, despite the moral, religious, or idealogical issues it brings up, and despite the $8 and two hours you'll spend, this film is worth seeing. It's worth seeing because of the animation. I hope it sets a new standard for feature-length animated films. At the very least, I think it will show the movie-going public what the medium is capable of.

    5 out of 5 stars Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects.......2007-09-14

    The Prince of Egypt is about a story that is central to three of the world's religions, but if you are not religious you can set all that aside and enjoy the story for itself and the magnificent animation that is used to tell it. This is about Moses the man and the Royal 'brother' that he grew up with.
    I have bought this DVD as part of my collection of the work of the late great Israeli singer Ofra Haza and it is one of my gripes with the producers of this film that she has been under-credited. (Add to that all of the 'singing doubles' who stood in for the actors in the musical parts). When you listen to the music carefully you will discover that Ofra's presence runs throughout this film like a golden thread; from her part as Yocheved, Moses mother, in the opening number "Deliver Us" through the incidental music for the dream hieroglyphs, 'Goodbye Brother', 'Cry', the burning bush, etc. - to the very last voice of the film crying out "Deliver us !". This is just a hint of what a wonderful singer Ofra was. As talented as all of the big acting names that are splashed all over this film, they were eclipsed in song by Ofra Haza.
    My second big complaint is, why bring in Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to massacre the uplifting song "When You Believe" ? The version in the film by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer is perfect - couldn't be better.
    My third little moan is that, whilst great pains were taken to make the human characters not too 'cartoony', the animals all looked a bit like bad caricatures.

    Gripes out of the way ! This film is worth buying. Do not expect it to be a cutesy kiddy-cartoon. It is a story told through animation. I would like to watch it all of the way through with the sound off just to enjoy the artwork - the light flashing on Moses golden breastplate, or the basket floating on the water which you forget is animation it looks so real!!!
    [Remember the next animation Dreamworks did was Shrek.]
    Of course, I cannot turn the sound off because I am compelled to listen to those two songs 'Deliver Us' and 'When You Believe'.

    Footnote:
    Ofra Haza died in 2000, in a tragically ironic way, you could say 'killed by marriage'. She had much more to give. My challenge to film-makers (Spielberg ?) is how about a bio-doc film of Ofra's life ? You cannot reproduce that singing voice but you could tell the story and give the world a good look and listen to what it missed.

    4 out of 5 stars Not an evangelical Christian movie.......2007-06-24

    A couple of points to note: it's not an evangelical Christian movie, it just retells the Old Testament story that stars Moses, Pharoah, and God, with a few embellishments such as a chariot race. In fact, the DVD points out that the filmmakers consulted with Christians, Jews and Muslims to make sure the script fitted all traditions.

    5 out of 5 stars Brilliant stuff!.......2006-06-11

    Firstly, I am not at all religious, and though I am not fully aware of the changes made to the original story, I can't say it differed much from the story I remember being taught as a child. In my mind, this film does it exactly as it sets out to do, entertain whilst delivering one of the most well-known and influential biblical stories of all time.
    The animation is top notch, a mixture of both CGI and hand-drawn, whilst the characters all have a beautifully chiselled design I have come to know and love from Dreamworks animation. The voice actors all do a top-notch job and I can say there is not one song in this film that I don't adore! All the songs and music just fit perfectly.
    I first saw this film when I was about ten years old, a year or so after it came out and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, as an older teen, I still do and can see no reason why other children or adults wouldn't. Perhaps younger children under the age of eight might find the graphical interpretation of the plagues distressing but as a ten year old I certainly didn't and doubt I would have had I been even younger.
    Perhaps what I find most attractive about this film is the fact that although it depicts a religious story, it in no way screams for the watcher to either believe or disbelieve the story it portrays, instead it merely points them to the book of Exodus if they want to read it for themselves.
    Whatever your beliefs this is a fantastic film all round.
    The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful
    • A GOOD FILM
    • Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects
    • Not an evangelical Christian movie
    • Brilliant stuff!
    		 The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
    Director: Brenda Chapman , and Steve Hickner
    Manufacturer: DreamWorks
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    All Action & Adventure All Action & Adventure | Action & Adventure | Categories | DVD | Video
    All World Cinema All World Cinema | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video
    Other Languages Other Languages | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video
    Animated Animated | Comedy | Categories | DVD | Video
    Musicals Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video
    All Family Favourites All Family Favourites | Family Favourites | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video
    Musicals Musicals | Music | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video
    Classic Classic | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video
    Film Musicals Film Musicals | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video
    Childrens Childrens | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video
    Adult Pop Adult Pop | Pop & Dance | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video
    DVD DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000] Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000]
    2. First Bible Stories First Bible Stories
    3. The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt
    4. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]
    5. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]

    ASIN: B0002V7OMO
    Release Date: 2004-10-26
    The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

    Amazon.co.uk Review

    Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film, The Prince of Egypt was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

    Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

    Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2008-03-07

    This is a wonderful adaptation of the exodus story from the bible. The music is beautiful, the animation is superb and Ralph Fienes as the Pharroh is excellent.

    I am disappointed to see that another reviewer has branded it as religious extremism. I fail to see how telling one of the most famous stories of all time counts as extremism. What is moving about this version, is that we see Ramesees as a young man, full of loyalty and love for his "brother" Moses. it's later on that we see him form into an arrogent man, convinced, as some Egyptions were, that he was a God. Ultimately, Egypt pays the price for his cruelty and arrogance.

    My children love this film and want to watch it all the time. Far from religious extremism, it has taught them the importance of treating people well and how arrogance often causes people to be cruel.

    4 out of 5 stars A GOOD FILM.......2007-12-09

    This is very possibly the finest animation I've seen. Before commenting on the film as a whole, I want to make that clear, because in the inevitable rush to pick this film apart (the plot, the voices, the religious significance, the literary accuracy, the moral issues, the music, the comparisons with Disney and de Mille, etc...) one might easily become distracted from the aesthetic and technical triumphs of The Prince of Egypt, and that would be unfortunate. As someone who has an interest and appreciation of animation, I can say that this is the first film I've seen that successfully integrates computer-generated animation and traditional animation (and I've seen many attempts). More importantly, as someone who has eyes, I can say that the result is a visual experience of intense style and beauty. In fact, the initial depiction of Egypt is so breathtaking, that it seriously hinders the film's later efforts to vilify it.

    Comparisons with Disney are inevitable, especially because Prince of Egypt employs tired Disney formula in an attempt, I assume, to remain economically viable. What a shame, since Disney hasn't made a decent film since Aladdin. I am referring, of course, to the unnecessary musical numbers and the two high priests, the film's comic relief, who are drawn grossly out of proportion to the other characters. Even worse than their unoriginality, however, is the open mockery of ancient Egyption religion and culture, which these two characters embody. I found their musical number especially appalling. On the other hand, it's a story in which the protagonists succeed only through a greater capacity for cruelty and destruction and the slaughter of innocent children, so it's kind of hard to nail down any concrete moral standard here.

    In general, I thought the story was well told, with solid direction and a good script. The only complaint I have about the voice acting is that Jeff Goldblum's unmistakable mannerisms seriously distract from his character. I suspect that I wasn't really bothered by the others only because I hadn't seen a cast list before seeing the film. I wish they would stop relying on celebrity voices for animated features. No character can be effective if the viewer can't separate the voice from the actor supplying it.

    The bottom line is, despite any objections, complaints, or concerns I might have about this film, despite the moral, religious, or idealogical issues it brings up, and despite the $8 and two hours you'll spend, this film is worth seeing. It's worth seeing because of the animation. I hope it sets a new standard for feature-length animated films. At the very least, I think it will show the movie-going public what the medium is capable of.

    5 out of 5 stars Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects.......2007-09-14

    The Prince of Egypt is about a story that is central to three of the world's religions, but if you are not religious you can set all that aside and enjoy the story for itself and the magnificent animation that is used to tell it. This is about Moses the man and the Royal 'brother' that he grew up with.
    I have bought this DVD as part of my collection of the work of the late great Israeli singer Ofra Haza and it is one of my gripes with the producers of this film that she has been under-credited. (Add to that all of the 'singing doubles' who stood in for the actors in the musical parts). When you listen to the music carefully you will discover that Ofra's presence runs throughout this film like a golden thread; from her part as Yocheved, Moses mother, in the opening number "Deliver Us" through the incidental music for the dream hieroglyphs, 'Goodbye Brother', 'Cry', the burning bush, etc. - to the very last voice of the film crying out "Deliver us !". This is just a hint of what a wonderful singer Ofra was. As talented as all of the big acting names that are splashed all over this film, they were eclipsed in song by Ofra Haza.
    My second big complaint is, why bring in Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to massacre the uplifting song "When You Believe" ? The version in the film by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer is perfect - couldn't be better.
    My third little moan is that, whilst great pains were taken to make the human characters not too 'cartoony', the animals all looked a bit like bad caricatures.

    Gripes out of the way ! This film is worth buying. Do not expect it to be a cutesy kiddy-cartoon. It is a story told through animation. I would like to watch it all of the way through with the sound off just to enjoy the artwork - the light flashing on Moses golden breastplate, or the basket floating on the water which you forget is animation it looks so real!!!
    [Remember the next animation Dreamworks did was Shrek.]
    Of course, I cannot turn the sound off because I am compelled to listen to those two songs 'Deliver Us' and 'When You Believe'.

    Footnote:
    Ofra Haza died in 2000, in a tragically ironic way, you could say 'killed by marriage'. She had much more to give. My challenge to film-makers (Spielberg ?) is how about a bio-doc film of Ofra's life ? You cannot reproduce that singing voice but you could tell the story and give the world a good look and listen to what it missed.

    4 out of 5 stars Not an evangelical Christian movie.......2007-06-24

    A couple of points to note: it's not an evangelical Christian movie, it just retells the Old Testament story that stars Moses, Pharoah, and God, with a few embellishments such as a chariot race. In fact, the DVD points out that the filmmakers consulted with Christians, Jews and Muslims to make sure the script fitted all traditions.

    5 out of 5 stars Brilliant stuff!.......2006-06-11

    Firstly, I am not at all religious, and though I am not fully aware of the changes made to the original story, I can't say it differed much from the story I remember being taught as a child. In my mind, this film does it exactly as it sets out to do, entertain whilst delivering one of the most well-known and influential biblical stories of all time.
    The animation is top notch, a mixture of both CGI and hand-drawn, whilst the characters all have a beautifully chiselled design I have come to know and love from Dreamworks animation. The voice actors all do a top-notch job and I can say there is not one song in this film that I don't adore! All the songs and music just fit perfectly.
    I first saw this film when I was about ten years old, a year or so after it came out and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, as an older teen, I still do and can see no reason why other children or adults wouldn't. Perhaps younger children under the age of eight might find the graphical interpretation of the plagues distressing but as a ten year old I certainly didn't and doubt I would have had I been even younger.
    Perhaps what I find most attractive about this film is the fact that although it depicts a religious story, it in no way screams for the watcher to either believe or disbelieve the story it portrays, instead it merely points them to the book of Exodus if they want to read it for themselves.
    Whatever your beliefs this is a fantastic film all round.
    The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

      Manufacturer: DreamWorks
      ProductGroup: DVD
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      ASIN: B000IU3YCS
      Release Date: 2006-11-21
      The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
      The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Wonderful
      • A GOOD FILM
      • Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects
      • Not an evangelical Christian movie
      • Brilliant stuff!
      		 The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
      Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
      Director: Simon Wells , and Brenda Chapman
      Manufacturer: DreamWorks
      ProductGroup: DVD
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      Similar Items:
      1. Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000] Joseph - King Of Dreams [2000]
      2. First Bible Stories First Bible Stories
      3. The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt
      4. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]
      5. Miracle Maker [2000] Miracle Maker [2000]

      ASIN: B00004YNUN
      Release Date: 2000-10-17
      The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

      Amazon.co.uk Review

      Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film, The Prince of Egypt was the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

      Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

      Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2008-03-07

      This is a wonderful adaptation of the exodus story from the bible. The music is beautiful, the animation is superb and Ralph Fienes as the Pharroh is excellent.

      I am disappointed to see that another reviewer has branded it as religious extremism. I fail to see how telling one of the most famous stories of all time counts as extremism. What is moving about this version, is that we see Ramesees as a young man, full of loyalty and love for his "brother" Moses. it's later on that we see him form into an arrogent man, convinced, as some Egyptions were, that he was a God. Ultimately, Egypt pays the price for his cruelty and arrogance.

      My children love this film and want to watch it all the time. Far from religious extremism, it has taught them the importance of treating people well and how arrogance often causes people to be cruel.

      4 out of 5 stars A GOOD FILM.......2007-12-09

      This is very possibly the finest animation I've seen. Before commenting on the film as a whole, I want to make that clear, because in the inevitable rush to pick this film apart (the plot, the voices, the religious significance, the literary accuracy, the moral issues, the music, the comparisons with Disney and de Mille, etc...) one might easily become distracted from the aesthetic and technical triumphs of The Prince of Egypt, and that would be unfortunate. As someone who has an interest and appreciation of animation, I can say that this is the first film I've seen that successfully integrates computer-generated animation and traditional animation (and I've seen many attempts). More importantly, as someone who has eyes, I can say that the result is a visual experience of intense style and beauty. In fact, the initial depiction of Egypt is so breathtaking, that it seriously hinders the film's later efforts to vilify it.

      Comparisons with Disney are inevitable, especially because Prince of Egypt employs tired Disney formula in an attempt, I assume, to remain economically viable. What a shame, since Disney hasn't made a decent film since Aladdin. I am referring, of course, to the unnecessary musical numbers and the two high priests, the film's comic relief, who are drawn grossly out of proportion to the other characters. Even worse than their unoriginality, however, is the open mockery of ancient Egyption religion and culture, which these two characters embody. I found their musical number especially appalling. On the other hand, it's a story in which the protagonists succeed only through a greater capacity for cruelty and destruction and the slaughter of innocent children, so it's kind of hard to nail down any concrete moral standard here.

      In general, I thought the story was well told, with solid direction and a good script. The only complaint I have about the voice acting is that Jeff Goldblum's unmistakable mannerisms seriously distract from his character. I suspect that I wasn't really bothered by the others only because I hadn't seen a cast list before seeing the film. I wish they would stop relying on celebrity voices for animated features. No character can be effective if the viewer can't separate the voice from the actor supplying it.

      The bottom line is, despite any objections, complaints, or concerns I might have about this film, despite the moral, religious, or idealogical issues it brings up, and despite the $8 and two hours you'll spend, this film is worth seeing. It's worth seeing because of the animation. I hope it sets a new standard for feature-length animated films. At the very least, I think it will show the movie-going public what the medium is capable of.

      5 out of 5 stars Dreamworks first, animation and one of Ofra Haza's last projects.......2007-09-14

      The Prince of Egypt is about a story that is central to three of the world's religions, but if you are not religious you can set all that aside and enjoy the story for itself and the magnificent animation that is used to tell it. This is about Moses the man and the Royal 'brother' that he grew up with.
      I have bought this DVD as part of my collection of the work of the late great Israeli singer Ofra Haza and it is one of my gripes with the producers of this film that she has been under-credited. (Add to that all of the 'singing doubles' who stood in for the actors in the musical parts). When you listen to the music carefully you will discover that Ofra's presence runs throughout this film like a golden thread; from her part as Yocheved, Moses mother, in the opening number "Deliver Us" through the incidental music for the dream hieroglyphs, 'Goodbye Brother', 'Cry', the burning bush, etc. - to the very last voice of the film crying out "Deliver us !". This is just a hint of what a wonderful singer Ofra was. As talented as all of the big acting names that are splashed all over this film, they were eclipsed in song by Ofra Haza.
      My second big complaint is, why bring in Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to massacre the uplifting song "When You Believe" ? The version in the film by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer is perfect - couldn't be better.
      My third little moan is that, whilst great pains were taken to make the human characters not too 'cartoony', the animals all looked a bit like bad caricatures.

      Gripes out of the way ! This film is worth buying. Do not expect it to be a cutesy kiddy-cartoon. It is a story told through animation. I would like to watch it all of the way through with the sound off just to enjoy the artwork - the light flashing on Moses golden breastplate, or the basket floating on the water which you forget is animation it looks so real!!!
      [Remember the next animation Dreamworks did was Shrek.]
      Of course, I cannot turn the sound off because I am compelled to listen to those two songs 'Deliver Us' and 'When You Believe'.

      Footnote:
      Ofra Haza died in 2000, in a tragically ironic way, you could say 'killed by marriage'. She had much more to give. My challenge to film-makers (Spielberg ?) is how about a bio-doc film of Ofra's life ? You cannot reproduce that singing voice but you could tell the story and give the world a good look and listen to what it missed.

      4 out of 5 stars Not an evangelical Christian movie.......2007-06-24

      A couple of points to note: it's not an evangelical Christian movie, it just retells the Old Testament story that stars Moses, Pharoah, and God, with a few embellishments such as a chariot race. In fact, the DVD points out that the filmmakers consulted with Christians, Jews and Muslims to make sure the script fitted all traditions.

      5 out of 5 stars Brilliant stuff!.......2006-06-11

      Firstly, I am not at all religious, and though I am not fully aware of the changes made to the original story, I can't say it differed much from the story I remember being taught as a child. In my mind, this film does it exactly as it sets out to do, entertain whilst delivering one of the most well-known and influential biblical stories of all time.
      The animation is top notch, a mixture of both CGI and hand-drawn, whilst the characters all have a beautifully chiselled design I have come to know and love from Dreamworks animation. The voice actors all do a top-notch job and I can say there is not one song in this film that I don't adore! All the songs and music just fit perfectly.
      I first saw this film when I was about ten years old, a year or so after it came out and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, as an older teen, I still do and can see no reason why other children or adults wouldn't. Perhaps younger children under the age of eight might find the graphical interpretation of the plagues distressing but as a ten year old I certainly didn't and doubt I would have had I been even younger.
      Perhaps what I find most attractive about this film is the fact that although it depicts a religious story, it in no way screams for the watcher to either believe or disbelieve the story it portrays, instead it merely points them to the book of Exodus if they want to read it for themselves.
      Whatever your beliefs this is a fantastic film all round.
      The Prince of Egypt: Joseph King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		The Prince of Egypt: Joseph King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

        Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        All Family Favourites All Family Favourites | Family Favourites | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video
        DVD DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
        ASIN: 6310603329
        Release Date: 2006-11-21
        The Prince of Egypt: Joseph King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
        Joseph: King of Dreams/The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Joseph: King of Dreams/The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
          Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
          Director: Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , Simon Wells , Rob LaDuca , and Robert C. Ramirez
          Manufacturer: DreamWorks
          ProductGroup: DVD
          Binding: DVD

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          ASIN: B0000C9JCX
          Release Date: 2003-10-21
          Joseph: King of Dreams/The Prince of Egypt [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
          The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
            Starring: Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , and Jeff Goldblum
            Director: Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , Simon Wells , Rob LaDuca , and Robert C. Ramirez
            Manufacturer: DreamWorks
            ProductGroup: DVD
            Binding: DVD

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            ASIN: B000059H7A
            Release Date: 2001-03-06
            The Prince of Egypt/Joseph: King of Dreams [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

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