Review of The Prince of Egypt (1998) by Adam I — 03 Jun 2009

Let me first preface my review by saying I am reading many reviews that mistakenly call this a cartoon kids movie, as they do so many animated films. Thanks to Saturday morning TV, most adults see an animated film and instantly say for kids.

This is unfortunate, a family film yes but not just for kids. Walt Disneys original cartoons were never intended to be just for kids, don't believe me go watch Sleeping Beauty and tell me that was a kids movie.

Now as for "The Prince of Egypt", I LOVE THIS MOVIE. I have been a student of film and animation all my life and this stands out as one of the best animated films every produced. Not just because it was a Bible story but it broke new ground in storytelling, in writing on a higher level appealing to adults, The blending of CGI and traditional animation is among the best I have seen.

The characters jump off the screen, The burning bush scene is beyond compare in its subtle intesity. The look on Moses' face when he is enveloped by Gods power potrays not only the sheer joy that such an act would entale, but also the overwhelming anxiety that would coincide with meeting God.

Some would say that it was unnecessarily violent, not the case, it is no more violent that the Lion King's trampling scene or Sleeping Beauty's climactic fight scene, both of which are considered ok for children.

I am not going to go into the historical inaccuracy of the movie, if you want to see inaccuracy go watch the abomination that was ABC Televisions version of "The Ten Commandments".