Review of The Ten Commandments (1956) by Jaired P — 15 Sep 2014

Plot Summary.

The beginning of the movie starts with the Pharaoh sending out a decree that all the male newborn babies are to be killed due to a prophecy of a "chosen one" who will rise up and lead the Israelites out of bondage. At this time the Hebrew people had been slaves of Egypt for close to 400 years. During this time Moses was born, in fear of her child being killed Yochabel sent Moses down the Nile River in a basket made of reeds and pitch. Moses later becomes a prince of Egypt until he finds his true heritage. Moses then gets a message from God through a burning bush on Mt. Sinai that he is going to deliver Israel from bondage. He then goes to Egypt to confront Pharaoh Rameses II. Pharaoh says no, so God unleashes ten plagues upon Egypt. The last plague is to kill as the first born in Egypt unless the people put the blood of a lamb on their door posts. After the Pharaoh's son dies he frees the Hebrew slaves. After the crossing of the Red Sea, God give Moses the Law known as the Ten Commandments.

World Religion.

This movie is a great representation of the belief system of Judaism because it not only encompasses story, it also gives some references to other key figures in that religion. Later in the movie it also gives an explanation of one of the major holidays that Jewish people celebrate. The movie also has scenes that show or tell of other religions. Moses is also one of the patriarchs of the Jewish religion he also is one of the main writers of the Torah. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. Which are the basis of the Jewish religion and states the Law of God to the Hebrew people. When Moses was in the wilderness, Jethro took him in and offered one of his daughters for Moses to marry. We find out that Jethro is a descendant of Ishmael, Abrahams first born son, which later in history we find is a patriarch of the Palestinians who are mostly Islamic. This scene also proves that Jethro's people worship the same God as Israel. At the beginning of the movie Moses returns to Egypt victorious over the Ethiopians. This alludes to African Indigenous Religions. The first half of the movie you also see that Egypt also worships various gods as do most African indigenous religions.

After Moses returns to Egypt after receiving word from God that he will lead Israel out of bondage, God puts Egypt through 10 plagues the last one being the Death Angel will kill all the first born except those who put lambs blood on the door post of their house. When they did this the Death Angel would pass over their house which gave birth to the Jewish Holiday of Passover. Over all I think the movie depicts Judaism fairly well.