Review of The Ten Commandments (1956) by Uditha D — 26 Nov 2011
The Ten Commandments is a very good example of how Biblical stories were adapted to horrible, commercialized Hollywood fare in the 1950s. The film is, from beginning to end, silly and incredible. Thus when Nefertiti constantly chimes "Oh Moses, Moses!" and when that Egyptian boy screams at his mother "Mother! Mommy! He turned his staff into a cobra!", I felt like turning the whole TV set off.
It tries to be an epic that should have impressed us, as all effective epics like Ben-Hur do: but then again, it isn't effective at all. On the contrary, it makes one laugh precisely at those points where we should be impressed - and in certain parts (most notably "Oh Moses, Moses!"), I actually became very VERY annoyed.
The posters and the Biblical story of Exodus seemed to make (before I viewed it) The Ten Commandments an alluring prospect. But I was deeply disappointed when I actually watched it. Not even the special effects are enough to make up for the silliness that surrounds everything in it - the dialogue, the performances, the characterizations, even the scenes.
This is one of the more inferior epics in my view. A 2 out of 5 stars at the most.
This review of The Ten Commandments (1956) was written by Uditha D on 26 Nov 2011.
The Ten Commandments has generally received positive reviews.
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