Review of The Ten Commandments (1956) by Michael Y — 23 Apr 2011

A movie adaptation of the most epic tale in human history. The Ten Commandments is a 4 hour epic directed by one of the greatest epic film directors and staring the most epic actors in the most epic religious epic of extreme epicness!

The Ten Commandments is Cecil B. DeMills's own remake of his own Ten Commandments movie, and is his greatest picture. The story of the most important Hebrew who ever lived and one of the greatest religious figures in history. A Hebrew child is born in a time in Egypt when men ruled over men without God's moral law, where Egyptians made slaves of the Hebrews who wait for a deliverer to free them. That child is saved from slaughter and finds a new home amongst Egyptians. That child would become Moses who would become a prince of Egypt and then become God's hand in freeing His people and delivering His Commandments. Now that's epicness right there! The story is taken from the Holy Scriptures and many other writings of Moses that sculpt a multilayered story about the Man, the women who love him, the people who follow him, and a Pharaoh's pride that seeks to destroy him. From a performance by the least Jewish man who ever lived, Charlton Heston IS and shall forever be the face of Moses. His performance is epic and incredible. But it's even better when he clashes with Rameses, played by a man just as epic, Yul Brynner. When Heston and Brynner are together, it's like a clash of who can give the most epic perfromance. It's so awesome! Plus with other incredible performances by a fierce and seductive, Anne Baxter, a strong and wise, Yvonne De Carlo, and even Vincent Price! This all star cast of impressive and talented performers makes this epic tale all the more memorable and enjoyable.

The Ten Commandments is Cecil B. DeMille's last movie, and his best. A remake of his own movie, but this time with a hell of a bigger budget and in INCREDIBLE TECHNICOLOR! This is an epic above epics, and a movie of great sights and sounds to behold. Great advances in period costume design, set design and art direction makes this movie perfect. This movie is full of colour, especially in it's creative use of combined lights and wonderful epic cinematography. What really sets this movie apart back in the day is its wonderful and iconic special effects. Though not as impressive for today, still, back then this movie was the BOMB! But they're so iconic though, from the parting of the Red Sea to the creepy "death Hand" in the night sky. But the best effect is how the film is able to capture small figures off in great distances, building Egypt and moving large stones. Another impressive act is how DeMille directs such a large cast of extras. Many extras were used in this movie, and he handles all of them and their actions perfectly. The scene when the Hebrews are walking to freedom, and you get a glimps of all the extras, all wearing unique clothing, moving cattle and animals of many varieties, and capturing many of their different actions. Now that's impressive choreography and directing. The look of the entire movie is perfect, epic, influencial and memorable, and all topped off with a wonderfully conducted music score to make a good movie moment even better.

It may be over acting and an over dramatized biblical epic, but that's what makes this movie perfect. Every word is important, every moment holds meaning, and every character plays a role of God's plan. Directed by one of the best and staring some incredible actors the role of their lifetime, this biblical drama/romance is the BEST biblical movie of ALL TIME, and is fun and epic enough to be thuroughly enjoyed, minute by minute.