This is the first in a series of “oldies but goodies” movie reviews.
Today’s high schoolers weren’t even born when DreamWorks’ “The Prince of Egypt” came out in 1998. But this animated film is worth a watch as it tells the Biblical story of Moses like you’ve probably never seen or heard before. Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells and written by Philip LeZebnik, this film was nominated for two Grammys, two Golden Globes, four Annie Awards, and two Academy Awards. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “When You Believe,” sung by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
The movie begins in ancient Egypt, which is ruled by Pharaoh Seti, who enslaves the Hebrew people to build his nation. Paranoid about rebellion, he orders all infant boys to be killed. One enslaved mother, desperate to save her son, puts him in a basket and floats him down the river, which leads into the Pharaoh’s palace. In a stroke of luck, or maybe a work of God, the baby is found by Pharaoh’s relative who saves the baby, adopts him, and names him Moses.
Years later, Moses, now a prince of Egypt, uncovers the truth about his past. Though filled with rage and a desire to free his people, he doesn’t act immediately to save his Hebrew people since he knows that Pharaoh Seti raised him and gave him everything. But God speaks to him and tells him to return to Egypt with His power to set His people free. Moses warns his Egyptian family that if they don’t release the Hebrews, ten plagues will strike Egypt, each one worse than the last. His family doesn’t believe him at first, but soon they regret their decision and wish they had listened.
The first few moments of the movie sets the tone for the next hour and a half, with slaves sweating, crying, lifting, getting whipped, and dying to build a statue of their pharaoh. The mood then shifts to lavish ballrooms, fancy food, lively music, and golden jewelry from head to toe, with Moses at the center, truly enjoying it all. We come to see what Moses will have to give up to support his true heritage, and this ongoing struggle forms a plot that will keep you waiting to see what’s next. “The Prince of Egypt” does an amazing job of changing your emotions in just a few seconds, and that’s why I really enjoy it.
The movie stays close to the origins in the Bible, so for anyone looking for a realistic version of the Biblical story that’s easier to consume, this is the perfect choice. The animation, despite being nearly three decades old, still holds up, and in some scenes, even looks better than a lot of modern animation.
“The Prince of Egypt” is a powerful, emotional film with a lot of heart. I rate it a 10/10. You can stream “The Prince of Egypt” can be viewed on Peacock, YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
