THE AISLE SEAT - "THE PRINCE OF EGYPT"
by Mike McGranaghan
As a kid, I remember seeing animated Biblical stories. They were usually done with cheap animation that detracted from the natural power of the stories themselves. In contrast, The Prince of Egypt uses animation as an artistic form, a way to enhance the awe-inspiring quality of the story of Moses. The result is a groundbreaking piece of animated filmmaking.
Val Kilmer provides the voice of Moses, while Ralph Fiennes portrays his brother Rameses. Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum and Steve Martin also do voices. In the opening scene, the baby Moses is placed in a basket and sent floating down the river by his mother. He is found by the family of Pharaoh (Patrick Stewart) and raised as a son. Years later, as a young man, he discovers that he is actually descended from a family of slaves. Soon afterward, Moses is chosen by God to lead the slaves out of Egypt.
The Prince of Egypt tells the story respectfully without whitewashing the inherently religious nature of the tale. Many films are hesitant to deal with religion because they don't want to offend people or start theological debates (before this movie was even released, I received an anonymous e-mail warning me to consider its "racist propaganda" and "horribly evil lies" when reviewing it). I think there's a place for these issues in cinema, especially when handled so well. The Prince of Egypt never hammers a message into the audience's head; it presents the faith of Moses simply and beautifully so that we can share it as well.
Just as affecting is the animation, which sometimes combines traditional hand-drawn animation with computer effects. There are a handful of incredible set pieces, including the Burning Bush, a chariot race, the spreading of a plague, and - of course - the parting of the sea. My favorite scene, though, is one in which Moses discovers his true past. Disbelieving a slave woman who says she is his sister, Moses inspects a wall of hieroglyphics that reveal his lineage. Computer animation is used to make the hieroglyphics move along the wall, telling Moses his own history. The detail is so meticulous that you can even see the texture of the wall as the figures move upon it. This scene is remarkable in its vision.
Watching the movie, I realized that The Prince of Egypt is different from most animated films. The majority that are released target themselves to children. The best (including the Disney features) try to include enough material to interest adults as well. But this film - which comes courtesy of Dreamworks SKG - doesn't pander to any particular age group. They have just chosen this particular method as a means of re-telling the story. It's a wonderful way to introduce kids to the majesty and inspirational nature of the Bible. It's also a form of serious artistry that effectively capitalizes on the grand imagery found in Biblical stories. A live-action special effect of the Red Sea parting would be too obviously an effect; doing it through animation somehow makes it seem more real within the context of the movie.
The only (and I mean only) serious flaw is the music, which is terminally bland and forgettable. Every time the characters stopped to break into song, I felt like I was being pulled out of the story. This film did not need to be a musical. However, in all other regards, The Prince of Egypt is truly spectacular.
(
1/2 out of four)
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