The Prince of Egypt: A 20th Anniversary Retrospective · 6:03am Dec 16th, 2018
Quest for Camelot, Mulan, the entirety of The Land Before Time Series. All of these retrospectives have brought us to this point. The first in Dreamworks' animated features. I don't actually remember seeing this in theaters, and only came across when my mother rented it (which had a preview of Chicken Run, and that I remember seeing it in theaters). It has received critical acclaim and a strong cult following. Let us see why.
But first, I actually started out by watching the story before; the final story in the Book of Genesis, "Joseph: King of Dreams." This, I recall, was direct to video, but it represents the canon very well and I recommend it just the same. Now, since graduating high school, my biblical studies have been rusty. I can recognize some differences, but forgive me if I get a few facts wrong.
We first open to Ancient Egypt around a few decades since the story of Joseph. The Hebrews that were welcome by Joseph have been enslaved and forced to build the great temples, statues, and pyramids that have since become historic. Still, they've been increasing in number. Worried about a possible revolt, Pharoah Seti, voiced by Patrick Stewart, ordered that every newborn child killed. The slaughter does its job... All except one. Placed in a woven basket, the babies mother sends him along the River Nile. By either chance or nature, the child is sent to the palace and is adopted into royalty.
Several years pass, and the child now named Moses, voiced by Val Kilmer, is having a ball with his older "mud" brother Ramses, voiced by Ralph Fiennes. However, their antics have caused damages to both Egyptian and the work of the Hebrews. Especially with Ramses, it puts Seti on edge; soon the responsibility of ruling the entire Dynasty will be brought to his son ("Leave No Ripples" as my father would say as what his father said to him regarding the ultimate purpose of every parent). Still, Moses would try to lighten things up.
Following a little celebration with the introduction of Tzipporah, voiced by Michelle Pfeiffer, Moses unintentionally comes across his siblings Miriam and Aaron, voiced by Sandra Bullock and Jeff Goldblum respectively. When he hears the words to a tune he would whistle, the very last words his biological mother ever spoke to him, Moses enters an identity crisis. Finding the truth on his own, his "father's" explanation, and accidentally killing a slave driver proved too much for him and so he flees from Egypt.
After a long journey, he reaches the land of Midian and comes across Tzipporah and her people. Welcomed as one of their own, Moses forsakes his Egyptian adoption and adapts to a simple life under One. Just after his marriage, Moses comes across the Burning Bush; one of the many images of He. The time has come; He will help Moses free the Hebrews from slavery in any shape or form. Moses and Tzipporah take the risky journey to Egypt.
Right away, the crowned Ramses II recognizes his adoptive brother but finds that things have indeed changed. But as the burden of the entire kingdom weighs on his shoulders, Ramses doesn't take kindly the idea of releasing the Hebrews. The person he knew as a brother would demonstrate His power, from a staff into a serpent to making the Nile red. In these two instances, the High Priests, voiced by Steve Martin and Martin Short, would use parlor tricks to give an equal reaction. But they couldn't provide an answer when plagues of all kinds tear Egypt apart. And yet, Ramses still plays the fiddle while his city burns. Only by the Angel of Death claiming many first-born children, including his, breaks him.
Hard as it was, Moses finally leads his people, and even a few Egyptians, away from the Nile and come across the Red Sea. Ramses still won't leave this at a sour note and goes after the free people. With help from above, Moses parts the sea and manage to get his people to safety. Looking at the place he was raised in one final time, Moses leads on the journey to the Promised Land; The film ending with his return from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments in hand.
There's a reason why I haven't used pop culture references if any. Watching both films at once really put in such an impact on me. Of all the movies that I've watched based on stories from the Old and New Testaments, this has and always will be the best out of them. Both films start out with acknowledgment of artistic and historic liberties, while otherwise being respectful. And it truly shows. There's no need of a darkened version of Noah's Ark or an epic battle in the parted Red Sea. Keep things simple, that's how one gets a story right. The animation is beautiful, especially with former Disney Animator James Baxter's supervision. The songs are great, and will always be kept in my mind. With an adult mind, there are some details I've never noticed before such as hearing "the terrible cry upon all of Egypt."
It will always be a great film; though I must warn you that if you ever decide to read the Bible on what happens next, you will be in quite a shock.
I actually like the prince of Egypt that was interesting though the plagues of Egypt song stayed with me lol
The Prince of Egypt 👌 Fresh film. One of the best based on the Bible. 10/10.