The Prince of Egypt (1998)
The Prince of Egypt isn’t just for Sunday school. It’s a marvel of animation with a rousing score, memorable score, and subtle qualities that make it a powerful emotional experience.
An adaptation of the Book of Exodus, baby Moses is set adrift on the Nile by his slave mother so that he may escape the cruel whips of the Egyptians. Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is adopted by the Pharaoh’s wife and raised next to Rameses II (voiced by Ralph Fiennes). When God asks him to lead his people out of Egypt, he must face the man he once called "brother".
The Prince of Egypt is not meant for children. While it features songs, there's relatively little comedy, no goofy animated sidekicks, or other hallmarks of traditionally-animated films. Its objective is to make a film for teens+ and to take full advantage of its medium. Take a look at the bold visuals. The stunning Egyptian monuments who tower above everyone, the awesome power of the Red Sea, the legions of slaves who push polished blocks across deserts could've been done with live actors... if the budget had been astronomical.
At only 99 minutes, The Prince of Egypt is an efficient film that wields its music and songs like an expert swordsman. Deliver Us, tells us everything we need to know about the Hebrew people in the land of Egypt, shows us the power of the Pharaoh, introduces Moses’ family, the hopelessness the slaves feel as they pray for a savior, a mother's desperation, love, and hope, all while delighting our ears. Every scene has layers, subtle emotions, actions being performed in the background, and visual cues that further develop the world and the characters within it.
The music allows greater time for the complex characters. As you see Moses and Rameses grow further apart, they become enemies who still love each other. There's great subtlety in Rameses' actions. He is filled with pride, but also resentment about his power as future Pharaoh. Look at the way he is treated by his father, and compare it to the way he treats his own son later on. They get the bulk of the drama but they are not the only characters who are developed to a three-dimensional state.
Each of this musical's songs are unique. They range from a sweeping prayer uttered by desperate people, to rousing joyous dance music, to an epic and terrifying promise of sweeping devastation. Unlike so many films, trying to ape Disney's success, the tunes are never inserted as filler, a way to sell a soundtrack or to pad out the running time. These are integral to the film's whole.
Every time I watch The Prince of Egypt, I see a new detail I can’t believe I missed previously. There are subtle little stories in the background throughout that add dimension to the story (check out the old man that Moses knocks over, he reappears several times throughout) and one of the most visually striking dream sequences I’ve ever seen in a film. It uses Egyptian artwork and graphics in a truly unique way that brings chills down your spine. Writer Philip LaZebnik, directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells show genuine reverence towards the source material. It looks fantastic and contains everything you'd want out of a movie animated or not. It's a masterpiece, one of the very best animated films you can get your hands on. (On DVD, April 3, 2015)
