Though this television production doesn't have the epic grandeur of
"The Ten Commandments", it is a marvelous telling of the story of
Moses, with some superb acting; there are a few liberties taken to
flesh out the script, but the heart of the Biblical account is intact,
with a memorable portrayal by Ben Kingsley as the prophet who was
"clumsy with words" but led his people to freedom.
Other
terrific performances come from David Suchet as Aaron, Sonia Braga as
Zipporah, and Philip Stone as Jethro, and as the "bad guys", Frank
Langella, who with his sonorous voice makes an effective Pharaoh, and
Maurice Roeves as Zerack, the man who is a continual kvetch.Filmed
in sub-saharan Quarzazate and Agadir, Morocco, it is visually
beautiful, with the excellent cinematography by Raffaele Mertes; I like
the neutral palette, and the artifacts and costuming that give it an
authentic look of ancient times. Added to the atmosphere is the
wonderful score by Marco Frisina.
The effects are good, from the
parting of the sea to the tablets of the law, and other than a short
sequence of violence (which includes a swift depiction of sacrificing
an animal) after the golden calf incident, it is family friendly. Total
running time is 184 minutes.
This is a film that stands up to a lot
of repeated viewing; it is so full of eternal truths, and content that
is applicable to our lives today.
This product was added to our catalog on Monday 29 September, 2008.
