The Prince of Egypt (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Brenda Chapman
Steve Hickner

Writers:

Philip LaZebnik (screenplay)
Nicholas Meyer (additional screenplay material)

Release Date:

18 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical

Tagline:

Two brothers united by friendship divided by destiny

Plot:

An Egyptian prince learns of his identity as a Hebrew and, later his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people.

Plot Keywords:

Moses | Hebrew | Pharaoh | Ancient Egypt | Prophet

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Moses (voice)
Ralph Fiennes	...	Rameses (voice)
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Tzipporah (voice)
Sandra Bullock	...	Miriam (voice)
Jeff Goldblum	...	Aaron (voice)
Danny Glover	...	Jethro (voice)
Patrick Stewart	...	Seti (voice)
Helen Mirren	...	The Queen (voice)
Steve Martin	...	Hotep (voice)
Martin Short	...	Huy (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Avery	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Aria Noelle Curzon	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Ofra Haza	...	Yocheved (voice)
Bobby Motown	...	Rameses Son (voice)
Eden Riegel	...	Young Miriam (voice)
Shira Roth	...	Hebrew Child (singing voice)
Stephanie Sawyer	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Francesca Smith	...	Additional Voices (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for intense depiction of thematic elements.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:G | South Korea:All | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Egypt:(Banned) | Malaysia:(Banned)

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Val Kilmer provides a voice for both Moses and God. Charlton Heston also played both parts in The Ten Commandments (1956).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Moses is dragged by the camel, his arm is looped through a brown bag filled with water. Just before his head hits the well, his arm is looped through a red strap.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Overseers: [chanting] Mud... Sand... Water... Straw. Faster! Mud... and lift... sand... and pull... water... and raise up! Straw... Faster!
Hebrews: [singing] With the sting of the whip on my shoulder, with the salt of my sweat on my brow... Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people cry? Help us now, this dark hour... Deliver us, hear our call, deliver us, Lord of all! Remember us, here in this burning sand! Deliver us, there's a land you promised us! Deliver us to the promised land!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Will Get There

A Visual Masterpiece

For years, I have searched for a truly epic film. I have witnessed the genius of Lawrence of Arabia, the majesty of Star Wars, the pupil-dilating battles of Braveheart, but after all that war, I realize that The Prince of Egypt is a little more special than all of them.

If not the best film of the year, then the best animated film ever. Its visuals simply can't be described, for its images will stay in your mind forever. They will not be seared, like the brutal images of Saving Private Ryan, but instead, simply stay with you. When you remember them, you will smile, for they are the true meaning of epic.

If you don't like the film's story, or even if you don't like the film in general, you will still stare in awe at its visual images. They are the best ever. The parting of the Red Sea is just one of the best. The closing shot is about 10 seconds long and is truly mind-boggling.

Animation just hit puberty, and I can't wait to see it become an adult. Go see it. You won't be disappointed, I guarantee you.