Search - Moses (The Bible Collection) on DVD

The journey to the promised land

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 04/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

"The best Exodus film to date...but not quite 'Joseph'....."

Jerry Parks | Lexington, KY USA | 11/30/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ben Kingsley has to be one of the finest Hollywood--as well as biblical, character actors in the world today. His Moses spans the life of the hero from youth to the old man most people think of when the name of Moses is mentioned. This film is the best version of the Exodus story to date. It is far superior to 'Ten Commandments', which stressed the spectacular at the expense of the accurate. This TNT version--while not quite as good as 'Joseph', is extremely accurate in its depiction of ancient Egyptian history. It stresses the Egyptian background of Moses' life, and doesn't just portray him as simply Hebrew alone. How nice to see Moses pictured as a highly trained soldier (which he surely was) in growing up in the Pharaoh's court! Especially novel is the portrayal of Moses' lisp, which could be a very accurate interpretation of the Biblical narrative's 'slow of speech'. While a bit more emphasis could've been placed on the fact that the plagues were specific judgments upon Egyptian gods, the film does a fine job in nearly every other respect. The next to last meeting between Moses and the Pharaoh ("MY name resounds in all the earth--and I let YOU live"!) is exceptionally well written, and the final meeting is wonderful. Moses speaks volumes in his silence! The parting of the Red Sea is pretty darn good (though the crossing is mysteriously speedy--even for an epic!), and the fact that the Hebrews crossed it 'on dry ground' is an excellent addition which most miss in the Bible, not to mention the film! Great job, here! The 'pillars of fire' which hold back the Egyptians are depicted as lightning, and this part is a real highlight! The film assumes Ramases and Mernepta are the major Pharaohs of the period. This might cause a little confusion to more conservative believers who place the Exodus earlier (1445 BC), and the Pharaoh as Thutmoses III. It will be especially confusing to 'Prince of Egypt' admirers, since Ramases there is Moses' friend, instead of the Pharaoh-father. All in all, this is a film well worth watching. Unlike 'Joseph' however, which never had a dull moment, 'Moses' is considerably less interesting after the crossing of the Red Sea. But it does fair justice to the Bible, and the acting is superb. One could hardly ask too much more from Hollywood!"

Excellent movie, worth watching

Neil | Tennessee | 01/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the first movie from the TNT group that I bought and I was not disappointed. The movie covers Moses' life from his birth to the time right before the conquest.From a Scriptural point of view, Exodus is the book they follow most. They do not deal with most of the wars during the wandering in the desert and they skirt over some things like Korah's rebellion. Most of the time is spent in building up Moses' encounter with God and the actual exodus from Egypt.Scripturally, the movie is well done. They had to personify the Israelite people into individuals. Also they make no mention of Moses' children and very little about his wife. Like all movies about Moses, they compress the time frame a lot. They also tone down the size of the Israelites to a few hundred (on screen).The production is very good. This movie is definitely PG-13. It portrays some sacrifices and war. It may not be appropriate for younger children."

Stimulating and Stirring

Franklin Howell | Dallas, TX USA | 01/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Devoid of the excessive stereotyping and Americanization prominent in The Ten Commandments, Young's work is a long-awaited breath of fresh air. In this version, Kingsley portrays a Moses much more warm and human, complete with occasional stuttering and blunders. The viewer will find in this character a mortal man facing genuinely impossible obligations. His humanness is demonstrated, for instance, during the great slaughter of the masses following the golden calf event. Standing bold and firm with his staff in hand, Moses oversees the brutal, gratuitous killings while shedding tears in the process. The beauty of the miracle events in this movie is in the raw atmosphere accompanying each moment. These miracles portray realism rather than magical wonders in a fairy tale, candy coated with church liturgy. For example, the burning bush scene in The Ten Commandments involves a state of piety not unlike that of a modern day church in Western society. The setting bears soft lights and prominent silence. In essence, Moses enters a holy altar. Bowing to God, his movements are rehearsed and orderly, like a skilled monk in a prayer closet. Quietly and humbly, Moses moves into repentance and consecration. When God tells him what he wants him to do, Moses' question of "Who am I to do such a thing" carries a tone of modesty instead of rejection. But in Young's rendering of this event matters are very different. Moses is caught off guard in an otherwise normal setting of sheep, rocks, and dust when a common shrub a few meters from him suddenly bursts into flames. Upon investigation, Moses finds himself not so much at an altar but rather in an altered state. Yet the rawness of nature surrounding this phenomenon remains unchanged. When confronted with his assignment, Moses pleads with God consistently to reconsider. He cries out and insists that he is the wrong man for the job. Equally impressive is the scene's conclusion. With a promise of assurance God gets the last word in, and just like that the bush returns to normal and the altered state is gone. No music, no space gun sound effects, no singing angels. Moses, still in shock, checks his surroundings and then himself as if questioning his own sanity. The film presents a cast of good actors. The character dispositions are slightly peculiar and odd in a way that seems to jibe with the nature of ancient Middle Eastern culture. This serves to alienate the audience just enough to generate a convincing level of authenticity throughout the saga. Though made on a budget, the movie avoids those tell-tale budget features that get in the way of enjoying the moments. I found it both colorful and poignant, and consider it suitable for anyone, believer and atheist alike."