Netflix Self-Torture Experiment Trilogy #43: The Prince of Egypt

This was another suggestion from @bsheepies/milkglassmao.

Synopsis from Netflix: Born into slavery and cast adrift on the Nile to escape mass genocide, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is reared as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and stepbrother of Ramses (Ralph Fiennes). When Moses learns of his true ancestry, he retreats to the desert, where he answers God’s call and accepts his destiny: to lead the Hebrews out of slavery and into freedom. DreamWorks’ animated film scored an Oscar for Best Song (“When You Believe”).

My thoughts: I’m trying to think back and remember if I’ve ever included an animated film in one of the previous self-torture experiments because I’m finding this movie difficult to analyze. Parts of it were actually pretty neat to watch, especially the parting of the Red Sea at the end. All the same, parts of it were pretty annoying (especially the cheesy songs littered throughout the film).

If I just concentrate on the storyline as a whole, I don’t have much bad to say about The Prince of Egypt. However, when I recall specific elements of how the story was told, my opinion changes. For instance, the beginning of the movie seemed too much like a buddy action film with Ramses and Moses running around Egypt on their chariots causing mayhem and looking sheepish afterwards. Then, when Moses returns from the desert to ask Ramses to free the Hebrews, a strangely incongruous song breaks out in which Moses is informed that he’s “playing with the big boys now.” It just didn’t seem to fit the Biblical mold in the slightest.

I guess I should allow DreamWorks some artistic license because it’s not like the Bible has anything cool in it like smitings or plagues or burning bushes that talk…they had to make sure the story had some pizzazz. 

Once again, I find myself wishing that Netflix allowed you to rate a movie 2.5 stars because I really think that’s where this one belongs. I’ll go ahead and round up this time, though. [Three out of five stars.]