Moses

While Ben Kingsley is a great actor his adaptation of Moses is not one of his better roles. He simply is not believable as the great Hebrew leader. Regardless of this fact the movie is definitely worth watching.

This is at least the seventh version of the Biblical events encompassing the Hebrew exodus from Egypt and the laying down of God's law in the form of the Ten Commandments that I have checked out: the others were THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923 and 1956), MOSES THE LAWGIVER (1974; TV Mini-Series), the relevant three-part entry in GREATEST HEREOS OF THE BIBLE (1978-79; TV Series), the animated THE PRINCE OF EGYPT (1998) and, the most recent (and most radical), EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS (2014; in which the leading man here, Ben Kingsley, also features). Incidentally, the film under review itself forms part of a series, spanning 8 years and 17 TV-movies, collectively dubbed "The Bible Collection" - of which I am only familiar with Ermanno Olmi's GENESIS: THE CREATION AND THE FLOOD (1994), Nicolas Roeg's SAMSON AND DELILAH (1996) and director Young's own JESUS (1999).

Despite its 183-minute duration and the over-familiarity (not to mention, repetitiveness) of the proceedings, the pacing surprisingly only occasionally drags its feet throughout; that said, the brownish hue of the cinematography (sometimes undercut by more appealing bluish tones) lends the whole an unnecessary drabness! Anyway, the film brings together a reasonably competent crowd in the way of cast (albeit not all were readily discernible!) and crew: music consultant Ennio Morricone, Ben Kingsley (in the faithfully-rendered title role, having the same year already essayed the role of another Egyptian Hebrew, JOSEPH - also helmed by Young), Sonia Braga (her role of Moses' spouse Sephora is grossly underplayed!), Anna Galiena (as Moses' noble surrogate mother), Anthony Higgins, Frank Langella (as the new Pharaoh and Moses' former Egyptian 'brother'), Christopher Lee (briefly seen as the surly Ramses {sic}), Philippe Leroy, Enrico Lo Verso (as Joshua, Moses' successor), Geraldine McEwan (as Moses' sister Miriam), Maurice Roeves (as the inevitable opponent to Moses among his own people), Philip Stone (as Moses' father-in-law - occupying, oddly enough, a prominent part!), David Suchet (as Moses' brother Aaron) and Dudley Sutton.

Moses' life in Egypt is rather swiftly dealt with (a mere half an hour in, he has already embraced his Jewish faith!) - but, then, it goes farther than most after the climactic Ten Commandments 'incident' (notably, Miriam's turning against her own brother and its depiction of the demise of all three siblings). Ultimately, this is typically reverent fare (certainly in keeping with, and on the level of, the other entries in "The Bible Collection"): worthwhile - if mainly for the sake of comparison - and, while technically proficient enough, emerges as dramatically uninspired in the long run.

We have seen almost every interpretation of Moses and the Exodus. Film, Made for T.V. Movie even the Animated effort(s) and the question remains why did they bother?! There is only one (1) version worth watching and it is shown every year around Easter/Passover on the ABC Network. Cecil B. DeMille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Paramount (1956). Better yet, buy it on DVD and get both his versions.

Yes, we know all the faults of the film. A presentation suitable for a early 20th Century Stage melodrama. SFX that could/should have been tighten up. Plus some over the top acting, but that ignores the positives. Egypt looked like a powerful EMPIRE, which it was. Not some back-water mono-chromatic third world state. When GOD struck down with its POWER, you knew IT meant business. Rameses was a Rat, Nefretiri a over sexed nymphomaniac and Moses true to the Lord, without the second guessing introspective.

What you get in MOSES is a wimp, who whines about doing the Almighty's will. Weasly Hebrews who are not worth saving and SFX which would have been better done in the 1935, let alone in 1995! Plus a musical score which is not forgettable, but not even noticed. It takes more then a strong cast to make a great film. It takes a Director/Producer that loves the subject matter. There is no doubt that DeMille filled the bill in both matters.

April 1, My husband and I watched this movie Easter Sunday and it seemed appropriate. We both agreed that it was very well depicted,and fairly accurate in it's portrayal of Moses and the events he was involved in. His compassion and frustration for his fellow Israelites was very moving. Ben Kingsley is a very good actor. And yes, we did find the exceptionally white teeth of some of the actors disarmingly distracting. What toothpaste do they use?????? :-) "No Christ,No Peace......Know Christ,Know Peace!."

This is probably the most beautiful of all the Moses films, and the poor colors of the film is rather an asset to its substance and character than a failure, like a sepia haze veiling the whole film in desert colors. Ben Kingsley makes a very different Moses from Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston, much more human and sensitive, which could be nearer to the truth. His doubts and shortcomings are more convincing than Charlton Heston's icon and Burt Lancaster's authoritarian hardness. Like in "Moses the Lawgiver" with Burt Lancaster, Aaron is here given an important prominence and is impressively played by David Suchet, who almost transcends Ben Kingsley. Pharaoh is impressively played by Frank Langella and couldn't be more convincing, although, just like in "Moses the Lawgiver", he is entirely wrong. Ramses II was the Pharaoh at the time, Merenphtah ruled only for a short time after his death as an already old man, and Yul Brunner remains the best Pharaoh on film in "The Ten Commandments", which by general consent remains the best Moses film even after almost 60 years. Ennio Morricone succeeds even better in this film with the music than he did in the Burt Lancaster version, it guilds and caresses every scene in perfect moods and colors and adds to the very sensitive portrayal of the Moses complexities, which remain inexplicable to this day. This is perhaps the only Moses film to really love.