MEOW!
So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes
--Jethro
Not only did I absolutely love The Prince of Egypt growing up, but I might have loved it as much as some of my favorite Disney movie musicals. Part of that came from the music (I am listening to "Through Heaven's Eyes" as I'm writing this), and just how epic and profound each of the songs were written. It was also an exceptional alternative to watching The Ten Commandments every Easter on ABC (When I watched The Ten Commandments as a child for the first time, my eyes widened realizing that it focused on the story of Moses). So what do I think of it today?
The Prince of Egypt, for all of its nitpicks, remains a genuine testament to the human spirit, and one of the best (animated) movie musicals that I've ever seen. I would go as far as to say it's as good as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast combined.
Part of that, once again, comes from the masterful score by Hans Zimmer, and the beautifully written songs by Stephen Schwartz. "When You Believe," as sung in the film and not in the end credits (although that version is also very well-sung; R.I.P. Whitney Huston), is so moving and powerful that it may have the ability to form tears in your eyes...which are now heaven's eyes by that point. "Through Heaven's Eyes" is also a masterfully written song, while being performed brilliantly by the great Brian Stokes Mitchell. "The Plagues" is EPIC, and you will be amazed by the fact that...yes...Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) can actually sing! "Deliver Us" is...Okay, EVERY song in this film works; let's just leave it at that.
{One song that I find under-appreciated is "I Will Get There," performed by Boyz II Men and sung during the end credits after "When You Believe." It's a wonderful song that can inspire people to...well...get there, of course!}
Combined with the epic music is the epic nature of its animation, which is also an extraordinary achievement. When Moses parts that red sea to save his people from Rameses and his comrades...whew lawdy. Also notable is the animation of the burning bush, the animation of "Deliver Us," the animation of the plague that takes the souls of the first born, the animation, the animation, the ani, ma, tion is some of the best I've ever seen in an animated motion picture. Absolutely incredible artwork by the animation team at Dreamworks.
Awwwwww yeeeeeeeeeeah....
One of the greatest strengths of The Prince of Egypt lies within the character of Moses himself, and that comes through in one particular moment of animation, immediately after Rameses tells Moses that he and his people are free to leave. You would expect Moses to feel relieved that he has finally completed God's crucial mission, but in just one powerful moment, he collapses onto the ground feeling the internal pain of being dismissed by his stepbrother forever. That's not only great animation; that's great art. It shows just how much he cared for his stepbrother even when God's plagues not only wiped out half of Egypt, but also took away the life of Rameses' son, the one person that quite possibly made him happier to be alive. Speaking of God, it also shows how much God is like all of us after all. He is a good and merciful person, but he also has a temper sometimes, while also having the ability to express himself in unexpected (and tragic) ways. Overall, God is human, and to err is human. To life is human. L'chaim!
There are some pacing issues in developing the relationship between Moses and Rameses during the first act, but once Moses finds out where he truly comes from, The Prince of Egypt does nothing but soar through the rest of the picture, sometimes in unexpectedly powerful ways. Extraordinary animation, beautifully epic music, and a familiar story told with astonishing depth, this is one masterful work in the art of picture, sound and old-testament storytelling. Out of five fake camels with shades, I give The Prince of Egypt...
Until next time,
THE PRODUCERS
OH, I MUST TELL MY BIRDS!
Oh, and MEOW, of course!
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