The Prince of Egypt: Critic Reviews

The movie's proudest accomplishment is that it revises our version of Moses toward something more immediate and believable, more humanly knowable.

The drawn and computer-animated imagery is top notch and seamlessly integrated, but the central characters' tawny complexions and the often chiaroscuro lighting sometimes obscure all but the whites of their eyes and their pearl-perfect teeth.

I wish DreamWorks had been more truly daring instead of merely competitive and worked a little longer at evolving a drawing style that departed more radically from the Disney house style than this film does.

Rather than Jerry Falwell, I'd have had the production vetted by Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks.

The handsomely animated Prince of Egypt is an amalgam of Hollywood biblical epic, Broadway supermusical and nice Sunday school lesson.

The blend of animation techniques somehow demonstrates mastery modestly, while the special effects are nothing short of magnificent.

This animated Bible story raises the level of film artistry to new heights!

Takes itself too seriously.

The Prince of Egypt is middlebrow kitsch, but kitsch straining for respectability and therefore without the energy that can make kitsch entertaining.

This is sensational cinema: crowds swarming among pyramids in eye-popping 3-D, camerawork that's distinctly Spielbergian in its fluidity.

The film lacks creative exuberance, any side pockets of joy.

The 400-member-strong Prince of Egypt team (led by directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells and ramrodded by executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg) have created a succession of visual wonders.

It turns much too serious for its own good, though it otherwise is an entirely satisfying animated adventure story.

Well-told story that's careful not to offend.

When Moshe encounters the burning bush and confronts a God who calls Himself I Am That I Am...it is almost as if the scene compels the audience to remove their shoes for holy ground is underfoot

The angular animation and muted colour palette gives the film a look more redolent of classic European cartoons than their homelier American counterparts.

Hyperactive and visually busy without being much fun.

As epic, emotionally satisfying spectacle, it's way up there with the very best in mainstream animation.

Much of the animation is stunning and all of the vocal performances are good to great. It's just much of the passion seems to be in not stepping on anyone's beliefs or interpretations, instead of in telling the story in the most compelling way possible.

It could've worked with well-thought out characters, but limps along with the mostly flat and unmemorable ones that populate the picture.

Audiences may truly be shocked at how far Katzenberg is willing to go to maintain the story's integrity.

Don't expect dancing camels and singing sphinxes.

It is a more than decent adaptation of the classic tale, one that, despite what I have said in the previous paragraph, never talks down to its audience.

Except for the rousing opening scenes, children may find the film too slow and humorless for cartoon fare. Most adults would prefer a more sophisticated exploration of spiritual themes.

Though I don't recommend this film for very small children, it could be a great learning tool for teens, church youth groups, or aspiring animators. But you may be required to answer some tough questions. Better go bone up on your Old Testament.