Should you see The Prince of Egypt?

The animated movie is a work of art, visually captivating and up to the cinematic standards we have come to expect from Spielberg et al.

It is awe-inspiring. Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush, Moses' obedience to His loving and detailed instructions, God's many miracles in dealing with the unyielding pharaoh (especially parting the Red Sea) are handled with appropriate reverence and good taste. The animated genre lends itself well to depicting God's holiness and power.
In fact, one can't help but wonder what the actors might have felt as they spoke their lines (Val Kilmer as Moses; Michelle Pfeiffer as his wife, Zipporah; Ralph Fiennes as the pharaoh, Rameses; Danny Glover as Moses' father-in-law, Jethro; Jeff Goldblum as Moses' brother, Aaron; Sandra Bullock as Moses' sister, Miriam). Did they understand the Prince of Egypt's link to the Prince of Peace?

The movie is fun. Covering Moses' life from birth to receiving the Ten Commandments, the scenes of him as a youth growing up in the palace of Egypt are lively and entertaining. A chariot race between the adolescent boys, Moses and Rameses, is a certain crowd-pleaser. It also lays the groundwork for understanding how, as grown men, the adversarial relationship that developed as Moses begged pharaoh to "let my people go" was gut-wrenching emotionally for both of them.

But the movie is not without faults -- especially for viewers who expect a precise depiction of the account in Exodus. Because it's a dramatization, the producers took creative license by adding details not mentioned in the Bible and eliminating others, mostly because of time limitations. One of the most jarring changes for me: the movie shows Pharoah's wife, rather than daughter, finding Moses in a basket among the reeds of the Nile.

Also, Aaron is depicted a bit more as a mouthpiece of the Israelite slaves than a mouthpiece for his tongue-tied brother.

It's possible that the scene where Aaron's staff turns into a snake, gobbles up the magicians' staff and then becomes a staff again will be vague to viewers who aren't familiar with this crucial scene in the story; these events flash past in a blaze of color and action that I found difficult to understand. In addition, biblically illiterate viewers might not discern that the palace magicians were using sorcery to match Moses' demonstration of God's power through miracles.

And don't forget that parts of the story are not so pretty, no matter how artistically they are treated by arguably the best in the business.

For example, Moses was placed in a basket by a mother anxious to save his life from a tyrant pharaoh, the Hebrew slaves were brutally beaten (and, in fact, Moses himself murdered an Egyptian), and the angel of death sent by the Lord killed many children.

So, back to the question, should you go? The decision is entirely yours, of course, but we hope the information provided here is helpful in making it.

On Mission magazine is not in the business of recommending or panning movies--or, for that matter, any genre of the entertainment or media industry depicted in this issue.

Our cover states that On Mission is dedicated to "helping you share Christ in the real world." Movies--and other entertainment or media --provide real world opportunities to connect with people in a way that can lead to conversations about Christ. Yet much of what's "out there" is (frankly) garbage, will pollute your heart, isn't worth your time or money and probably should be avoided to keep your eyes firmly focused on Jesus. However, keep in mind that He walked among sinners, associated with some of the lowest people in His society and related His message wherever He went.

Therefore, if your method of evangelism includes participation in any of the numerous offerings of popular culture, we urge you to make your choices with prayerful discernment. And, if you choose to see this film either for personal entertainment or as an activity with friends who may not yet know the Lord, please remember that the best source for learning about God is always His Word.

-- Carolyn Curtis