Stars: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Steve Martin

Director: Simon Wells

Summary: Two brothers who are brought up separately each have their own paths to follow. One is to become leader of Egypt. One is to lead his people out of Egypt.

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is a full-length, animated version of the Biblical story of Moses. After being adopted and raised as the son of a Pharaoh, Moses learns that he is an Israelite and must accept his destiny as the leader of his enslaved people. As ruler of the most powerful empire on earth, Moses' brother Rameses refuses to let the Israelites go and thus brings down the wrath of God upon Egypt. A triumph of animated storytelling and colourful design, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is at once a religious epic and a universal tale of personal destiny and brotherly rivalry.

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Nearly every biblical film is ambitious, creating pictures to go with some of the most famous and sacred stories in the Western world. DreamWorks' first animated film, The Prince of Egyptwas the vision of executive producer Jeffrey Katzenberg after his ugly split from Disney, where he had been acknowledged as a key architect in that studio's rebirth (The Little Mermaid, etc.). His first film for the company he helped create was a huge, challenging project without a single toy or merchandising tie-in, the backbone du jour of family entertainment in the 1990s.

Three directors and 16 writers succeed in carrying out much of Katzenberg's vision. The linear story of Moses is crisply told, and the look of the film is stunning; indeed, no animated film has looked so ready to be placed in the Louvre since Fantasia. Here is an Egypt alive with energetic bustle and pristine buildings. Born a slave and set adrift in the river, Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) is raised as the son of Pharaoh Seti (Patrick Stewart) and is a fitting rival for his stepbrother Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). When he learns of his roots--in a knockout sequence in which hieroglyphics come alive--he flees to the desert, where he finds his roots and heeds God's calling to free the slaves from Egypt.

Katzenberg and his artists are careful to tread lightly on religious boundaries. The film stops at the parting of the Red Sea, only showing the Ten Commandments--without commentary--as the film's coda. Music is a big part (there were three CDs released) and Hans Zimmer's score and Stephen Schwartz's songs work well--in fact the pop-ready, Oscar-winning "When You Believe" is one of the weakest songs. Kids ages 5 and up should be able to handle the referenced violence; the film doesn't shy away from what Egyptians did to their slaves. Perhaps Katzenberg could have aimed lower and made a more successful animated film, but then again, what's a heaven for? --Doug Thomas

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	The Making Of The Prince Of Egypt, When You Believe Presentation, Basics Of Animation Chariot Race, Directors Commentary, Focus On Technical Effects, The Prince Of Egypt Art Gallery, 2 Theatrical Trailers
Subtitles:	Dutch
Year:	1998
Release Date:	March 19, 2001
Runtime:	95 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	490 938 9
Keywords:	Animated, General, Egypt, Wide, Screen, Educational, Prince, Animation, Instructional, Childrens
Genre:	Childrens