Plot: What’s it about?
This animated feature is based on the story of Joseph and of course, this tale comes from the bible and has religious overtones. But much like the film that came before it, The Prince Of Egypt, Joseph: King of Dreams never goes too far into the preaching realm and just allows the story to unfold. So even if you don’t believe in God, this film is still worth a look and has a lot to offer all viewers. Yes, there’s some religion packed in at times, but with a story like this, that is unavoidable to a certain extent. But don’t pass on this one because you expect a sermon, as that is not what this one is all about. The story follows Joseph from his birth all through many, many years of his life. His humble start in life takes him into feuds with his brothers, the discovery of his special gift, and he soon finds himself far away from his simple home. But now that Joseph is among the nobles, what will he do when his brothers return to call on him?
Joseph: King of Dreams was a direct to video release from Dreamworks, but this is much better than most features that miss the theaters. Of course, it will always be compared to The Prince Of Egypt, but that is not really a fair comparison. I don’t think the time nor budget spent on this film is even close to that one, so you can’t manage a direct comparison. I do think the animation is pretty close to the same level and the voice talent (Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, Judith Light, Jodi Benson) is good also, so the basics seem in place and no real problems surface. I was a little let down with the music and lyrics, but then again, I didn’t care much for those elements in The Prince Of Egypt either. The music isn’t bad here by any means, but it doesn’t seem to be as powerful as I expected. But that is a minor point in the end, as the other elements seem in place and in fine form. The storyline remains pretty close to the source material, which is always good and I think the writers turned in fine work. I will say that this is a rather short film (74 minutes) and I wanted more, but the whole thing doesn’t seem rushed by any means. If you like animated features and the style of animation used in The Prince Of Egypt, then rush out to look into Joseph: King Of Dreams.
Video: How does it look?
Joseph: King of Dreams is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is Dreamworks, right? We’ve come to expect a level of excellence from these folks and once again, they’ve delivered the goods. I saw few problems with this presentation, aside from some small compression hiccups here and there. The colors look bold and rich, with no smears in the least and no evidence of bleeds. This style of animation doesn’t rely much on shading, but the black levels are still solid and never obscure any detail. I also didn’t see any flaws within the animation, another excellent transfer from Dreamworks!
Audio: How does it sound?
The disc’s Dolby Digital 5.1 track is most active when the musical portions kick in, but I heard some subtle audio in places all throughout the film. I was very pleased, as this subtle audio allows for a richer, more immersive atmosphere, which adds a lot to the experience. The songs sound very good here and bring the surrounds to life, creating an expansive musical environment. Of course, this film isn’t all music however and even the more low key sequences sound terrific. I was able to detect subtle surround use in heavy doses and even some rather powerful use in some instances. I wasn’t always overpowered, but this audio track is more than adequate in the end. This disc also contains English subtitles, in case you need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to some DVD ROM content, this disc also includes the film’s trailer, some production notes, and talent files on those involved. A fun read along is also found here, as well as a sing-a-long presentation, both of which should delight the younger viewers. This edition also houses a trivia game and a storyboard presentation, which you can view with or without commentary from the director. A nice selection of extras, especially for a standard edition direct to video title.
