Plot: What’s it about?
Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer) might have been a prince for as long as he can remember, but he isn’t born of that position, to be sure. His journey to his current position was a long and complex one, one that started with a decree from Pharaoh Seti (voiced by Patrick Stewart). He proclaimed that all male Hebrew newborns would be drowned and at that time, Moses was just that and his mother had no wish for him to perish. So she tucked him into a basket and whisked him down the river, in an effort to give him some hope for a future. After the dangerous ride down the river, Moses is discovered by the Queen and she decides to raise him as one of her own. So Moses grows up with his new brother Rameses (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) and the two become very close, although also very competitive. Soon however, Moses learns of the truth about who he is and where he has come from, which forces him to split from his family and wealth he has always known. But a force above all others has chosen Moses to free the Hebrews from their slavery, which means Moses has a lot of work in front of him and little time in which to do it.
This disc has the same video quality and supplements as the original release, but has been given the DTS treatment, so if you want the Dolby Digital version, please look that review up on the site. I think both discs have a lot to offer the viewer and are well worth the cash, but if you have the option, I recommend this DTS version. The film itself is a very good movie and while I don’t care for the musical portions, I still give the flick a high overall rating. The songs are no worse than the Disney ones in the end, so I can’t be too harsh on the film for the musical sequences. The main draw here is visuals and this movie has epic, well crafted visuals to be sure. I am always blown away by the Passover and parting of the red sea scenes, which look out of this world. The animation isn’t as sharp and fluid as I would have liked, but it can hold its own against Disney and in the end, I suppose that is all that matters here. The story is based on a biblical tale, but this film doesn’t preach much overall and that helps the movie to succeed. This is a good movie that looks great, sounds great, and comes with a load of supplements. What more can I say?
As usual with these animated films from Dreamworks or Disney, the cast is loaded with a plethora of high profile voice talents. The main roles in this film are voiced by Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, The Saint), who plays Moses and Ralph Fiennes (Strange Days, Schindler’s List), who provides the pipes for Rameses. I think both turn in nice voice performances, which is vital since they have a lot of screen time. Kilmer is an unusual choice in my opinion, but he handles himself well and his voice turns out to be a good match for his character. Fiennes has a more memorable voice, but Kilmer manages to keep pace well and that helps the film a lot. I also think Michelle Pfieffer (Batman Returns, The Story of Us) lends her voice with superb results, although I always envisioned Ian Malcolm when Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Nine Months) was performing. Some of the other talents involved include Steve Martin (Bowfinger, The Jerk), Martin Short (Three Amigos, Father of the Bride), Sandra Bullock (The Net, Speed), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), and Patrick Stewart (Jeffrey, Safe House)
Video: How does it look?
The Prince Of Egypt is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a remarkable transfer and in the end, I think this disc would serve well as a reference level release in this respect. The animation looks very good in this transfer and I found no instances of digital compression errors. The image is clean and sharp at all times, with impeccable color hues and black levels. The Passover sequence is a fine example, where the pitch black night is shattered by the white light, a very powerful visual to be sure. I couldn’t find anything to complain about with this transfer, another excellent transfer from the folks at Dreamworks.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Dolby Digital 5.1 track was impressive to be sure, but this new DTS mix puts a little more icing on the cake in the end. I don’t think the difference is that great, but you audio lovers will want that extra kick, I’m sure. The surrounds are alive throughout the film and really wake up when the various musical numbers and effects intense sequences surface. I was amazed at how active this track is and if you want a good demo disc, this one wouldn’t be too bad of a choice. Like I said, the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track is excellent, but this one is a little tighter and sounds a little cleaner. Both versions will impress you, but if you have the choice, I recommend this one. This disc also includes a Dolby 2.0 surround track and English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc is loaded down with goodies, such as an audio commentary track with directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells. This is an interesting track in the end, although some slowness and silent spaces keep it from being too good. You can also view some featurettes, each of which tackles a specific topic that deals with the film. You can view the details on how the chariot race sequence came into being, watch a multi-language reel for one of the film’s songs, a short piece on the film’s technical effects, or just watch a general behind the scenes style featurette. The usual theatrical trailers, production notes, and talent files are also present, along with a gallery of film related artwork.
