December 1999

The Prince of Egypt
Reviewed by Roger Kanno
DVD Format

Overall Enjoyment:
Picture Quality:
Sound Quality:
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Starring the voices of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock

Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells

Theatrical Release: 1998
DVD Release: 1998
Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen (Anamorphic)

Let me just start by saying I think that The Prince of Egypt is the finest animated film currently available on DVD. It beautifully brings together a moving story with superb songs (arguably worthy of a Broadway musical) and the charm of traditional hand-drawn animation. To this combination it adds the latest and most advanced computer animation techniques. The film transcends the animation of its characters and landscapes to tell the epic story of man who forever changes the lives of all those around him; that man is Moses.

The Prince of Egypt is not simply a scaled down animated version of the Ten Commandments. It is a wonderful film with wonderful performances and an excellent script, and it just so happens that it is an animated feature. In fact, this is one animated film that may not appeal to young children at all because its intense themes are targeted more towards adults. Val Kilmer plays Moses and Ralph Fiennes is Rameses. Both actors are exceptional in their roles as is the entire supporting cast, which includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Jeff Goldblum, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. All of the stars’ voices are perfectly cast and are very believable in their characterizations.

The animation of this film is gorgeous. Unlike the wholly computer generated animation of Antz and A Bug’s Life, this film is more in the spirit of past Disney animated classics. The natural looking, hand drawn characters have a certain humanity that allows the viewer to sympathize with them, a characteristic that is often lacking in CGI animation. Although the look of totally computer rendered films such as A Bug’s Life are certainly breathtaking, they ultimately lack the soul that differentiates good animated films from great ones. However, the animation of The Prince of Egypt does contain some CGI elements, but they are used to effectively enhance the traditional animation techniques. The result is a seamless blending of art and technology. The video quality of this DVD is exemplary and makes a stunning visual impression. Foreground colors are bright and vibrant, while backgrounds are comprised mainly of softly rendered pastels. Detail is exceptionally sharp with low contrast that results in a very deep and dimensional picture.

The musical score of The Prince of Egypt is as good as any written for an animated film. The sequence which features the song, When You Believe seamlessly integrates well recorded instrumentation with stirring vocals that will move you whatever your religious beliefs. The entire score is well recorded with an expansive stereo soundstage. Dialogue sounds ADR produced and is sometimes slightly lacking in integration, but it is always clear and intelligible. Surround effects such as swirling winds in Chapter 1: Deliver Us and later in Chapter 23: Death Of the Firstborn are both spacious and enveloping in their imaging.

This disc contains quality extras that have come to be expected from Dreamworks DVDs, such as directors’ commentary, theatrical trailers, cast and filmmaker biographies, production notes, art galleries, and several making of features. There is also an interesting multi-language presentation of "When You Believe" and a sneak preview of the upcoming animated features The Road to Eldorado and Chicken Run from Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit. Although the directors’ commentary are not as interesting and informative as they could be, the other extras are well worth exploring.

I wholeheartedly recommend The Prince of Egypt as a must have DVD for its pristine video quality, amazing soundtrack, epic story, and the many extras. This film surpasses Dreamworks’ first animated feature, Antz and solidifies its role as a leader in the production of feature length animation. Although Disney is set to release some of its "classic" animated films on DVD, until they release such titles as Beauty and the Beast and Bambi (neither of which have been scheduled for release), Prince of Egypt will remain the best animated film on DVD.

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