The Prince of Egypt (1998)
★★★½ — The Prince of Egypt (1998)
The Prince of Egypt was DreamWorks Animation's second theatrical feature and, in many ways, the one that announced the studio as a genuine rival to Disney. Adapted from the Book of Exodus, the film retells the story of Moses and Rameses with a budget of $70 million and an ambition to match, deploying a combination of traditional hand-drawn and early CGI animation at a scale the studio had not previously attempted. Directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells divided responsibilities across the production, with Chapman (later of Brave) leading early development before Hickner and Wells brought it to completion. DreamWorks screened the film for religious leaders from multiple faiths during production, a consultation process unusual enough in Hollywood to generate considerable press attention at the time. It arrived during a brief, optimistic window in the late 1990s when hand-drawn animation still commanded serious studio resources.
The Prince of Egypt is a stunning animated achievement, visually breathtaking, emotionally powerful, and musically unforgettable. The animation, especially for its time (1998), is nothing short of gorgeous. The way light dances across the Nile, flickers in torchlit corridors, or blazes during the parting of the Red Sea gives the film a painterly, almost spiritual quality. It looks like a living canvas. And the soundtrack "When You Believe” soars, “Deliver Us” opens with chills, and the score wraps everything in grandeur and soul. The voice cast is stellar. Val Kilmer as both Moses and God (yes, really), Ralph Fiennes as Rameses, Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah, all bring depth and humanity to their roles. You feel the bond between Moses and Rameses, the weight of destiny, the pain of brotherhood torn apart by duty and faith. But here’s where it gets complicated for me: the story. Yes, it’s based on the biblical Exodus (and I get that context) but taken on its own terms, outside of religious belief, some of it is deeply disturbing. The final plague (the killing of every firstborn in Egypt) is framed as divine justice, but let’s be honest: if this were any other fictional universe, say, Star Wars or Marvel, and the “hero’s side” unleashed mass death on innocent children as a tactic, we’d call it a war crime. Horrifying doesn’t even cover it. And while the film does show Egyptian grief (the haunting lullaby after the plague is one of the most devastating moments), it still positions all of this as necessary, righteous. That moral dissonance sits heavily, especially for viewers unfamiliar with the source material going in. I didn’t know the plagues or Passover story before watching, and without prior context, it felt less like liberation and more like collective punishment on an unimaginable scale. Technically, it’s near-perfect. A landmark in animation, packed with artistry, music, and emotion. But thematically, it asks you to accept things that, stripped of faith, are ethically troubling. Beautiful, yes. Unquestionably powerful. But not unproblematic.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 1998 | Watched: 2025-09-20
Where to watch (UK)
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Brenda Chapman: Brave (2012)
More with Val Kilmer: Top Gun (1986) · Tombstone (1993) · Heat (1995)
More from the 1990s: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · Blue (1993) · Cemetery Man (1994)
More adventure: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · The Eagle (1925) · Louisiana Story (1948) · The General (1926)
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