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Joseph - King of Dreams

Joseph - King of Dreams

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $17.99
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WONDERFULLY DONE!!
Review: I just LOVE this movie! Dreamworks did a PERFECT job! It's not to long for the kids but just right for us adults. Steven if u read this please keep doing these Bible stories, do 1 once a year. There is so much trash coming out of the industry and we need good non-violent filming like this in circulation.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Enjoyable but not Inspirational
Review: Dreamworks' latest biblical film effort, "Joseph: King of Dreams," maintains the high visual quality of its 1999 "The Prince of Egypt" but falls short of that film's inspirational qualities and theological subtleties. The animation is outright stunning in places, and is consistently of movie-theater quality -- one wonders why this was not developed as a theatrical release. Perhaps it is because the script departs from the book of Genesis in significant ways -- more significant than viewers of the film's opening disclaimer would be led to believe, ways that dramatically alter the theological message of the story. What could have been a nuanced story is "flattened" to a simplistic moral lesson. I commend Dreamworks for a commitment to developing family-friendly entertainment based on biblical stories, but hope that they will devote more time and effort to making future projects reflect the richness and even ambiguity of their source material. "Dumbing down" the original stories does not serve viewers well, whether they are religious-minded or not.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A delight
Review: I usually don't buy direct-to-video sequels -- usually, they are inferior to the original product and only tarnish my enjoyment. However, "King of Dreams" is not a sequel, rather than a companion piece.

Delving once again into ancient history, this story tells of a "miracle child," the favorite son of old Jacob and his wife Rachel (the Biblical polygamy is delicately ignored, though hinted at in that Joseph is a half-brother). While Joseph's ten brothers toil in the fields, he is taught to read and write and is given a magnificently woven coat. When he has dreams that "mean something," his brothers' resentment starts to grow. He ends up enslaved in Egypt, where despite his talents and intelligence he falls further and further. But newfound humility and a special gift from God will bring him back up.

This movie has a beautiful piece of symbolism - the little fruit tree that Joseph carelessly steps on as he cries out to God, "Why?" Everyone in their lives is faced with a crisis in which it is asked why God is doing this to them. The single leaf that remains living on the shattered tree shows how his faith still exists, and that faith grows as he saves the tree and nurtures it to health. God is spoken of less, as Joseph is not convincing anyone of anything, but his presence is highly felt in the writing.

From a secular point of view, this is also a good cautionary tale. At the beginning, Joseph bounds past his brothers, singing, "I am special, I am smart! I am a miracle child!" and being coddled by his parents. Allowing himself to be arrogant is part of his downfall. Later on, he uses his gift and his intelligence to benefit everyone, and thus is rewarded.

The secondary characters are, like Ramses of PoE, multi-dimensional even if you are supposed to dislike them. As Joseph enjoys his special status, one can sympathize with his jealous brothers -- but the same spoiled boy will take your sympathy when his brothers taunt him and cruelly sell him. Potiphar is well-drawn -- a man who betrays his own honor and clearly suffers inwardly because of it, and his niece is an instantly sympathetic character is her urgings to forgive.

Though this film is acceptable for small kids, there are a few moments that will disturb them, such as when Potiphar's wife makes a (it's not obvious to the very young) pass at Joseph, and when he is dragged off while his brothers accept silver as payment for him.

The songs aren't quite as good as PoE, but the animation in its lesser glory is excellent. When Joseph is led into Egypt, one can definitely sympathize with his slack-jawed awe. Lesser details, such as Potiphar's servant's thoughts on Joseph's hygiene, are also present and very enjoyable. The dream sequences strike a good balance of otherworldliness and realism.

Okay, so this isn't quite up to the standards of "Prince of Egypt." There's a lesser budget, but it's a more personal, family story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Love and Forgiveness!!!
Review: This is not "The Prince of Egypt," so you need to separate that film from this one. It's a totally different story, and follows Joseph, the son of Jacob, as he's given preferential treatment by his father, who is so proud that he is the first born to his wife, Rachel. Then there are the dreams which he receives, with his brothers bowing in obeisance to him, and then the action sets in, and he's sold into slavery into Egypt.

This is a fine re-telling of this Biblical story, and as has been noted previously, the animation and the songs are rich and fulfilling. Joseph rises to power in Egypt, after being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and while in prison, he continues to remain faithful to God.

The resolution of this, naturally, is when the famine hits Canaan, Jacob sends all his sons to Egypt, except is youngest son, and by this time Joseph has risen to be the #2 man in Egypt. His appearance has changed, but his memories are vivid, and when he finally "shows" himself to his brothers, it brings tears to the eyes.

A magnificent film, and highly recommended!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: not good...but not bad
Review: I think this movie is exactly what it set out to be...a direct to DVD release with mediocre animation to capitalize on the "Bible story" kick of current times. And to the people that have reviewed this movie...please get your facts straight before typing things in here...it only makes you seem quick to judge, before knowing what you are talking about. The number one complaint...Ben Affleck was only the "speaking" voice of Joseph...not the "singing" voice. David Campbell was the "singing" voice of Joseph.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I don't know why, though
Review: Often I can say something about a movie that I watch more than 5 times. I tend to either want to watch a movie a lot of times or not at all, and this is an example of the former. But I'm not really sure why. And I don't usually watch animated flicks unless I'm with the children. But I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I've seen this enough times to know it by heart. I somehow trust the fact that I haven't gotten tired of it -- it must mean they did something right. It may also be purely personal to me. I remember my dreams......

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Okay movie, Amazing music!!!
Review: This movie is all right. Not as good as its predecessor, The Prince of Egypt, but not bad either. What stands out in this movie the most is the incredible music. Why do they not have a soundtrack out? I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Until then, I have to sit through this mediocre film to hear the beautiful songs.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Nice movie but defective DVD
Review: I was so disappointed. The songs are sooooooooooo boring, and the graphic are not so good... It's nothing comparing The Prince of Egypt. I won't buy it... that's for sure.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great job.
Review: I wondered if a family oriented movie, Joseph - King of Dreams that also had a pro religious theme could come out of Dreamworks. Like wouldn't you be suspicious if the present day Disney management did a pro-religious movie?

But, J-KOD the cartoon movie is not bad. Certainly i think they made a worthy movie. Only thing is that my kids didn't like it as much as I did. Given the choice, they preferred Joseph and TTDC starring Donnie based on the long running play. And they prefer this version, not because Dreamworks dropped the ball, but because the music is just awesome by comparison.

Check out the cartoon version by dreamwokrs as a rental. then checkout the movie based on the play.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Beautiful movie for all the family!
Review: This is one great animated movie for all the family to enjoy! The drawings are beautiful, colors fabulous. A very good job they did to take one of a great character from the bible and to make it into a beautiful movie!


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