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King David

King David

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: An awful film. . .
Review: . . .which bears only superficial resemblence to the story of King David as received by Jews and Christians for thousands of years. Gere's portrayal of David has got to be one of his poorest efforts ever.

Whether one is a believer or not, the books of Samuel and Chronicles provide the basis for an excellent "Life of David". Perhaps they should have been consulted!

One of the worst pictures I've ever seen.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Forget the Negative Reviews! It really is 1000BC!
Review: Fantastic Art Direction, High Production Values, and a Superb Cast and Crew make this film the most visually accurate Old Testament Story ever given the Big Screen Treatment. Whoever was the technical advisor for this film did an excellent job in recreating the period. Edward Woodward is Outstanding as Saul (most of the cast is British, which lends a certain archaic dignity to the dialogue). Richard Gere also does a great job as King David.
If you have a passion for Biblical or Historical Epics - this one delivers! The battle scenes (which are very well choreographed), chariot charges, and of course the duel between David and Goliath are all 'edge of the seat', 'toe curling action'
I really cannot praise this film too much!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Insightful, Inspiring, Artfilled, Well Acted
Review: His portrayal of King David brought glory to God, not Richard Gere. Worldly critics, and the mass enslaved did not praise the content or intent of this movie...the message of worshipping God and not IDOLS is made very clear in the BOOK of Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks as the heart." I beleive the part Richard played had a huge impact on his personal quest for truth. Gere converted from his roots in Christianity from a Methodist to the Tibetan school of Buddhism in 1982. The movie was filmed in 1985. Samuel 16:3 "God said, you are to annoint for me the one I indicate". Richard's talent is a gift from God. Richard's heart was influenced by Buddhism, but His heart is ruled and changed by God. In 1988 Gere used his visibility to promote the oppressed in China. His performance in this movie honors God. God chooses the foolish to confound the wise! King Solomon came from King David's lust for Bethsheeba...the Lord is faithful to those whose hearts are pure..Richard has a servants heart. His role in this movie changed Richard forever, and it inspired me to read the entire book of Samuel.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: King David, new and old versions on video
Review: I appreciated the attempt in 1985 to bring King David to life. I think outstanding perfomance go to Denis Quilley (Samuel) and Edward Woodward(Saul). The biggest turn off for me in watching a Bible movie is the glazed over eyes, slow "righteous" speech patterns that Gere and many others continue to do in these types of films. Come on Hollywood these were real, historical people in extroardinary situations not bleary eyed monsters from a b-movies! The movie does make errors like Davids destruction of his Temple model and the unecessary nudity. The one thing i did appreciate is the cinematography. I like the crisp look of the early 80's films. I don't like the new TNT films because they use some funky-weird orangish, red filter on their cameras. What? Did the Bible events take place on the red planet? I also appreciated the scene in the Gere film with David vs. Goliath (tall actor). The TNT film on David put the actor playing Goliath on a rock to make him look taller. If i stand on a rock regardless of what angle they shoot me at. I'm still short!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Average video on David
Review: I bought this video more out of curiosity than out of a desire to see an excellent depiction of David.

If you're interested in a very good movie on the life of David, I recommend Turner Network Television's David (the one in the Bible series). It is the best of the 4 David movies I've seen.

This movie is OK, but seems very lacking. The production quality is average and the big hollywood style of camera works seems out of place in the movie. And, like the other reviewer, I was a little surprised by the nudity. There are two scenes. One with Michal (which is not salacious) and one with Bathsheba (which is more salacious -- but it does fit the real Biblical context, though).

As far as Biblical accuracy goes, it's not bad overall. I think it does not accurately portray Jonathan at all and I think they skipped over some critical scenes. Also, some key concepts Scripture teaches are omitted from the scene (like David's response to Goliath). The rest, though, wasn't too bad.

Still, if you're looking for a good representation, definitely pick the TNT David and not this one.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: this has got to be some kind of a sin
Review: I hardly know where to begin. Richard Gere was horribly miscast. His New York accent in ancient Israel is giggle inducing. The sets look fine and the other actors do a decent job, but the actress playing Bathsheba was a let down--David destroyed himself and ruined his kingdom for this woman--- but the character is played in such a low key manner the veiwer never is made to see why. Another unintentionally funny scene is when Gere strips down to a loin cloth and does a disco routine before the Ark of the Covenant. All in all, this was not a high point in Richard Gere's up and down career.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: So-so review
Review: I initially bought this video because it was highly recommended by an well known author of women's bible study materials and books. Without seeing it first, I gathered a bunch of women together to view it. We were all so disappointed. Content, acting, background, gratuitous scenes, and lack of cohesion to the original script--the Bible--gives it a bad taste in my mouth. I wish I could recommend this with such enthusiasm as it was recommended to me, but I cannot. If purchased anyway, please do so with caution if you plan on watching it with children present. It has scenes in it you may want to preview beforehand. Basically, this movie is good only if you really want to test your bible facts by viewing garbage.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointed - Should be rated "R"....
Review: It's been a while since I saw this -- it was on cable, when it first released. My question is: if someone would remake these great biblical stories with the right actors, (Richard Gere is a BUDDIST, for crying out loud...) someone would be on the right track.

The nudity was my biggest problem with this movie, as I recall. It left me quite disappointed. Also, as I recall, it was rather biblically accurate...but, I thought Disney did a better job portraying Moses life in THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, than was done with this flick...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: King David portrayed by Richard Gere...
Review: Richard Gere conforms gloriously to the role of David. His countenance changes and he makes for a fabulous King David. And Ian Sears made the perfect young King David. The story begins with the life of a lowly shepherd boy whose bravery and faith in his God ascend him to the throne of ancient Israel. Telling the legend from David's battle with Goliath, to his self-destructive love for Bathsheba, to the anointing of his son Solomon by the prophet Nathan to be the King Of Israel. This was a very interesting making of the life of King David. I would enjoy seeing it again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A great movie
Review: Richard Gere does a fabulous job portraying David. The entire cast was outstanding. The movie is very enjoyable, as well as easy to watch. I wish that there had been more focus on the romance of David and Bathsheba, but it was basically a wonderful film.


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