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The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great Film STILL Short Changed
Review: I wonder why this edition wasn't held for the C.B. DeMille bio that Turner just produced. Instead we get a lot of anecdotes from Orrison, whom made an inaccurate statement that Brenner and Heston were about the same age. This is wrong, Brenner was in fact 9 years older than Heston. Also, her commentary really spotlighted an actor named Clint Walker who was just an extra. This was a definite who cares moment, like many within her commentary.

C.B. DeMille was the star along with Heston, Brenner and Baxter. There should have been more attention given to the 'stars'.

Why was I surprised that the packaging was 'downgraded'. You actually have to remove 'the first' disc to get to the second disc and no chapter card insert. It takes too much time to sum up this mess. Lets just hope that Warners will get the next edition right. This one needs work - except for the transfer that is which was fine the first time around without the ho hum 'extras'.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Epic Cinematization
Review: Okay. So the movie The Ten Commandments is not Biblically accurate. But being the cinema purist that I am, it is my opinion that this movie is a gem from the golden age of the epic film.

Clearly, Cecil B. DeMille was out to make a great movie about this Old Testament favorite, the story of Moses and the liberation of the Hebrew nation from the Egyptians. He furnished the great stars, the extras, settings and vestments that adorn this classic epic. Not to mention the special effects that still leave viewers in awe when you consider that these effects were produced almost 60 years ago.

If the film seems a bit long it's because it is. But that is the beauty of recorded movies for viewing at home. You can stop at any point and continue watching any time you wish.

So, if you want to know the story of the real Moses, then go to the book of Exodus in your Bible. But if all you want to do is watch a great movie, then you might want to give this one a try.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: i may be able to part the red sea, but...
Review: when heston recently announced he had alzheimers his 'profound' press statement was ' i may be able to part the red sea, but i can never part with my fans'.
okay, sorry he's sick, but that statement is as unbelievably dumb as this movie!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Long.
Review: 'The Ten Commandments' is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, LONG movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 2-Disc Special Collector's Edition
Review: I have always loved this movie since I was a child. I already own the VHS version of this movie but wanted it on DVD and since they came out with a Special Collector's Edition (2-disc), I decided to preorder the DVD. I think the transfer of the movie is very good, though it is showing its age now in places. The movie still looks beautiful and the sound is good for its age too. My only complaint is that the 2-disc DVD set is in a thick DVD plastic box and you would think it contained a thick pamphlet or insert. Don't get me wrong, I prefer plastic over the cheap cardboard DVD boxes being put out now on a lot of old classics, but it doesn't even contain a paper insert even though there are 2 clips for the insert. I'm not sure if this was a mistake or if this DVD set doesn't come with any inserts. Was the insert missing? Am I the only person that received this DVD set without an insert or did everybody get the same thing? Otherwise, I highly recommend this DVD set for anybody that loves old Hollywood epics. I'm never bored by this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DeMille, Heston, Brenner at their campy best!
Review: OK, although I'm Catholic, I don't watch "The Ten Commandments" for the story - I watch it because it's a dose of pure, unadulterated camp! It's "big" movie - a breed of epic that Hollywood doesn't make anymore. The sets, costumes, swelling music, acting are all deliciously hammy, over-the-top, and wonderful. It's really, really FUN to watch. As a purist, I usually prefer to watch TTC in the traditional way - Easter or Palm Sunday, on TV, with the commercials and everything. However, this DVD is a fine substitute when you've got a craving for a little camp.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BRAVO! SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION IS EXCELLENT!
Review: I was hesitant to review this dvd since, in every credible theologian's view, a fundamentalist approach to the Bible, ignorant of ancient and medieval civilizations and their languages, leads to erroneous interpretations (for example, errors that today are being used to justify discrimination against gays and lesbians and their families, and which, until rather recently, were used to condone racism, segregation and slavery.) But I believe DeMille, The Ten Commandments' producer and director, and the son of a lay Episcopal minister, believed the Bible is the inerrant word of God AND that a historical-critical approach is necessary to understand it (as most mainline churches do, in spite of their often inconsistent stance on gay marriage). The fact that in The Ten Commandments, the Red Sea, not a 'sea of reeds' (a correct translation), parts, is perhaps an example of artistic license.

In a sense, The Ten Commandments is DeMille's Biblical commentary. It's a swan song (DeMille nearly died making it), and a real labour of love (DeMille gave away all of his profits to the cast and crew).

Perhaps first and foremost, The Ten Commandments is great propaganda for democracy (albeit from the Cold War era). Through it DeMille sought to help unite Jews, Christians and Muslims. It argues that all persons are equal and should be 'free', regardless of 'race', ethnicity or 'creed'. It even alludes to the fact that according to the Bible, Moses married an Ethiopian princess (a somewhat daring reference during the segregated '50s).

STYLE & INFLUENCE: It's arguably one of the most spectacular, entertaining and influential films ever made. At Lucasfilm, a poster for it has hung on the wall for many years, and one can easily see the movie's influence not only on Biblical films of the '50s and '60s, but also the Star Wars movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Arc and numerous other science fiction and fantasy films. Director Michael Powell considered DeMille the greatest magician in film history.

Perhaps the most under-rated aspect of The Ten Commandments is its production design: a marvelous hybrid of art deco and nineteenth century and ancient Egyptian art. Viewing The Ten Commandments is a bit like stepping into a painting by Alma-Tadema or a Pre-Raphaelite, or a book illustration by Dorè, and having the artwork come to life.

The score, by Elmer Bernstein, is extraordinary. It's part of the very essence of the film, and uses leitmotiv beautifully.

TRANSFER: It's excellent, and the next best thing to seeing the movie on a big screen. The colours are very rich and vibrant, and the sound, originally recorded with cutting edge stereo equipment, is nicely remastered and restored.

EXTRAS: I'm SO glad I ordered the most recent dvd release (2004), containing a commentary by Katherine Orrison and a six-part documentary about the 'making of'. Both are extremely informative and entertaining. The latter features interviews with surviving cast and crew, as well as DeMille's granddaughter.

Five stars for the film, five for the transfer, and five for the commentary and documentary!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Special Edition DVD A Bit Disappointing
Review: This movie looks and sounds great on DVD but the extras were not enough for me. I particularly wanted to know more information on how the parting of the Red Sea was done, and I know from an American Cinematographer article from many years ago that plenty of source pictures of the process are out there.

Commentary was very interesting, but jarring in places where Ms. Orrison mispronounces words. She is obviously a big fan of the movie, and I now understand Mr. DeMille's philosophy in the making of the movie. I agree with her statement of how frightening the Yochabel/Stone Block scene is to children. I was 5 years old when I saw this movie in 1956, and that scene really scared me.

I thought it strange that the intermission music is in mono on this DVD, but is in stereo on the laserdisc version. Also, much is made of the fact the Elmer Bernstein replaced Victor Young as the composer, but no mention is made that the Overture music is composed by Mr. Young.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Ten Commandments
Review: "The Ten Commandments" is the kind of huge scale movie that Hollywood quit making for awhile. It had huge special effects, a huge cast, and was epic in scope. Moses is a Hebrew born into the Pharoe's household. He grows up and becomes a high ranking official and falls into grace with the Ramses I. Then he finds out his birth heritage, and volenterily goes into slavery. After killing an official, he is banished into the wilderness, he finds God (well, Gob finds him) and leads his people out of slavery. Ok, so a few liberties were taken with the story; the Bible never says Moses was arrested for the murder, he ran away. The special effects were good for mid-fifties, and I still think the parting of the Red Sea is pretty cool. Charlton Heston is not as gung ho as usual. Yul Brenner is over the top as Ramses II. So, if you don't mind a soap opera version of the Bible, this is pretty good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A staple to any collection
Review: One cannot not have a DVD collection without this movie. One of the most fabulous films put together. with thousands of extras and a screenplay that draws you into a world far into our past. this was Cecil B DeMille's masterpiece, not to mention the fantastic performances by both Yul Brenner and Charlton Heston.

there is an opening soliloquyby Cecil B DeMille that is truly timeless "whether man is the property of the State, or whether we are free souls under God"

I cannot recomend this enough


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