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Summary: We should hope God doesn't see this
Review: He might choose some other planet to save. Easily the sappiest film of the century, it's so overblown, the acting so corny, the costumes so ridiculous that amazingly enough it actually succeeds as a comedy. Personally, I find it to be a howl.There are many scenes that are very funny, not on purpose of course, unless the producers were having us all on in a fashion that would make Andy Kaufman jealous. The first hour of the movie is not too horrible, dealing with the young Moses as Egyptian prince (never mind that actual written Egyptian history is silent on this point, but let's not haggle about the plot!). This part serves to introduce us to everyone in the Screen Actor's Guild that wasn't tied up doing something worthwhile, and we get the first round of an over-acting contest between Yul and Charlie that would make James Shatner and Dr. McCoy hide their faces in shame, along with evidence that Egypt must have had advanced denistry science, and one heck of a lot of dry cleaners, about on par with "Tombstone", say (skin that chariot and see what happens). But then Chuck gets religion (they'll have to pry that staff out of his cold, dead hands), and things go over the top very quickly, right up to the maker himself, who has a lousy special effects department if you ask me, the burning bush doesn't impress very much. But nevermind, because after being in the presence of the propane flame, Heston, now imbued, and with an instant white beard, proceeds to stalk around the screen like Bela Legosi with a staff, and the humor really goes into high gear. It goes on for hours, and it may be too much for one sitting, but there are definitely highlights not to be missed. One is the outstandingly hammy peformance of Edward G. Robinson as Dathan, who steals every scene he's in. The other has to be the chosen people themselves, the worst gang of ungrateful retches who ever defied a Pharaoh. I mean, they are supposedly actually in the presence of the Almighty as he unveils a pillar of fire! Then, they watch as he parts an entire sea ("behold his mighty hand", Heston bellows, in a classic scene). Yet, a couple of days later (in the movie timeline), Moses is late getting back from a business meeting, they get bored, forget all about Him and start worshipping a golden cow, just like that. Why save these guys? Why not save, say, the American Indians, or some other race slightly more noble? Sheesh. Probably everyone over 40 has already carved this turkey, but the production values of the DVD make it imperative to have this in your collection anyway, just for the costumes alone. For the faithful, well, it would be a useful lesson for the younger members of the family that even religous movies can stink. What a contrast to the truly excellent "Jesus of Nazareth" for example. Ah well, they don't make them like this anymore . . . Well, OK, "The Postman" maybe.
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Summary: I donno what to say............
Review: Everybody knows about this one so I can't say much new stuff about it except it's a Good Moe movie.
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Summary: An All-Star Cast. True Story of Moses.
Review: So you think you've seen all of the 1956 film "The Ten Commandments" on Network television? Well think again. This DVD contains all 3 hours and 40 minutes of the film. Every special effect is here to see and of course, no commercials, no interruptions. The color is brilliant. If during the beginning credits you see like neon blue, neon purple, or perhaps called royal blue, royal purple, you've got the right color bar of the picture. Please let your children see this film. Sit down and watch it with them. Allow them to ask questions and learn. At least let them see the special effects (to understand God's power and will). The special effects will be a camera picture in their mind. They will want to see this movie again when they are more mature to appreciate it. The film starts with a one minute and a half "Overture", then Cecil B. DeMille will come out from behind curtains to introduce the film. So many special effects highlights this film. Moses almost sees the face of God at the "burning bush",Moses staph turns into a cobra, the waters of the Nile turn blood red, hail falls from a clear sky and burns with fire on the ground, all first born sons die (the green fog plague), the fire of God, the parting of the sea and Moses sees the face of God as the tablets of The Ten Commandments are created. "Intermission", "Entr'acte" and "Exit Music" also included in film. A very educational discussion by Cecil B. DeMille is included in the 1956 trailer in Special Features. Did you know the tablets used in the film were actually made from the red granite of the very mountain Moses had climbed up to? Note: After this film you might want to see "Raiders of The Lost Ark" (Indiana Jones tries to find the ark were the Ten Commandments were contained).
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Summary: Comment J. Paige on 10 Commandments by C.B. De Mille
Review: I love this film. What a shame it is not available on DVD coded Region 4 for Australia (where I live). I saw it when it came out in 1956.
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Summary: Go get your straw
Review: It's no accident that this film is broadcast on American television every year and finds an appreciative audience during the Passover-Easter period. It's less like a standard movie with a linear plot than a series of tableaux illustrating parts of the book of Exodus. Amidst all the spectacle Cecil B. DeMille was in fact somewhat ahead of his time in handling the show. For instance, he had Moses reject the idea of a God who is not "in every mind, in every heart", and used Charlton Heston both as Moses and the voice of God, raising the issue of whether Moses was saying these things to himself. Pretty daring for the 1950's. DeMille offered logical explanations for all the Mosean miracles except the last plague and the parting of the Red Sea, the film's twin signatures. When Moses signed off he sounded more like George Washington than a Jewish prophet, proclaiming "freedom among all nations." DeMille even thought to reserve a dignified place for the forbears of Islam in his tale. The film speaks directly and emotionally to the issue of good and evil, and how people should live their lives, and no other filmaker in the English-speaking world does that today. Good enough reason for DeMille's last film to be his best-remembered.
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Summary: Beware of Disc #2
Review: Obviously this is a great movie, but I experienced years of frustration trying to get disc #2 to start. I got this advice from Toshiba: (1)load disc 2 and wait for main menu (2) go to special features and play one of the trailers (3) during playback of the trailer, press STOP (4) press T (SEARCH), select title 6 and press ENTER. Main menu will appear again (5) when PLAY is highlighted, press MENU and the movie will play. DO NOT press ENTER or the movie will lock up. It works for us! (But you have to follow these directions precisely.) Good luck!
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Summary: Heston's Greatest
Review: Best biblical based movie of all time...bar none! Charlton Heston did a magnificient job in this old movie. I first saw it when I was over in Germany in 1966 and special effects were even great back then-again, I don't think anything parallels it! Cecil B. DeMill directed his best.
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Summary: It could be worse.
Review: This movie is, of course, terrible, as a work of art at least. But what a great spectacle for a ten-year-old boy. So move from here to more intense kitsch: The Sign of the Cross. See how De Mille's instrument became blunted over 25 years. Oh, Man!
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Summary: Superb
Review: This movie will go down in history as being the most accurate movie from the Bible as one could be. Cecil de mille surely had the LORD's blessing when he made this movie. I give it like Gone with the Wind, & The Greatest Story Ever Told, truly superb
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Summary: Great epic film!
Review: A wonderful and moving film, "The Ten Comandments is one of the best. With such a large cast of people. Charleton Heston is magnificant as Moses and Yul Brynner is great as Ramses. It's a must see film for anyone. It's in color which makes it even more better for this film. Itt's a must see film.
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