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Summary: BEAUTIFUL DEPICTION
Review: Having recently viewed the Andrew Lloyd Webber version with Donny Osmond and the most annoying narrator (constant irreverent facial grimaces, mugging, her in-your-face style, her presence at every turn, mocking and trivializing what could have been poignant moments of the story) I viewed this with some trepidation. Yet unlike Webber, or the Disney's people incessant penchant for sassiness, sarcasm, "hip" backtalk, this offering by a company that includes an ex-Disney executive, is refreshingly sweet. The landscape artistry of the dreams was breathtaking. (I did think the women's forms were drawn too thin, unrealistic, with stick-figure arms, and Joseph's facial features seemed a bit too awkward, gawky, for how I would picture the biblical source). Anyway, this is a wonderful film, and recommend it.
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Summary: Joesph !
Review: I say this is a CLASSIC bambie boo how dare do you hate such a wonderful movie 1 stars ! Sorry I'm blowing my top can't you just find a place in your heart for it ! Well bye .
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Summary: Nice movie, but...
Review: Our family really enjoyed this movie. That said, my main problem with this movie is where Potiphar's wife makes a pass at Joseph. When he refuses her, she tears his shirt and accuses him of...something (rape?). OK, try explaining that to a 5-year old. I think that scene is totally inappropriate in a children's movie, and I wish they had found another way to have Joseph accused of betrayal. My child will be exposed to sexuality soon enough, and I was really dismayed to find that scene in here.
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Summary: Joseph Van Gogh
Review: Presenting Joseph's ancient dreams in the style of moving Van Gogh paintings is highly original, and shows how carefully the DreamWorks team thought everything through. It's doubly appropriate here, since Van Gogh was at least partially or intermittently insane (see the video "Vincent and Theo" for substantiation of this), and Joseph's brothers also thought he was a nut. This is a lot more than a cartoon.If DreamWorks can keep up this quality of work, they will leave Disney in the dust (still probably mimicking all of the same old tired pantheism and nature-worship which has become a formula with them), by proving that you can tell big stories to little people, without mangling an historical text like Genesis. If Joseph is the "miracle child" this qualifies as a miracle movie.
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Summary: err...folks, actually its a PREQUEL not a SEQUEL.
Review: Joseph King of Dreams is a PREQUEL to Prince of Egypt NOT a sequel. A quick little historical timeline: It would be from Adam/Eve to Noah/Ark...then much later to Abraham then to Isaac then to Jacob (who was later named Israel) then to his 12 kids -as in the 12 tribes of Israel, one of whom of course is Joseph our dreamer boy...then they all settled in Egypt, then around 300-400 yrs later you get Mr. Moses a.k.a. your "Prince of Egypt". Joseph here, is actually the same Joseph whose corpse they carried off with them when they all left Egypt for the Promised Land led by Moses. Maybe they can do Joshua next (now that would be a sequel). For more accurate information, refer to a bible under "Exodus". It's a nice video, all the same...
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: Outstanding art and message that will live on in the minds of your children. My 7 year old was enthralled, my 4 year old was scared because of the "mean brothers" who sold Joseph. The pass that Potiphar's wive makes at Joseph is so subtle (she says, "We are your family now" and something about him being special) is so very subtle that it may be a few years before my children figure out what actually happened. (I had to explain that Potiphar's wife was asking Joseph to be disloyal to Potiphar by spending too much time with her!) One of my favorite parts was the dream sequences, which are visuallized in the style of Monet's paintings. My only disappointment was that Joseph never verbalized the most important point of the story: What the brothers had meant for evil, God meant for good. But that messages comes through even though it isn't verbalized, and parents can make that point to their children after the movie is over.
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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.
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Summary: Biblical Story Well-Told And Animated In "King of Dreams."
Review: This worthy companion piece to Dreamworks' "Prince of Egypt" retells the Biblical story of Joseph, his betrayal by his brothers, sale into slavery, imprisonment, then rise to prominence through God's gift of prophecy through dreams. The story is well-voiced by stars including Judith Light, Mark Hamill, and Ben Affleck as Joseph, despite some weak, Disneyfied songs (voiced by the normally reliable Maureen McGovern and Jodi "Ariel" Benson). "Joseph"'s dream and flashback sequences are well-animated, with images of sunflowers, flowing wheatfields and flying eagles referencing Joseph's growth(in status and wisdom)in Egypt. This is notable where Joseph visions his brothers mocking him while cleaning a palace floor, then flashbacks to his youth while caring for a tree in his prison cell. Like all great Biblical stories, "Joseph" works as love lesson (in forgiveness and personal growth here) and dramatic narrative, and is economically told on both accounts. The film accurately captures Joseph's contentious relationship with his old and new families; the story's dramatic parallels (his false imprisonment by and reproachment with Portiphar, then the suspenseful-turned-joyous reunion with his brothers where Joseph reveals his identity) are powerful. While some dramatic license was taken with the storyline, "Joseph" thankfully eschews Disney-esque asides, superflous fantasy characters or expanded romantic angles (Joseph's love and marriage to Asenath is simply part of the story). "Joseph" was and remains among the Old Testament's most engrossing stories, particularly to families susceptible to sibling rivalry. Despite occassional melodramatic lapses, "Joseph" retains that core story and is an exceptional family film with much to teach its viewers. Recommended.
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Summary: Prince of Egypt it is not
Review: DreamWorks first straight-to-video release is the sequel to The Prince of Egypt. I got a screener copy of this one and I have to say that it really can't compare to it's predecessor. Ben Affleck plays the title role and the voice acting is about the best thing you'll find here. The kids will surely wander off after the first song or so and Joseph doesn't have the action sequences to bring them back in. If your kids don't have exceptional attention spans, you might want to leave this one on the shelf.
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Summary: It's not _Prince Of Egypt_, but it's worth the money.
Review: _Prince of Egypt_ is a hard act to follow, and _Joeseph_ suffers in comparison -- especially in the music department. That said, I still think _Joeseph_ is a fine film; well worth the time and money you'll put into it. If DreamWorks continues to produce these Biblical epics (and I hope they do) I'll continue to buy them up sight unseen.
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