 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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The Ten Commandments
- Review Date: November 3, 2007
- G
- Genre: Classic
- 1956
Common Sense Media says
Stirring, even if it's as much showbiz as Bible.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there are potentially nightmare-inducing elements for small children, such as the Ten Plagues (which do not spare children and innocents). While essential parts are faithful to the biblical narrative, much of the late parts of Exodus and Deuteronomy are excised, and much is Hollywood scriptwriters filling in the blanks with romantic-triangle melodrama. Part of the appeal of "biblical epics" was that they could get away with depicting some pretty intense (for the time) violence and sensuality, as long as it was in the context of sin and inevitably punished by heaven. This wasn't the worst offender by far -- in fact scenes of debauchery come off as more silly than sexy -- but that's something to keep in mind.
What's the story?
In this epic from Cecil B. DeMille, a Hebrew baby, the prophesied savior of the enslaved Jewish people, is secretly adopted into the mighty royal household of Egypt. Growing up noble, humane, and chivalrous, young prince Moses (Charlton Heston) is the aging pharaoh's favorite and chosen successor. Moses competes with his haughty half-brother Ramses (Yul Brynner) for a sultry Egyptian princess. But when Moses discovers his origins, he willingly becomes a slave like all the other Hebrews, and is ultimately sent into exile. Contacted personally by God, Moses returns to Egypt and frees his people, the Israelites. At first, Moses acts as political activist and slave-liberator who disdains the Hebrew God as distant and uncaring about His peoples' bondage. But once he meets God, the more spiritual messages emerge, climaxing in stupendous special effects with the parting of the Red Sea and the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
Is it any good?
A long-running theatrical hit and traditional network TV airing every year at Passover/Easter, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is so burned into viewer consciousness it's practically impossible to separate its images from the Bible and Torah narratives. Remember that, however inspired by the divine it might be, this was a Hollywood movie, a high point in a number of "Bible epics" filmed at a time when the movie industry was fearful of competition from television. The aim for epic-specialist director Cecil B. DeMille, thus, became BIG films for theaters, so BIG and IMPORTANT that TV couldn't rival it. God's lawgiver was judged to be sufficiently big.
Drawbacks for the home viewers: First that you should watch The Ten Commandments on a widescreen setup to get the full visual impact of the vast sets, color, f/x, and pageantry DeMille oversaw. In the "full-screen" version the image is constrained, the dramatics sometimes stagey and stiff. It's very long also very long. Keep in mind that while the basic narrative sticks to the Bible, Hollywood scriptwriters filled in the blanks with romantic-triangle melodrama, material from at least three novels about Moses, and a silent-era version of The Ten Commandments also directed by DeMille.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's religious message, and its portrayal of Moses as a liberator of slaves and a champion of freedom and justice for the downtrodden. While not contrary to the Old Testament, do you think this is a mainstream "Americanization" of the Bible's themes, especially in Cold War-era Hollywood? You can use the movie as a way to get kids to read the Bible or the Torah to see if and how The Ten Commandments deviates.
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Politics on De Mille's Epic?
Cold War themes? Maybe. De Mille himself made a hint at the beggining of the movie. Which is incorrect is the pretense of some people that the movie represents early Arab-ISraeli conflict. Ramses' Egypt that is portrayed on the film is very different from Nasser Pan-Arabist Middle Eastern power; besides, Midianites are portrayed as monotheistic Arabs (word "Arab" is not used, but they are called "Bedouins" and their father Ishmael is mentioned at least three times). This is different from the Bible, where Ishmaelites and Midianites are separate tribes.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 5, 2011
AGE
Great Movie
Overall this is an awesome movie. It was kinda long, like 4 hours or something around there. Based on the bible story, this movie has great actors and sets. The only things that I think might not be appropriate are
some scenes might be scary for younger children
At the party when they are dancing around the calf
Nefertari's dress is a little see through in one scene.
one use of hell
This movie is religious. But overall, a MUST SEE.
whats funny is the failed animation of fire.... you'll see when you watch it...:)
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| Topics: | history |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Cecil B. DeMille |
| Cast: | Anne Baxter, Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner |
| Genre: | Classic |
| Run time: | 219 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 5, 1956 |
| DVD release date: | March 21, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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