DreamWorks' Bible Series

DreamWorks Animation has made two movies based on Bible stories, The Prince of Egypt (1998) based on the Book of Exodus, and Joseph: King of Dreams (2000/Directo-to-Video) (based on the final chapter of the Book of Genesis). The Prince of Egypt is Critically Acclaimed while Joseph has good reviews.

Story

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

The Prince of Egypt tells the story of Moses from him being adopted from the rivier by the Pharaohs, to leading his people out of Egypt. He grew up with his brother Rameses having fun and messing around his kingdom, he later learns that he is a Hebrew child and after killing an Egyption salve-driver, runs away from his home. After being welcome into the tribe of Jethro and and being wed to his daughter Tzipporah (whom he rescued from Egypt), God comes to Moses and reminds him of the Hebrew slaves and how Moses must stand up to the Pharaoh as well as God showing Egypt his powerful and harmful wonders if the Pharaoh denies his request. Moses goes back to Egypt where his brother Rameses is thew new king, Rameses refuses to let his slaves go resulting in God sending many Plagues sent by God (which ends with the death of Rameses' son). Rameses lets the children of Isreal go but later changes his mind and tries to murder them and his former brother, God saves them by parting the sea while behind him a pillar of fire writhes before the Egyptian army, blocking their way. The Hebrews cross on the sea bottom; when the pillar of fire disappears and the army gives chase, the water closes over the Egyptian soldiers to their watery deaths, and the Hebrews are freed. However, Rameses is spared, as he is hurled back to the shore by the collapsing waves, screaming in defeated fury over the death of his soldiers and crying out to Moses in anger, despair and heartbreak because of all that has been happened. Feeling sorry over Rameses's loss, Moses makes bids his brother goodbye one last time and leads the Hebrew people to Mount Sinai, where he is given the Ten Commandments to deliver to them.

Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)

Joseph is the youngest son of Jacob and is given a Colorful coat, his half brothers are jealous and angry so they sell him to slave traders. He is taken to Egypt and put through many trials (being accused by his masters Wife of rape and thrown in Jail, ect), But later is made 'Second in Command' after translating Pharaoh's dreams. Joseph prevents famine in the land. The home of Joseph, however, is in famine so Jacob's sons goe to Egypt and request food Pharoah. Joseph (although not reconizible) sees his brothers and puts them to a test to see if have redeemed themselves. Joseph orders his full brother, Benjamin, to be thrown in Prison, his brothers ask to take his place (Benjamin is Joseph's full brother and son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. He's already lost Joseph and wouldn't be able to bear the loss of Rachel's other son, Benjamin.) The brothers are sorrowed and repent. Joseph reveals himself to them and says that 'he forgives' them and invites Jacob and the rest of the family and Hebrews to live in Egypt.

Future

It is unknown yet unlikly for a third movie based on joshua to be made, since DreamWorks' 2D department was shutdown due to the box-office failure of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. Unless it's computer animated or a diffrent story is made with CGI.

Cast

The Prince of Egypt

• Val Kilmer as Moses, a Hebrew who was adopted by Pharaoh Seti.
  • Val Kilmer also provides the voice of God, the Creator of the Universe.
  • Amick Byram provides the singing voice for Moses.
• Ralph Fiennes as Rameses II, Moses's foster brother and eventual successor to his father, Seti.
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah, Jethro's oldest daughter and Moses' wife.
• Sandra Bullock as Miriam, Moses and Aaron's biological sister.
  • Sally Dworsky provides the singing voice of Miriam.
  • Eden Riegel provides both the speaking and singing voice of a younger Miriam.
• Jeff Goldblum as Aaron, Moses and Miriam's biological brother.
• Patrick Stewart as Pharaoh Seti I, Rameses's father and the first Pharaoh. Despite his uncaring attitude towards the Hebrew slaves, he is shown to treat Moses and Rameses with good care and love.
• Danny Glover as Jethro, Tzipporah's father and the high priest of Midian.
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell provides the singing voice of Jethro.
• Helen Mirren as Queen Tuya, Seti's consort wife and Rameses's mother.
  • Linda Dee Shayne provides the singing voice of Queen Tuya.
• Steve Martin as Hotep, the chubbiest of the High Priests.
• Martin Short as Huy, the tallest of the High Priests.
• Ofra Haza as Yocheved, the biological mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses.

Director Brenda Chapman briefly voices Miriam when she sings the lullaby to Moses. The vocal had been recorded for a scratch audio track, which was intended to be replaced later by Sally Dworsky. The track turned out so well that it remained in the film.

Joseph: King of Dreams

• Ben Affleck - Joseph and
  • Ben Affleck also provides the voice of Egypt.
• David Campbell - Joseph (singing voice)
• Mark Hamill - Judah
• Richard Herd - Jacob
• Russell Buchanan - Jacob (singing voice)
• Maureen McGovern - Rachel
• Jodi Benson - Asenath
• Judith Light - Zuleika
• James Eckhouse - Potiphar
• Richard McGonagle - Pharaoh
• Dan Castellaneta - Auctioneer, Horse Trader
• René Auberjonois - Butler
• Ken Campbell - Baker
• Steven Weber - Simeon, Slave Trader
• Piera Coppola - Zuleika's servant, Additional Voices
• Emily Eby - Servant
• Matt Levin - Benjamin

The Prince of Egypt

Award	Category	Recipient	Result
Academy Awards[1]	Best Original Musical or Comedy Score		Nominated
	Best Original Song	"When You Believe"	Won
Annie Awards[2]	Best Animated Feature		Nominated
	Individual Achievement in Directing	Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells	Nominated
	Individual Achievement in Storyboarding	Lorna Cook (Story supervisor)	Nominated
	Individual Achievement in Effects Animation	Jamie Lloyd (Effects Lead - Burning Bush/Angel of Death)	Nominated
	Individual Achievement in Voice Acting	Ralph Fiennes ("Rameses")	Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[3]	Best Original Score		Nominated
	Best Original Song	"When You Believe"	Nominated

Joseph: King of Dreams

• 2001: Nominated for Silver Angel for Feature Film
• 2001: Nominated for Annie Award - Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production

• DVD Exclusive Awards 2001 - Awards Won
  • Video Premiere Award for Best Animated Video Premiere: Penney Finkelman Cox (executive producer), Steve Hickner (executive producer), Jeffrey Katzenberg (executive producer), Ken Tsumura (producer)
  • Best Screenplay: Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, Marshall Goldberg, Raymond Singer, Joe Stillman

• DVD Exclusive Awards 2001 - Awards Nominated
  • Video Premiere Award for Best Animated Character Performance: Ben Affleck (voice), Luc Chamberland (animation director: Joseph)
  • Best Directing: Rob LaDuca and Robert C. Ramirez
  • Best Original Score: Daniel Pelfrey

• DreamWorks Pictures

• The Ten Commandments

References

1. ^ "Academy Awards, USA: 1998". awardsdatabase.oscars.org. http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1235853348172. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
2. ^ "Legacy: 22nd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1999)". Annie Awards. http://annieawards.org/27thwinners.html. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
3. ^ "HFPA-Awards search". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1998. Retrieved 2009-02-27.