Josh and the Big Wall!

Infobox_Film
name = Josh and the Big Wall!


caption = DVD cover
writer = Phil Vischer
director = Phil Vischer,
Chris Olsen
producer = Chris Olsen
distributor = Sony Wonder
starring = Phil Vischer,
Mike Nawrocki,
Lisa Vischer,
Jim Poole
music = Phil Vischer,
Kurt Heinecke,
Mike Nawrocki
released = October 1997 (VHS release) June 18,2002 (DVD release) | runtime = 30 minutes
language = English
preceded_by = "Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!"
followed_by = "Madame Blueberry"
imdb_id = 0284607

"Josh and the Big Wall!" is the ninth episode of the "VeggieTales" animated series. It was released in October 1997 on VHS.It is subtitled "A Lesson in Obedience". The story follows the plight of the Israelites and, specifically, the Battle of Jericho.

The presentation spoofs "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". It also contains comical songs and anachronisms.

Synopsis

The opening countertop finds Junior Asparagus filling in for Larry the Cucumber, (he is tired from Larry-Boy! & the Fib from Outer Space!, the previous episode). Junior and Bob the Tomato field a question for Victor about obedience and, using their imaginations, are transported to the Holy Land.

Bob acts as narrator and provides Junior (and the viewers) with some background information. The Israelites, having been held as slaves in Egypt, are liberated by Moses and led to the Promised Land (Land of Israel). However, they question God's methods and are banished from Israel for forty years. Upon the completion of their exile, Moses has died, and Joshua (played here by Larry) has become leader of the Israelites. Joshua leads them back to the Promised Land, but one thing stands in their way... Jericho.

The story is interrupted here by Larry's [Silly Songs with Larry-Silly Song] . "Song of the Cebu," introduced as a "sequential image, stereophonic, multimedia event," finds Larry on the countertop with a slide projector and a captive audience comprising Jimmy and Jerry Gourd and Junior Asparagus. The song, about a boy and three cebu (and a hippo) frequently goes off track and is interrupted several times by Archibald Asparagus.

When the story resumes, the Israelites are met by the defenders of Jericho (the French Peas) who taunt them from atop the city's great wall with ridiculous insults, much like the French in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Joshua explains that God has given this land to the Israelites and that therefore the defenders will have to step aside. They are met by more insults and jeering. When a slushy falls and hits Jimmy, they fall back and regroup.

That night Joshua meets the Commander of the Army of the Lord who tells him how the Israelites are to take Jericho: they must march around the city once a day for six days; on the seventh day they are to march around it seven times, blow their horns, and all yell at the same time. At this point, the messenger states, the walls of Jericho will fall. Naturally this plan leads to some skepticism. Joshua must deal with dissent among his people, some of whom want to return to Egypt and some of whom want to attack the wall with might.

But they agree to try it God's way and proceed to Jericho the next day. The city's defenders insult them all the more, turning their taunts into a choreographed musical number while bombing them constantly with slushies. The end of the day finds the Israelites on the verge of rebellion. At this point, Junior, the co-narrator, intervenes and convinces them to continue with the plan God laid out. He explains that God's way doesn't always make sense, but provides examples of how it always works out in the end.

The Israelites agree to stick with the plan and, in spite of renewed counter-attacks, march around the city for seven days as specified. On the seventh day they blow their horns and yell; at first nothing happens. But then cracks appear and the wall crashes down, just as God said it would, and Joshua claims the land for his people.

Bob and Junior wrap up on the closing countertop, reiterating the lesson in the film, a slushie falls. Larry appears in his pajamas at the end, but seconds later the lights go out as the computer screen turns off and Larry says "Aw nuts!".

Cast of Characters

* Bob the Tomato as narrator
* Junior Asparagus as co-narrator
* Larry the Cucumber as Joshua
* Mr. Nezzer as Moses
* Pa Grape as an Israelite
* Tom Grape as an Israelite
* Jimmy Gourd as an Israelite
* Jerry Gourd as an Israelite
* Scooter Carrot as an Israelite
* Percy Pea as an Israelite
* Jean Claude and Phillipe as Defenders of Jericho
* Archibald Asparagus as Commander of the Army of the Lord

Segments

* Opening Countertop
* Josh and the Big Wall!
* Silly Song: Song of the Cebu
* Closing Countertop

Songs

In addition to the ubiquitous "VeggieTales Theme" and "What We Have Learned," this episode contains the following songs:

* "Promised Land", sung by the Israelites
* "The Lord Has Given (Part 1)", sung by Larry and the Israelites
* "The Lord Has Given (Part 2)", sung by Junior Asparagus
* "Keep Walking", sung by the French Peas
* "Song of the Cebu" (Silly Song), sung by Larry with Jimmy, Jerry, and Junior

References

1. http://www1.epinions.com/kifm-review-1DC7-149053E-389487CB-prod2

2. http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/pre2000/rvu-vegjosh.html

External links

* [http://bigidea.com/products/shows/shows_content.aspx?pid=16 Official Website]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284607 IMDB Article]
* [http://www.qubo.com/veggie_show.asp Veggietales at Qubo.com]
* [http://christiancartoons.blogspot.com/2007/05/veggietales-christian-animation-cg-3d.html VeggieTales] at [http://christiancartoons.blogspot.com/ Christian Cartoons Online]
* [http://www.darrenandchristy.com/veggie/classic/index.html Ultimate Veggie]