Griffith's "Intolerance." A vast Sphinx gazes out over the desert, and slaves bend to the weight of mighty blocks of stone. The "sets" here are inspired by some of the great movie sets of the past, including those in de Mille's original film and D.W. That's established dramatically in the wonderful prologue scenes, which show the kingdom and Hebrew slaves building pyramids under the whips of the Pharaoh's taskmasters. This is a film that shows animation growing up and embracing more complex themes, instead of chaining itself in the category of children's entertainment. It employs computer-generated animation as an aid to traditional techniques, rather than as a substitute for them, and we sense the touch of human artists in the vision behind the Egyptian monuments, the lonely desert vistas, the thrill of the chariot race, the personalities of the characters. "The Prince of Egypt" is one of the best-looking animated films ever made. Moses gives Rameses his chance (free our people and accept our God) and Rameses blows it, with dire results for the Egyptian side. I have always rather thought God could have spared man a lot of trouble by casting his net more widely, emphasizing universality rather than tribalism, but there you have it. We like these stories because in the one we subscribe to, we are the chosen people. The story of Exodus has its parallels in many religions, always with the same result: God chooses one of his peoples over the others.
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