Customer Reviews

Abraham [VHS]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As previously mentioned in reviews of other films of this genre, I teach ancient civilizations to middle schoolers. For this reason, I am always looking for good films of the Biblical era, and this is certainly one of the best!

Richard Harris portrays old Abraham as the fallible human being that he surely was. Barbara Hershey (Sarah) is equal to the challenge of becoming a woman who, even in her advanced years, maintains a beauty which can entice a Pharaoh of Egypt.

The research production crew of Abraham certainly did their homework. As an ancient Sumerian, Abraham was part of a thriving and wealthy culture, which invented everything from schools, to surgery, to a codified law system. They were even the formulators of astrology, which the film skillfully sites as Abraham draws the signs of the zodiac in the sand for Isaac to learn. Probably an offensive moment to Biblical purists, but nevertheless--realistic and accurate.

The Mesopotamian custom of producing a son through the wife's handmaid is handled with accuracy and tact. Relevant in light of today's Arab/Israeli conflict is the fact that this custom produced the Arab race extant today, while the children of Sarah's son Isaac became the Hebrews.

Another piece of excellent background the film delivers, is the covenant-making ceremony in the presence of the king's 'Divine Right' to rule. The scene in Haran is exceptionally well done--right down to the Sumerian's penchant for bargaining.

The animal sacrifice is handled with welcome reserve. So too, is the custom of midwifery, and how grief-stricken Sarah must've felt if she-childless, indeed did deliver so many children.

If there is any complaint with the film, one might be the portrayal of Isaac as a young teen when he was being prepared as a sacrifice by his father. Isaac was no doubt somewhat older than this according to Biblical chronology.

I shall long remember the reaction of my students to this impending sacrifice--especially from those who did not know how the story would end!

Another complaint might be the Pharaoh showing Sarah a pyramid, as if this was a new thing in Egypt. In reality, by Abraham's time, the main pyramids were several hundred years old.

In summary, this version of the Abraham is right up there with the best of the films in this genre (see my other reviews). I feel only the Joseph story is better.

The movie is an extraordinary portrayal of the life of Abraham. It's entertaining, accurate, educational and stirring. In a world filled with gods you can build, see, hold, and collect; Abraham's trust in and obedience to the invisible God is inspiring. The up and downs of the life of faith are wonderfully depicted. The emotional aspect of Old Testament animal sacrifice is explained in a way that theological textbooks could never rival.

Richard Harris is brilliant as the patriarch Abraham. Barbara Hershey makes a very believable and winsome Sarah. The costuming and scenery are outstanding. I found only minimal disagreement between this portrayal compared to the Biblical account, the culture of the time, and the ancillary facts of history. I would highly recommend the movie "Abraham." Abraham is one of the very best movies from Turner Home Entertainment's excellent Bible Collection. Running time 150 minutes.

Richard Harris is brilliant as Abraham, strong as well as tender, and with the ability to convey emotion so perfectly in his voice that it's a performance that can be enjoyed by just listening to it.
It covers Genesis 11:27 through Chapter 22:17, and stays fairly close to the scripture,
though there are a few omissions, and some additions to fill out the film; I especially like Abraham teaching Ishmael and Isaac, in separate scenes, the principles of the sacrificial rite. Christians will appreciate that Isaac was one of the "types" that run through the Old Testament pointing to Jesus.

Among the other changes/additions are the shifting of the meeting with Melchizedek (Ch. 14), to after God makes a covenant with Abraham to give him the land of the "ites" in Ch. 15 (Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, etc ); Lot offering himself as well as his daughters to the people of Sodom as a substitute for his guests, and also in this film Lot is the one that suggests he separate his family and flocks from Abraham's, instead of the other way around.
Abraham was 75 when he started his immense journey of faith, and there are scenes where he talks and listens to God that are wonderful.
This would not be a good film for children however, as it is not a colorful film, with the sets and costumes all in earth tones, and there are many animals that suffer a bad fate, either from the famine that takes place in the early part of the film, or the sacrifices.

The cast is splendid, with Barbara Hershey excellent as the beautiful Sarah, as is Carolina Rosi, who makes a stunning Hagar. John Gottfried plays Abraham's faithful steward Eliezar, and two venerable international actors have smaller roles, Vittorio Gassman as Terah, and Maximillian Schell as Pharaoh.
Filmed in Quarzazate, Morocco, it has lovely cinematography by Raffaele Mertes, score by Marco Frisina, and is a way above average TV production...and for Richard Harris fans, a performance not to be missed.

This is a good movie. The movie covers the period shortly before Abraham's calling by God to his wandering to Egypt and finally back up to Canaan. It also tells the story of Lot as a sub-plot. It then concludes with the birth of Isaac and Ishmael and the offering of Isaac.

Scripturally, the movie is pretty sound. Their artistic license was not distracting from the Scriptures as happens sometimes in other films.

From a production point of view, it is very well done. The actors are good and even know how to show emotion (I've seen too many Biblical movies where the actors talk in some strange distant tone of voice). Lots of action, too.

This movie is definitely PG-13. It portrays some animal sacrifices and war between the four kings and Abraham, among other scenes.

For those viewers who are mainly seeking entertainment, I can see where this film would appear a little dragged out. The entire series of the Bible Collection has Biblical issues, but this film is more accurate then most. I was caught off guard when the film suggested that as a mature married man Abraham knew nothing our true God, and the next scene showed him telling the children the oral history of God from the beginning to his present time. The movie does have a few things out of order, but it is a very well made movie, considering it came out of Hollywood. I would, and have shown this movie to all of my 11 grandchildren, regardless of age. I believe it is important to tell your children everything about our lord, so they will not relate him to secular, fun loving characters they are bombarded with, like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

This film is, without saying, one of the most beautiful ones done on the life of the biblical patriarch Abraham. Richard Harris does an outstanding job as Abraham, as does Barbara Hershey as Sarah. All throughout this film, it mostly follows the biblical narrative. The scene in Sodom and Gommorrah was done with a great deal of taste and integrity, not overdoing the perversion. Also, the scene with Sarah and the Pharaoh, when she is taken as his wife is done very well. There is some discrepancy with the flow, as with Melchizedec appearing to Abraham before he rescues Lot, as opposed to later, but this can be forgiven, given the quality of the film. A really beautiful film, and one which is a permanent part of our family library. Highly recommended.

Without a doubt the best movie Abraham you'll find. Richard Harris gives a masterful performance. Faithful to scripture, thankfully free from silly sentimentalism that so destroys true religion, and thoroughly Catholic. Highly recommended -- as are all the Turner (yes, surprisingly Ted's name is attached to the best dramatised OT series around -- no doubt to his everlasting chagrin!).

This movie is outstanding! If you want to view a story of Abraham that is interesting, dramatic and pretty accurate, this is the video. Although there are a few minor "Hollywood liberties" taken, the faith-based story is related clearly.

Since John Huston's "The Bible" no one in the secular movie world really attempted to film this magnificent story from the greatest bestseller of all times, and this movie does a masterful job of it, much better than its predecessor. It was interesting to note that there were scenes cut from the American version that were shown in the European version and vice versa. Aside from that, this makes an excellent Bible Study tool, as, poetic license aside, you see visually what you have read so often and learn to think over your biblical text more. The key is to remember that this movie isn't authoritative, but the Bible is. Enjoy!

This is one of the best biblical movies I've ever seen.

This is potentially a very difficult movie to pull off, as it's really about people who do alot of damage to eachother before accepting God's will for them - but it works.

Richard Harris is amazing and totally sympathetic in the title role. Barbara Hershey is equally good as Sarah - you really feel for both of them when they extremely reluctantly accept that Abraham's going to have to sleep with Hagar if they're ever going to have children in a time when fertility clinics were thousands of years away. When Hagar demands some dignity as Ishmael's mother as well as a human being, you understand why this Sarah feels threatened and while not innately malicious does what she feels she has to do to protect Issac.

Abraham's relationship with Lot also plays out nicely. When God almost casually mentions His intention to destroy Sodom the look of horror on Abraham's face reminds you that this is very personal - he's about to bargain for the life of the nephew who was so close to him before they had to go their separate ways.

And of course, it just gets worse before it gets better as Abraham is tested by having to send Ishmael out into the desert with Hagar, for all he knows to his death - and finally by being asked by God to personally kill Issac...

Wonderful performances and beautiful scenery make this one a keeper. As another reviewer pointed out, scenes of animal sacrifice mean this one isn't for younger children.