Product Details

• Actors: Ben Kingsley, Frank Langella, Christopher Lee, Anna Galiena, Enrico Lo Verso
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Turner Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: September 24, 1996
• Run Time: 185 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304140908
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,524 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the back cover

Academy Award-winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) is MOSES in this awe-inspiring tale of an ordinary man called upon by God to become a great leader. Moses is awe-struck when God, in the form of a burning bush, calls him to guide the Israelites out of bondage. The reluctant leader and his flock begin the treacherous journey to the Promised Land. However, Pharaoh intends to stop the exodus and with his brutal army traps the Israelites by the banks of the Red Sea. Yet these Israelites are God's chosen people, and the waters part, allowing their safe passage. Moses continues the chronicle of the pilgrimage to Canaan, through the life of this amazing leader and the many miracles God bestowed. MOSES is the fourth in a collectible series of Turner Original films based on Old Testament stories. These breathtaking videos also include ABRAHAM, JACOB and the Emmy award-winning JOSEPH.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the journey to the promised land, April 15, 2004

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moses [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though this television production doesn't have the epic grandeur of "The Ten Commandments", it is a marvelous telling of the story of Moses, with some superb acting; there are a few liberties taken to flesh out the script, but the heart of the Biblical account is intact, with a memorable portrayal by Ben Kingsley as the prophet who was "clumsy with words" but led his people to freedom.
Other terrific performances come from David Suchet as Aaron, Sonia Braga as Zipporah, and Philip Stone as Jethro, and as the "bad guys", Frank Langella, who with his sonorous voice makes an effective Pharaoh, and Maurice Roeves as Zerack, the man who is a continual kvetch.

Filmed in sub-saharan Quarzazate and Agadir, Morocco, it is visually beautiful, with the excellent cinematography by Raffaele Mertes; I like the neutral palette, and the artifacts and costuming that give it an authentic look of ancient times. Added to the atmosphere is the wonderful score by Marco Frisina.
The effects are good, from the parting of the sea to the tablets of the law, and other than a short sequence of violence (which includes a swift depiction of sacrificing an animal) after the golden calf incident, it is family friendly. Total running time is 184 minutes.
This is a film that stands up to a lot of repeated viewing; it is so full of eternal truths, and content that is applicable to our lives today.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie, worth watching, January 4, 2001

By 

Neil "nwcs" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moses [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was the first movie from the TNT group that I bought and I was not disappointed. The movie covers Moses' life from his birth to the time right before the conquest.

From a Scriptural point of view, Exodus is the book they follow most. They do not deal with most of the wars during the wandering in the desert and they skirt over some things like Korah's rebellion. Most of the time is spent in building up Moses' encounter with God and the actual exodus from Egypt.

Scripturally, the movie is well done. They had to personify the Israelite people into individuals. Also they make no mention of Moses' children and very little about his wife. Like all movies about Moses, they compress the time frame a lot. They also tone down the size of the Israelites to a few hundred (on screen).

The production is very good. This movie is definitely PG-13. It portrays some sacrifices and war. It may not be appropriate for younger children.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The best Exodus film to date...but not quite 'Joseph'.....", November 29, 1999

By 

Jerry Parks "USAToday All-American Teacher; N... (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moses [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ben Kingsley has to be one of the finest Hollywood--as well as biblical, character actors in the world today. His Moses spans the life of the hero from youth to the old man most people think of when the name of Moses is mentioned.

This film is the best version of the Exodus story to date. It is far superior to 'Ten Commandments', which stressed the spectacular at the expense of the accurate. This TNT version--while not quite as good as 'Joseph', is extremely accurate in its depiction of ancient Egyptian history. It stresses the Egyptian background of Moses' life, and doesn't just portray him as simply Hebrew alone.

How nice to see Moses pictured as a highly trained soldier (which he surely was) in growing up in the Pharaoh's court! Especially novel is the portrayal of Moses' lisp, which could be a very accurate interpretation of the Biblical narrative's 'slow of speech'. While a bit more emphasis could've been placed on the fact that the plagues were specific judgments upon Egyptian gods, the film does a fine job in nearly every other respect.

The next to last meeting between Moses and the Pharaoh ("MY name resounds in all the earth--and I let YOU live"!) is exceptionally well written, and the final meeting is wonderful. Moses speaks volumes in his silence! The parting of the Red Sea is pretty darn good (though the crossing is mysteriously speedy--even for an epic!), and the fact that the Hebrews crossed it 'on dry ground' is an excellent addition which most miss in the Bible, not to mention the film! Great job, here!

The 'pillars of fire' which hold back the Egyptians are depicted as lightning, and this part is a real highlight! The film assumes Ramases and Mernepta are the major Pharaohs of the period. This might cause a little confusion to more conservative believers who place the Exodus earlier (1445 BC), and the Pharaoh as Thutmoses III. It will be especially confusing to 'Prince of Egypt' admirers, since Ramases there is Moses' friend, instead of the Pharaoh-father.

All in all, this is a film well worth watching. Unlike 'Joseph' however, which never had a dull moment, 'Moses' is considerably less interesting after the crossing of the Red Sea. But it does fair justice to the Bible, and the acting is superb. One could hardly ask too much more from Hollywood!