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"Moses the Lawgiver" (1974) More at IMDb Pro »

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
THE EDITED VERSION LACKS, SERIOUSLY, 26 August 2002
Author: leevmlafn1 from California

This 2 hour version cuts out a lot of the interplay and character development of the mini-series that helps move the story along, and gives credence to the whole thing. If you can see the mini-series, do so.

The best thing about both the short and mini-series versions is the score by Ennio Morricone. He has composed one cue that I, personally, believe is the finest single cue he has ever written, and that is saying a lot, what with OVER 400 scores to his name. And Morricone, himself, called this one of his most difficult works at the time, having to compose, thru modern means, a score that depicts an ancient time and place. The score is magnificent, heart-wrenching, and haunting.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Wonderful cinematic presentation, 21 May 2006

Author: ruggedchic from Oklahoma, USA

This earthy and realistic film is an excellent piece of Biblical History. It is true to the story in the Bible and is very engaging. Anyone that loves the Bible or just a historical piece will appreciate the effort that went into this. Burt Lancaster's son Bill plays the young Moses and does a brilliant job! Burt, of course, picks up where his son leaves off and gives a great performance. When you watch the actors in the scenes of the desert you can feel the heat and sweat. The earthy tones in the film give it a distinct character. The narrator does an excellent job while not interfering with the story itself. The lavish scenery gives the viewer a feast to behold.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Quite good ..., 12 March 2001

Author: yortsnave from Columbus, OH USA

I remember watching this mini-series on TV with my family while I was on summer vacation from college. (Wow, over a quarter-century ago).

I really enjoyed it. The cast was first-rate, especially Burt Lancaster in the title role. I especially remember the sorrow that Moses felt when he had to pass a sentence of death upon a lawbreaker. He had no choice, but he still grieved that such a thing would be necessary. I also remember the resistance that Moses encountered at every turn from the non-believers and power-seekers. Highly recommended.

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Transitional epic,quite bitter and austere, 28 July 2008

Author: Cristi_Ciopron from CGSM,Soseaua Nationala 49

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It is completely erroneous (and useless) to try grouping together films totally unrelated like the big—budget Antiquity themed Hollywoodian movies, the Italian muscle-men flicks of the '50—'60s, the various epics, the swashbucklers, the exotic movies about non—European civilizations, history, fantasy, myth, literature and adventure, legends and plays, the religious or religion—themed films, Gibson's movies, the Italian TV Biblical biopics, Ivanhoe, adaptations, historical films, fantasy and mythological productions, Middle Ages outings—in a word, every movie set before the last century, under the pretext that they have something in common. Nothing links them; they are unrelated—Gibson's films, SPARTACUS, BEN—HUR, IVANHOE, the many Maciste/ Hercules/ Samson etc. Italian flicks, BLACK ROBE, MONTE CRISTO, etc.. This is not even eclecticism—it is chaos.

This Lancaster epic is a transitional movie—between the big—budgeted blockbusters of the '50s—'60s,and the small decent honest TV Biblical stories of the '90s. The film is not very inspired, nor very appealing; its main merit is the cast. Lancaster performs in a conventional Hollywoodian way the disconcerting and enigmatic Old Testament prophet. Another epic from the same transitional period is MASSADA, which boasts O'Toole's high voltage, decadent, picturesque role. MOSES looks and feels more like the '60s epics. One quality is the feel of the tepid tiring crossing of the desert, the tough experience of dwelling for decades in the wilderness. Quayle also reminds the '60s epic blockbusters. Mrs. Papas is reliable as ever. The atmosphere is not the lesser accomplishment of MOSES. The probably ugly experience of the desert's crossing, after the initial exultation of the glorious escape, is well captured and rendered. In this respect, it's a resolute depart from the previous epics' habits. It's not triumphal in what it depicts; it shares the feel of its subject. The Hollywoodian conception behind all such epics (this one is a TV production, nevertheless ) is objectionable; yet the movies remain interesting and worth--wile.

In sum,this is the exodus as seen from below, from the common people involved in the exodus POW.

Recommended.

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Pure Boredom, see the Heston movie instead, 23 April 2008
Author: Pandelis from Cyprus

An unnecessary retelling of the Ten Commandments story. The only worthy of this series is the performance of Burt Lancaster. It manages to make boring one of the most exciting stories of the Old Testament. The performances, directing, setting and visual effects would seem unbearable, even if haven't seen the unbeatable movie with the late Charlton Heston.

Most actors seem to recite instead to act and the visual effects in the passing of the red sea are just for laughs. This is so bad, that rented "Ten Commandments" right after I saw it (I lasted only until red sea), in order to see pure magic, instead of pure boredom.

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0 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
ONLY FOR LANCASTER'S FANS, 11 September 2002

Author: Piero Sbragia from Sao Paulo, Brazil

I've seen this movie just because of Burt Lancaster. The whole picture is bad. The direction, the cinematographer, the actors. The only exception besides Lancaster is the score by Ennio Morriconne.

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2 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Gianfranco De Bosio's Moses, 10 June 2002

Author: Charles Tatum from North Dakota

Despite a great performance by Burt Lancaster, this umpteenth

telling of Moses' story suffers from a lack of direction on the film

makers' part.

In case you have not seen the superior "The Ten Commandments" or "The Prince of Egypt," here goes (in a

nutshell): The Egyptian pharaoh decides to quash the Israelites by

killing all of the male children. Baby Moses is put in a basket in the

Nile by his sister, and he floats down to the pharaoh's palace, and

is raised by the royal family. He leaves after seeing the injustices

the Egyptians have put on the Israelites, and becomes a

shepherd. He is picked by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to

the Promised Land, and brings God's word and wrath to the

people of Egypt and his former "cousin," now the new pharaoh.

After many plagues and curses, all done in a mediocre way by

special effects guy Mario Bava, Moses leads his people into the

desert, where they promptly start complaining more than a line of

disgruntled consumers at the Wal-Mart return desk the morning

after Christmas. Moses' faith is never shaken, despite the actions

of his people, and God shows Moses the Promised Land, and

deals with the complainers. In the end, Moses dies, after giving us

the Ten Commandments and an overlong film.

If you want the real story of Moses, read a book called The Holy

Bible, it explains things much better than I can. But about the film:

Burt Lancaster plays the younger brother of Anthony Quayle

(Aaron). The problem is Lancaster is younger than Quayle by only

one month. Lancaster is just way too old to be in this part. He

looks sixty when he is supposed to be in his thirties, and he looks

sixty when he is supposed to be above one hundred. Lancaster is

good in the role, however, delivering his lines with passion and

never coming across as some good actor doing his duty in

appearing in a Biblical epic. Anthony Quayle, and his British

accent, is also good as Aaron. Irene Papas, as Moses' wife, has

maybe two lines, despite being third billed. The rest of the cast is

made up of mostly Italians, as this was filmed in Rome and Israel.

The film suffers from trying not to be compared to better Hollywood

films on the subject, but it is hard not to do. There are scenes here

that run twice as long as they should. The film is an amazing 144

minutes long, and in desperate need of editing. Scenes are cut

short, in characters' midsentence, or overlong. The film is also very

cheap, substituting stock footage for locust swarms and sand

storms. Mario Bava did the special effects? I fell out of my chair at

that end credit.

There are some very effective scenes, mostly dealing with the

pharaoh's wrath, but there is not enough emotion here to make

this compelling viewing. Despite the (G) rating on the video copy I

rented, this is not meant for young children, either, especially the

scenes of Israelite boys being tossed into the Nile.

This plays like an extended episode of my arch nemesis: "The

Greatest Heroes of the Bible" series, and that is unfortunate.

Despite a game cast and some dramatic scenes, "Moses" does

not deliver on its promise. I cannot recommend it.

Although rated (G), or (PG), this contains strong physical violence,

gore, and adult situations.

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