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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Very good. This is one of the better versions of the Old testament type films., 25 July 2005 Author: msammut from Australia
I see a lot of biblical type movies and I must say this is one of the better ones. It takes a humanist view of the stories. The fact that an apple is not used in the Adam and Eve scene should not detract from understanding the story itself. If anyone wants to understand the Old testament stories such as Jacob and Esau and know nothing about it then I would strongly suggest that this version is the better of what is currently available as far as commercial movies are concerned.The acting is first rate. I do agree that the effects are cheesy but the story, plots an acting convey the messages within the bible well.I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to know about the popular stories of the Old Testament and have no prior knowledge of them.
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Excellent to Watch, 25 August 2005 Author: Nicholas Rhodes from Ile-de-France / Paris Region, France
I recently found this on a cheap DVD in the UK on my last visit. It makes for very interesting watching. No-one really knows what happened at the time of the events so it is useless to try and ascertain whether the film is true to reality or not, and those of your readers that try to do so are simply wasting their time ! On a cinematic level, then, things are very well done and I did love the limited amount of special effects. Being a catholic, I had of course studied the Bible at school but had forgotten large portions of the old testament. This film puts things back in place in an agreable way. It's a little difficult for me first time round as all those bearded men seem to resemble each other but the beauty of the DVD is to play it over and over again, of course. Peplums and Biblical Films are not my strong point but I like to watch them occasionally for a change. My verdict then is that of a neophyte as regards this type of film but is definitely on the positive side. Also, there is excellent picture and sound quality and the soundtrack is not bad at all !
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Worth a rental or even a purchase, 31 August 2001 Author: Josh from Warwick, RI
I enjoyed this though I found the disclaimer at the beginning amusing. I didn't look in my Bible to see how close to the text it was but found the stories involving and the effects passable (I'm usually concerned with reverent truthful approaches to the subject matter). Dramatic license? Sure...but better than most efforts. Joseph's reunion with his father was particularly touching. Enjoy this film...I did!
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A great Biblical movie of historical value, 18 August 2009 Author: mikedavis914 from United States
I was born in the era that you feared God and when it comes to the bible, "let it be written, let it be so".I am 50 years old and a believer. This movie helped me understand all the events that happened in early history. I believe in every word that is in the bible and so should you.This movie will explain (no matter how corny the costumes are, the actors are etc) the events from Abraham to Isaac and Jacob forward. I find it fascinating how the movie is so correct to what the bible teaches.Some may criticize the directing and acting but the story is real and should be taken to heart. If you are a true believer, you will see this movie many times in your life as well as the 10 Commandments movie.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Wonderful, if overlong, Hallmark miniseries., 24 March 2009 Author: vip_ebriega from Philippines
My Take: An all-star cast and a few glorious visuals make a rather interesting TV movie. Martin Landau as Abraham? Jacqueline Bisset as his wife Sarah? Christopher Lee in gratuitous cameo as Rameses I? Only TV's Hallmark Entertainment could make this possible. The producer back at Hallmark who might nearly have enough money to make a macho Hollywood blockbuster spend it yet again on a another 3-hour two-part miniseries meant to set ratings on fire. Well not really, but they do come up with a rather interesting and marginally entertaining TV special with an agreeable cast and a modest budget. The movie is basically a 3-hour long adaptation of the most important events of the Old Testament. From Adam and Eve (with cut-for-TV nudity), Abraham and how he became "the Father of All Nations", Joesph and his multicolored dreamcoat and the grand story of Moses and the Exodus, the movie has it all and has time to spare. It's a bit long when watched on DVD rather than the two-part miniseries on TV, but it's an adequate and actually well-crafted effort. Just don't expect it to be anything grand ala Cecil B. Demille, or at least something that would make a cinch to get ratings.Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: okay, but casting a problem, 17 January 2008 Author: (gbennie@bigpond.net.au) from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I was somewhat bemused by some of the odd casting choices in this TV film. First of all, there is a great variety in nationalities such as British, American, Indian, Pakistani etc. Getting down to character specifics, some of the cast worked and others did not.Martin Landau was rather good as Abraham but perhaps too dominant, with anger in his voice in the opening scene. Jacqueline Bisset had a natural complexion but was too young and her grey wig was quite obvious. In this film she is supposed to be way past maternity age yet it seems surprising that in "Joan of Arc" the year before she played Joan's mother quite convincingly. Geraldine Chaplin as Yocheved might have been a better choice for Sarah, by switching their roles. Joseph looked the part but unfortunately had an American accent. As other reviews stated, I did not think Moses was done too badly apart from his prosthetic nose in the last scene. Perhaps the candidate for the worst acting was Sara Carver as Hagar, who as an African American, asked too many questions that her role did not call for. She also had a strong British accent. I was also surprised by the scene where Abraham attempts to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, where he is described as a "boy" in the Bible and not 24, Luke Mably's age.Amongst these casting frustrations, others delivered well such as Rachel and Leah (who bore enough similarities so that they could be possibly mistaken for one another), Rebeccah and Rameses II. The stories had to be abridged but did not need such a simple script. Sarah's line about Hagar being beautiful, in particular, was definitely not necessary. The effects were attempted well though the snakes turned from staffs looked animated as did the thunder on top of Mount Sinai, when Moses was getting the Ten Commandments. The plagues were skipped through rather quickly with little build up to the parting of the Red Sea. The Garden of Eden looked like a set especially when Adam and Eve were being banished and running through the thunder and wind. Also, before Moses pushed it over, the golden calf looked like it was made from paper-mache. I like the fact that this was not a Hollywood adaptation and tried to be realistic in the scenery. However, at times this film was perhaps too dull and uninteresting that I found myself fast-forwarding sections.Do not expect great performances or special effects but this adaptation still tries to remain true to the Biblical stories.
Wonderful movie, 1 June 2009 Author: phydaux36 from United States
I found this a delightful movie. It is pretty accurate to what the Bible reads, and extremely entertaining. I do think that some of the special effects and make-up were a little to "Cheesy", but other than that, I was very satisfied. I see this as a good choice of a family movie, since there is only "Implied" nudity during the Adam and Eve segment. There is some violence, but this is only because these events had violence. I found that Martin Landau played a very good Abraham, and Christopher Lee was perfect as Ramesis the first. As I mentioned, I would recommend this movie for anyone looking for just entertainment and those seeking a truthful account of these events in history. Good job Kevin Conner.
"In the Beginning" Makes for Must See TV, 6 April 2009 Author: allaboutlana from United States
This is a very moving telling of the "beginning" of the Bible. If you know practically nothing about the bible, like me, except for some basic fundamentals, you will rewarded in learning some of the stories and will be entertained by the way they are brought to life in this television movie. It does have a foreword to it, saying they took some dramatic license, but you get the feeling they are very true to the heart and depth to the Bible and are very reverent of its subject. Its main emphasis is on Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors, but it does make reference to Adam and Eve; Cain and Abel; Abraham and his wife, Sarah; Jacob; Esau; and Moses. The role of Joseph was cast well with Eddie Cibrian, and Martin Landau gives his usual best and sincerity as Abraham. At first, I was wary of Billy Campbell as Moses, but as he aged I liked him more and more. I particularly liked the part where the sea parted and Moses didn't make any dramatic speech. He stands high on the rock, in silence and felt God's presence and power, and the sea parted. "In the Beginning" is a very powerful and faithful movie that knows that less is more and tells the story without the DeMille flashy touches of "The Ten Commandments." I wish they could have acted out the whole Bible. But it does make me want to read my Bible. So, it is very successful in making the viewer want to learn more about our beginnings.
4 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Well-intentioned, but..., 13 November 2000 Author: Matthew Ignoffo (mermatt@webtv.net) from Eatontown, NJ, USA
This is another of those well-intentioned Biblical TV-movies that comes across as a mixture of a Sunday School lesson and Cliff Notes for the Bible. A decent cast is wasted in superficial summaries, and the FX are simply cheesy. Instead of trying to tell everything from Creation to the Chosen People arriving in the Promised Land in two two-hour segments (with a total story time of less than three hours), it might have been better to focus more on one or two stories at most.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Wasn't that bad, 2 June 2006 Author: bryanwx10 from United States
I see this movie for the non-believer or someone who is fresh in Christianity because the movie did stay true to the overall truth but it simply left out certain facts which happens when you convert a book to a movie...I am not saying that this is right...but what I am saying is that a person who watches the movie and enjoys it will definitely be intrigued to read the stories for themselves and receive a deeper understanding...I would recommend this movie for the believer or the non-believer overall good movie which acts like a fisherman of men! I agree with some of the comments of the first reviewer but I think he should remember not everyone is on his level...and that the Christian 101 who might just be intrigued by the New Testament will find solace and understanding before they tackle Genesis and Exodus.
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