A COLUMN BY Dick Rolfe Chairman, THE DOVE FOUNDATION
This is the animated story of the Hebrew Exodus out of Egypt led by Moses. The special effects are high tech and dazzling. The miracles and plagues are breathtaking - from the burning bush to the parting of the sea. At times, the grand scale of the special effects nearly overshadows the story itself.
Speaking of the story - it is riveting, but not a literal account from Scriptures. The filmmakers admit as much in an opening statement on-screen as the movie begins. But, the entire creative team is to be congratulated for not disturbing the essence of the story. The DreamWorks writers were greatly influenced by several meetings with Christian and Jewish leaders.
One particularly impressive scene came out of those meetings. Before the angel of death passes over, the writers portrayed men applying the blood of the lamb to the door posts, in place of the original version which merely referred to a "symbolic token" of faith. In another place, a song lyric was changed from "You can work miracles if you'll believe" to" There can be miracles when you believe."
The Spiritual bottom line is that this movie can make a real difference in the lives of millions of people. I join with one writer who said she hopes that people will go see THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and be drawn closer to The Prince of Peace.
Dick Rolfe is Chairman of The Dove Foundation a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and promote the creation, production and distribution of wholesome family entertainment. For more information about wholesome films and videos, write: 535 E. Fulton, Suite 1A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or call (616)454-5021.
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