Posted by Jan den Breejen on December 27, 1998 at 12:12:18:
At least for me. The old testament Exodus story is used by Spielberg for Christmas entertainment. The 'Prince of Egypt' is about Mozes who is put in a basket as baby by his slave parents. The basket floats down the river and is found by the queen of the Pharao of Egypt. The Pharao brings jewish Mozes up in the same way like his real son Ramses. Mozes gets to know the truth when he meets his sister Miriam. This accidental meeting triggers a series of happenings in which Mozes by accident kills an Egyption slave-driver, flees from the royal palace and establishes himself as sheep driver between the Jewish people that is colonized by the Pharao. Mozes discovers a burning bush which emanates Gods (i.e. 'the god of the jews')voice. God commands him to free the jewish people and Mozes gets into conflict with his former 'brother' Ramses who has become the new Pharao. Of course the God of the Jews is more powerful than the Gods of the Egyptians; Egypt is plaged by many disasters caused by Jaweh (the son of Ramses is killed) the Jews escape and Jaweh splits the Red Sea so the Jews escape and the Egyptian devils drown. The 10 commandments-part of the Mozes soap is not included; probably because the main commercial target group of this animated movie is children.
Although the movie is very well made technically and it shows many clear examples of Enneatypes; I left the cinema with a slight feeling of irritation. Every Egyptian in the movie was portrayed as evil or stupid and every Jewish character was cast in a sympathetic way. Mr. Spielberg; it's 1998: a less dogmatic approach to moviemaking would suit.(What would we think of the Irish protestants making a movie about the heroic Battle of the Boyne, the Servs about their heroic victories against the Turkish oppressors, etc.?)
The characters analysed:
Mozes: E3
competitive, self confident, goal focused, succesful
Ramses: E6CF
alternating between fear, lack of self confidence, reactionary (loyal towards his fathers mission) and extremist, xenofobic actions. Diabolical.
Ramses spiritual servants: unhealthy E4's
shows the relation between E4 and E5; they are the protectors of advanced religious/mystical knowledge and see their position threatened by the religious acts of Mozes (his wooden stick turning into a cobra.) There's a parallel with the Amadeus movie: Salierie is also the leading art person at the court; when his source of attention, the king, is charmed by Mozart he hatefully destroys his competitor). The two rather deformed servants hatefully perform their mystical acts and try to initmidate Mozes.
Sepura (Mozes wife): E8
provocing and dominant (black haired); denial of weak positon (when slave at the court); woman 'with balls'
High Priest (Sepura's father): E2
helpful and warm man
Pharao: E1
preach and teach; man with a mission; stern, punishing his son
Wife of Pharao: E2-ish
helps the baby Mozes
Miriam (Mozes sister): E6
begs, humiliates herself, true believer, loyal to brother
Aaron (Mozes Brother): E9
intermediary between Mozes and Miriam, nice guy, but his boiled up anger towards Mozes' actions explodes
God: E8
ordering/directing Mozes, intimidates him when pushed Mozes asks critical questions about his new assignment