Saturday, December 12, 1998

'Prince of Egypt' tells religious story

By LORETTA FULTON

Senior Staff Writer

If the story of Moses battling Pharoah to lead the Israelites from the house of bondage isn't already one of the Bible's best-known and most beloved stories, it will be after Friday.

Move over, Charlton Heston. On Friday theaters nationwide will be hit like a swarm of locusts by children and parents anxious to see the premiere of "The Prince of Egypt," the $60 million-plus animated movie about the life of Moses produced by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG.

The movie will be shown on two screens at Abilene's new Century 12 complex. Many churches, synagogues, and other religious groups are planning to take groups of children, including Wylie United Methodist Church's Child Development Center.

The Wylie children should be well prepared, as they have just completed a series on Moses, quite by happenstance, said children's minister Benna Myrick.

"We didn't even plan it to coincide with this," Myrick said.

Wylie UMC's "kid's church" was transformed into a tabernacle in the wilderness, and children wandered through the Red Sea, picking up manna along the way, enroute to the tabernacle. Afterward, adult leaders led the children in a review of what they had learned about Moses.

"When our kids see it I think they're going to be real familiar with the story," Myrick said.

Ginger Bumguardner, children's minister at First Baptist Church, hasn't made up her mind yet about taking a group.

"I'm going to watch it first and see how accurate it is," she said. "If it is biblically accurate, then it will be a good thing."

Christian leaders aren't the only ones looking with expectation to the movie's opening. DreamWorks SKG began promoting "The Prince of Egypt" to religious leaders as long ago as 1995 and invited Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders to screenings as the the film was in progress.

A studio press release says "558 people have paid 756 visits to DreamWorks" to screen the film, among them Mike Cope, minister of Highland Church of Christ in Abilene.

Cope was impressed by the film producers' willingness to listen to input from the religious leaders.

"They actually changed a couple of things from feedback they got the first time," Cope said. "I've never heard of that happening."

Equally excited about the film's opening are Jews, who believe the movie may serve as a vehicle for better understanding among people of differing faiths.

"It is multi-religious and that in itself is a positive," said Barbara MacArthur, a member of Temple Mizpah in Abilene and mother of two children, ages 4 and 7. "It'll be a basis for good understanding."

Some people may raise eyebrows at the animated portrayal of Holy Scripture, but not MacArthur, who also enjoyed the Rugrats' Hanukkah celebration.

"I think if we can interest our children and stimulate their learning, that's helpful," MacArthur said.

She believes it is up to parents and religion instructors to teach children the significance of the story once they are hooked by DreamWorks' creative portrayal.

"If it stimulates a child to want to know more, then use it as an opportunity," MacArthur said.

Although the animated depiction is designed to attract children's attention, parents are cautioned not to take the very young to the movie.

"I wouldn't recommend it for pre-school," Cope said. "It's a violent story."

Parents will have plenty of teaching opportunities associated with "The Prince of Egypt," with an assortment of books, CDs, and other paraphernalia already in stores promoting the movie.

A multi-language website (www.prince-of-egypt.com) features study guides designed to help parents and teachers examine Moses' spiritual and ethical values.

"The Prince of Egypt" brings together the vocal talents of Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes as Moses and Rameses, as well as Sandra Bullock, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Steve Martin, Helen Mirren, Michelle Pfeiffer, Martin Short and Patrick Stewart.

No one is likely to walk away from the movie theater unhappy, said Cope, who visited the studio twice during the film's making, most recently in February when the film was 80 percent complete.

Cope was invited as a member of the evangelical Christian group that was asked for input. During their first visit, ministers commented on the theme song's message, "You can work miracles when you believe."

The evangelical Christians thought that concept seemed "awfully New Agey," Cope said and recommended a change to put God at the center of the miracles.

"We were trying to change it so that the greater focus was on what God had done," Cope said.

The producers were receptive and the song now says, "There can be miracles when you believe."

The change came with an enthusiastic endorsement from Jeffrey Katzenberg, the "K" in DreamWorks SKG, along with Spielberg and David Geffen.

"It matters to us that we do this movie right," Katzenberg told the ministers.

While some moviegoers may see "The Prince of Egypt" just because it's a can't-miss DreamWorks production, the dream of religion leaders is that it will work a miracle in the lives of those who see it.

"I've asked the church to commit to praying for that," Cope said.