I watched the first installment of ABC’s two-part mini-series, The Ten Commandments, last night. It covered the 80-year period from baby Moses in the basket to the parting of the Red Sea. The second half, beginning after the Jews exited Egypt and culminating in Moses’ trip to the mountaintop, airs tonight.
Although the title was obviously borrowed from Cecil B. DeMille’s classic Charlton Heston vehicle — a smart marketing move, to suggest that it is a remake of the 1956 classic — I detected no direct connections between the two versions. The 2006 movie has a new script and fills in the blanks of the biblical account in different ways.
I had low expectations for this film. After all, some recent made-for-TV movies of biblical stories have been pretty pitiful. Remember the 1999 Noah’s Ark, starring Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen? It was absurd. How about the 1999 Jesus, with Jeremy Sisto as the Lord and Debra Messing as Mary Magdalene? He was the most fun-loving Jesus ever committed to film — always smiling, cracking jokes, a regular cut-up. He came off as a really nice guy, but not a Christ, the Son of the living God.
Prior to last night’s viewing of The Ten Comandments, I read a couple of reviews. Both critics complained that Moses was too weak and whiny (no Charlton Heston) and the movie too boring. So, I wasn’t expecting much.
Perhaps due to my low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. ABC’s Moses is fairly good. I enjoyed it, and I look forward to watching the conclusion tonight. Sure, nitpickers can always point out details in a Bible movie that differ from the inspired text. But on all the important points, The Ten Commandments is in line with the Exodus account. Producer Robert Halmi Sr. said, “This will be the most biblically accurate telling of the story to date. I insisted on accuracy.†Good to know that was his goal, and he did relatively well at achieving it.
I do not think actor Dougray Scott’s Moses was wimpy. The Bible record tells us that Moses was a stammering melancholy, fearful and unsure of himself. However, he must have possessed latent leadership qualities, which God knew would emerge when circumstances required them. Scott struck the right balance, communicating Moses’ fear as well as his faith and forcefulness.
I do have two complaints, and I do not think these are minor details. First, why is Moses white (Dougray Scott was born in Scotland)? Come on. This is the 21st century. Are we still so xenophobic that we must recast every Bible character, from Jesus on down, as a Caucasian? When we will be ready to accept an Abraham, a Moses, or a Jesus who is Semitic?
(Sidebar: I came across this: “What Colour Was Jesus?†Good piece. Would you be able to bow down before and worship a Jesus who looks like this?)
Also, the Bible says Moses was 80 years old when he led his people to freedom. Dougray Scott is 40, and he looks it in this movie. At least in the 1956 version they dyed Heston’s hair and beard gray to indicate he had joined the senior class. In 2006, they just decided to skip over that little detail. Apparently the producer and director believe we want all of our Bible heroes to be middle-aged Caucasians, and they’re not going to let the facts get in the way of giving us what we want.
Despite those gripes, The Ten Commandments is worth watching, and it is certainly far better than most of the mindless junk on television. Christians who always complain about “Hollywood†should be grateful when they serve us movies like this one. The Ten Commandments is a Hallmark Entertainment production and is being broadcast by ABC.
