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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"The Ten Commandments -
Special Edition" is one of the 1950s big budget
elephantine Biblical epics with more spectacle
than heart. It's full of pomp and circumstance,
filled to the tip of the pyramids with an all star
roster that must have tipped the budgetary scales
over at Paramount, and completely overdone beyond
all legitimate theater. The story charts the
spiritual growth of Moses (Charlton Heston) as he
matures into the stark reality that he is not of
noble Egyptian blood. This, of course, eventually
leads Moses on the righteous path to God as he
frees the Hebrew slaves from bondage.
Also featured in this all-star cast are Yul
Brynner as Ramses, the Pharaoh's ruthless first
born, Edward G. Robinson, looking rather
effeminate in his toga as Nathan, the overseer,
Nina Foch as a princess with a secret to keep and
(chuckle, chuckle) Vincent Price as Backa, the
master builder -- very effeminate too in his
Egyptian toga and gaudy head gear. However, Dame
Judith Anderson is effective as Memnet and Sir
Cedric Hardwick is particularly poignant as Ramses
the first.
The production is monumental but stale, thanks to
some rather obvious matte process shots and really
simplistic animation that is easily spotted and
distracting from the otherwise dry performances.
Honestly, does anyone think the pillar of fire or
burning hale look real? This film is the perennial
Easter fave amongst secular Christians, but for my
money the average DVD consumer will be much more
emotionally satisfied with "Ben-Hur."
That goes double for the transfer quality of this
DVD. This is the same transfer as the previously
issued and reviewed disc. It is riddled with edge
enhancement, shimmering of fine details and
pixelization that thoroughly distract from the
visual presentation. Although colors are bold,
rich and vibrant, and black and contrast levels
are deep -- with fine detail evident throughout --
the digital anomalies on both discs totally
undercuts its assets in picture quality. The audio
is a 5.1 remix and generally engaging in its
spread.
In terms of extras, we get a 6 part documentary
that -- like those featured on Paramount's "Once
Upon The Time In The Old West" -- would have been
better edited into one documentary instead of 6
featurettes. There's also an audio commentary
that's flat and uninspiring -- unlike the film's
subject matter.
After providing us with stunning digital transfers
of "Sunset Boulevard" and "Roman Holiday," I sort
of thought Paramount Home Video had turned over a
new leaf. They haven't. This transfer is unworthy
of the moniker "Special Edition" and it just goes
to show that classics continue to get shafted over
at Paramount. For shame! |
