I admit that I'm a sucker for long, lingering history-epics and state proudly: I've seen them all (or at least most). And although my interest in religion (never having understood why "The Bible" is considered real, and "Lord of the Rings" isn't), I couldn't allow myself to pass this curiosity of a historic epos.
This might be an enjoyable romp for believers, who either know the story already or believe that the story happened as portrayed here, but all others might begin to wonder early on: "Why am I watching a three-hour-plus movie with an imaginary protagonist?" Anthony Quinn does his best to make his performance carry the scenes but there is something restraint in his performance and after a couple of hours of watching Quinn talk either straight to the camera or to what often seems an 'invisible friend', one cannot help but to feel slightly schizophrenic.
If would have taken a director with guts, say Martin Scorsese (who would later refresh sanctimonious, one-dimensional bible films with his controversial "The Last Temptation of Christ"), to turn this tepid retelling into a real film. Perhaps in the future, a death-defying crew of producers and directors decide to make a remake of this film, allowing the protagonists to be portrayed, such as is the case in many other films, by an actor. My personal choice for Mohammed would be Daniel Day Lewis.
If non-controversial, conformist films about the origin of a creed are your thing, I recommend "The Bible" or "Little Buddha" (which actually might have benefited from a policy that would have stopped Keanu Reeves from being seen or heard on screen). If you enjoy Anthony Quinn in his role as bearded, fez-wearing Arab, why not go for "Lawrence of Arabia" or even "Omar Mukhtar – Lion of the Desert" (like "The Message" co-produced by slain Libyan president Muhammar Ghadaffi).
This movie I can only recommend to the quire to which it's already preaching, and perhaps people who enjoyed watching "The Invisible Man" but found the Chevy Chases voice-over annoying.
I'll give it three points: one for the beautiful setting, one for the lovely musical score and, despite acting slightly more restraint than usually, one for Anthony Quinn.
This might be an enjoyable romp for believers, who either know the story already or believe that the story happened as portrayed here, but all others might begin to wonder early on: "Why am I watching a three-hour-plus movie with an imaginary protagonist?" Anthony Quinn does his best to make his performance carry the scenes but there is something restraint in his performance and after a couple of hours of watching Quinn talk either straight to the camera or to what often seems an 'invisible friend', one cannot help but to feel slightly schizophrenic.
If would have taken a director with guts, say Martin Scorsese (who would later refresh sanctimonious, one-dimensional bible films with his controversial "The Last Temptation of Christ"), to turn this tepid retelling into a real film. Perhaps in the future, a death-defying crew of producers and directors decide to make a remake of this film, allowing the protagonists to be portrayed, such as is the case in many other films, by an actor. My personal choice for Mohammed would be Daniel Day Lewis.
If non-controversial, conformist films about the origin of a creed are your thing, I recommend "The Bible" or "Little Buddha" (which actually might have benefited from a policy that would have stopped Keanu Reeves from being seen or heard on screen). If you enjoy Anthony Quinn in his role as bearded, fez-wearing Arab, why not go for "Lawrence of Arabia" or even "Omar Mukhtar – Lion of the Desert" (like "The Message" co-produced by slain Libyan president Muhammar Ghadaffi).
This movie I can only recommend to the quire to which it's already preaching, and perhaps people who enjoyed watching "The Invisible Man" but found the Chevy Chases voice-over annoying.
I'll give it three points: one for the beautiful setting, one for the lovely musical score and, despite acting slightly more restraint than usually, one for Anthony Quinn.