‘The King of Kings’ Review: Oscar Isaac Voices Jesus in Visually Generic and Heavy-Handed Christian Animated Film

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The marketing for “The King of Kings” boasts it as the first theatrically released biblical animated feature since DreamWorks’ “The Prince of Egypt” in 1998. However, comparing this new release from Angel Studio to the artistic masterpiece of “The Prince of Egypt” is downright sacrilegious. The creators of “Sound of Freedom,” on the other hand, are venturing into family animated productions by distributing director Jang Seong-ho’s loose adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “The Life of Our Lord,” a work that Dickens originally penned for his own children.

To keep my lively, Arthurian-fascinated youngster Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) entertained, I, Charles Dickens (Kenneth Branagh), weave an enchanting tale about the one undisputed king who didn’t rely on a sword to lead a band of devoted followers: none other than Jesus Christ.

In this story, Charles Dickens delves into each of Jesus’ miracles and crucial events leading up to his tragic death, capturing the attention of a young observer named Walter who secretly watches from the sidelines. The animation in “The King of Kings” is filled with dramatic elements like storms, powerful winds, and heavy rainfall, but it lacks distinct visual charm. The characters, who are predominantly Anglo, have a generic appearance that’s reminiscent of low-budget CGI productions made abroad. They have oversized heads, smooth skin, and prominent facial features.

The film creators depict Passover, exodus, Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden, and other religious tales using animated illustrations reminiscent of books. However, this Korea-produced project doesn’t delve deeply into spiritual themes beyond that. It’s suitable for a Sunday youth group gathering but may not offer much more depth. Following the main titles, a message with about a dozen white children praising the movie appears, asking viewers to share it and inviting them to scan a QR code on screen (a practice that started with “Sound of Freedom”).

Apart from a few playful comments by Walter and his naughty cat Willa, “The King of Kings” is predominantly a solemn and serious portrayal of Jesus’ life, culminating in his crucifixion. Director Jang intentionally omits the graphic details of Jesus’ scourging for younger viewers. Although Jesus is depicted as being nailed to the cross, the places where the nails would have pierced his hands are subtly obscured, and no blood appears on screen.

In many religious films, the message is more important than entertainment or artistic quality. This is one reason why it feels misleading to compare “The King of Kings” to something as dynamic, captivating, and impactful like “The Prince of Egypt.” It’s not that we should expect comedic elements in a Bible story, but the overt symbolism tends to overshadow the film.

Compared to “The Star,” the 2017 animated film depicting Jesus’ birth from the animals’ point of view which utilized slapstick comedy, effectively engaging young audiences, “The King of Kings” struggles to convey its solemn tone in an appealing format because it doesn’t attempt to make Jesus more relatable. Notably, both movies boast voice casts of well-known actors whose involvement seems odd, considering some, like Pierce Brosnan in “The King of Kings,” have limited dialogue.

In the middle of the movie “The King of Kings,” there’s a hint that it might delve deeper into complex, contemplative themes. After Jesus saves a woman from being stoned by making the crowd recognize their own faults, Dickens warns Walter about people misusing religious words to control others. However, before he can continue his critique, Uma Thurman enters the room with cookies, and the narrative swiftly moves forward. It’s intriguing to think about what a more thought-provoking exploration of religion from Dickens might look like. As it currently stands, “The King of Kings” offers a decent, if somewhat predictable, retelling of a story that has been told in numerous ways and formats.

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2025-04-11 05:16