Courtesy of Angel Studios
Maybe the primary query that arises in “The King of Kings”, a biblical retelling of Jesus Christ’s life, is why it begins by specializing in Charles Dickens and his son, Walter. Whereas there’s a actual historic context behind this choice—Dickens did, in actual fact, write about Jesus for his kids—it additionally feels just like the movie’s most important stumbling block.
“The King of Kings” takes satisfaction in its “Princess Bride”-esque, meta storytelling, putting Charles, Walter, and their cat Willa into the biblical previous to discover themes of endurance, forgiveness, and love. Whereas I agree that this narrative system is used successfully—particularly towards the top, when the movie confronts sacrifice and savagery—I discovered myself extra engaged once I didn’t take into consideration the real-life context. I most well-liked to see them as an ambiguous father and son, quite than precise historic figures. That context solely makes an unassuming viewers extra leery than invested. Plus, the opening scene does little to justify why the story must be framed this manner in any respect, regardless of a comical (and admittedly typical) quarrel between mother or father and baby.
The true coronary heart of the movie lies within the gospel world, the place it principally manages to strike an inexpensive steadiness between poignant ethical classes and the sort of preachy exposition usually present in virtue-heavy narratives. That mentioned, the manifestly simplified abstract of “Adam and Eve” feels misplaced. I perceive the main focus is on Jesus, however lowering the idea of unique sin to a 20-second monologue in a film aimed toward kids is certain to boost extra questions than it solutions.
The movie additionally doesn’t draw back from its darker parts. Whereas the subject material definitely warrants a solemn tone, the movie appears to position extra emphasis on the ache and sacrifice of Jesus than on the hope and gratitude of his ascension. Telling the whole story in a single sitting makes it tough to seize the total emotional arc. The movie consists of every thing—Lazarus, the loaves and fishes, Mary Magdalene, the flipping of tables—each Sunday faculty staple will get a second. However as an alternative of enriching the narrative, the sheer quantity of tales makes them really feel rushed and segmented, as if there’s no time to let any of them actually resonate. Probably the most outstanding story, unsurprisingly, is the betrayal and crucifixion, which—whereas vital—can be the least optimistic, resulting in a resurrection that doesn’t get practically the eye it deserves. If you happen to’re searching for the gospel, you’ll discover it—simply with out as a lot depth or context as you may anticipate.
This lack of context is compounded by one in every of my largest considerations: the character design. It usually feels inconsistent or stylized in ways in which merely don’t work. I do know that may sound harsh—particularly since among the most beloved Christian animations are composed solely of greens—however the emotional expressiveness right here is missing. Jesus has a razor-thin neck and tiny eyes, whereas the disciples have disproportionately giant options that appear to be they belong to thoroughly totally different movies. Some characters clearly obtain cautious animation to convey emotion, whereas others really feel like afterthoughts. This inconsistency dulls the emotional weight of the miracles depicted.
After which there’s the casting—which is, frankly, stellar. Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Hamill, Uma Thurman, Jim Cummings, Forest Whitaker, Pierce Brosnan—a fully stacked lineup. However as an alternative of elevating the characters, these extraordinary voice performances solely spotlight the constraints of the animation. Surrounded by stunning set items and atmospheric lighting, the characters’ glassy eyes and stiff actions grow to be not possible to disregard.
Let me be honest: I don’t suppose “The King of Kings” is a foul film. However for a movie that reaches for religious gravitas, it feels extra like a disciple than a prophet—regardless of the revenue it’s certain to make.
THE KING OF KINGS is now taking part in in theaters.
Luke Durling has deep ardour for all issues animation, and is thrilled to have the possibility to share his ideas with you. If you happen to loved this overview, be happy to discover his different work at calmandcultured.com.