King David
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Movie Reviews of King David
Movie Review: King David, Bible
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't care what they say about this movie. I loved it. The movie's bases on the book of Samuel, that's in the Bible. It's pretty accurate too. I'm a Richard Gere fan, also.Movie Review: Really Good
Summary: 4 Stars
We really enjoyed this film, it was very close to the story in the bible. Great cast, set and storyline.Movie Review: Saul steals the movie from David
Summary: 3 Stars
King David was the Alexander of its day, a critically reviled epic that was damned more for what it got right than what it gets wrong. Critics at the time were aghast at the violence and ridiculed the scene where Richard Gere dances through the streets of Jerusalem in a loincloth, but in actuality both are straight from the Book of Kings and are considerably watered down: this David doesn't give his father-in-law hundreds of Philistines foreskins in return for the hand of his daughter, and the decimation of his enemies takes place safely offscreen. But the film's attitude to religion is strikingly grim. This isn't the cosy feelgood God of Sunday school but a vengeful, unforgiving God who orders genocide and abandons those He anoints. Both Saul and David fall from Grace, but strangely enough it's Saul's fall that really registers. Edward Woodward is superb in the role, and all too easily dominates the film in the face of little competition from some especially bland British and Irish actors.
Gere should be ideal casting for David's vanity at least, but he's a transparent presence in the film, lacking depth and over-reliant on his limited range of affectations. But he's not helped by the fact that David never becomes a character or even an active participant in his own life story: if anything, he is almost a bystander observing the deeds of others. After slaying Goliath, we never see him in battle or earning his reputation as a great king, and he doesn't feature in either of the two underwhelming battle scenes, a problem highlighted by intercutting them with shots of David miles away waiting to hear the result. As an epic, it's desperately underpopulated (they had major problems getting enough extras to the Italian locations), and you get the feeling at time that it's almost a picture made up of leftovers - the costumes were originally made for Scorsese's first abortive attempt to film The Last Temptation while the Ark of the Covenant probably has `Property of Indiana Jones' stamped inside it
Somewhere in there there's an idea fighting to get out about the search for God, but unfortunately it's so low-key and evenly paced that there are no real highs to the film. Carl Davis' score has its moments and it's not the turkey its reputation implies, but it never catches fire. As Bruce Beresford noted, they should have taken the hint when they started shooting in Israel only to get caught up in snowstorms - someone was definitely trying to tell them something!
The 2.35:1 DVD transfer is acceptable but not outstanding, although there are no extras.
Movie Review: "In Our Country Madmen Are Held To Be Sacred" ~ Madman, Poet And King
Summary: 3 Stars
Synopsis: *See Hebrew Scriptures.
Critique: The '85 Biblical drama `King David' was a film with a lot of potential that unfortunately goes for the most part unrealized. Much like a tapestry, a film is comprised of many parts (cast, crew, production values, script, soundtrack, etc.) that must be meticulously woven into one flowing, indivisible garment if the director's vision is to be realized and the film successful with its target audience. So, where did this film fall short of my expectations?
Negatives:
1- While I'm usually a fan of Richard Gere I found his portrayal of David to be lackluster and totally unmotivated. I'm guessing he was attempting to appear righteous and contemplative but it comes across as bored and disinterested.
2- The editing is choppy and moves too abruptly. I found this lack of continuity to be disconcerting causing me to frequently lose focus and eventually interest in the ongoing storyline.
3- The intermittent narration used to fill in the missing pieces of the story and pertinent scripture verses gave the film a Sunday School feel that I didn't care for.
4- I think what bothered me the most was the total lack of passion in this production. There were no peak experiences, what I like to call "I'm Spartacus" moments that would set the film apart from others within the Biblical/religious genre.
Positives:
1- Excellent performance by Edward Woodward in the role of King Saul.
2- A surprisingly insightful ongoing monologue from David to God provides a unique look at the thought processes of this legendary Biblical figure.
Rating: If you like Biblically based films you'll probably enjoy this one well enough, but overall `King David' could have been much better; -3 1/2 Stars-.
Movie Review: Follows the Tanach, But Topically
Summary: 3 Stars
This movie is nice, but not much more than that. As a religious Jews, I can say that while the story line is pretty on, you won't get a sense of the majesty, nobility, and intense spirituality that were hallmarks of the real King David, author of the Psalms.
Plus, if you care about the images flashing before your eyes, you will be accosted by two scenes of totally gratuitous nudity which I would say are not appropriate for children, and not likely pleasing to religious adults.
Richard Gere is an okay David. Again, I don't think he had a sense of how great his character was. The scene with Goliath is worth viewing.