The Prince of Egypt

DreamWorks' animated version of the Moses story sticks to the Bible and eschews the Disney tradition of having a cute comic sidekick on board. The film is visually sumptuous, but scenes like the chariot race, or even the parting of the Red Sea, look no more impressive than the David Lean-style action in Disney's Mulan. Nor is it a comforting film for the very young - the 'death of the first born' plague is especially harrowing, albeit imaginitively realised - and kids may even find God's use of violence to defeat the Egyptians a wee bit excessive. But as epic, emotionally satisfying spectacle, it's up there with some of the best in mainstream animation. It's a pity that some of the more wondrous moments are spoiled by mundane songs.