Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you want to teach your kids the Moses story, literally just read them the picture book version or watch The Prince of Egypt from 1998 instead. This 2007 adaptation is a masterclass in how to take an epic, powerful story and drain it of all life and engagement.

The ratings tell the story: 19% critic score, 3.0 on IMDb, 25 on Metacritic. This isn't just 'not great'—this is genuinely one of the worst-reviewed animated films you can stream. The animation is reportedly stiff and dated even for 2007, the voice acting uninspired, and the pacing drags.

Yes, the Moses story has educational and moral value. Yes, it teaches about standing up for what's right. But if your kid is so bored they're climbing the walls after 10 minutes, they're not learning anything except that Bible stories are tedious—which is the opposite of what you want.

It's free on seven different platforms, which should tell you something about its market value. Save yourself the time and find literally any other version of this story.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 8+, which seems right given the plague imagery and mass death themes. However, the poor quality means even kids in the target range will likely tune out. Best for families specifically seeking religious content who can provide context—not for casual viewing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

65

Biblical story of Moses freeing the Israelites models courage and standing up for oppressed people. However, the story inherently includes plagues, death of firstborn children, and Pharaoh's army drowning—heavy themes even in animated form. The narrative promotes values of faith and justice, but the execution quality appears poor based on ratings.

Imaginative

25

This is a straightforward retelling of a well-known Bible story with no apparent creative innovation. The 19% critic score and 3.0 IMDb rating suggest uninspired animation and storytelling. Biblical epics can be imaginative, but this 2007 direct-to-video adaptation appears to be a low-budget, paint-by-numbers rendition that doesn't invite curiosity or creative thinking.

Safe

60

Common Sense Media rates it for age 8+, acknowledging the intense biblical content. The story includes the ten plagues (boils, locusts, death), mass drowning of Egyptian soldiers, and themes of slavery and oppression. While animated and presumably softened, these are still heavy topics. No modern safety concerns like inappropriate content, but the subject matter requires parental context.

Enriching

45

The Moses story offers historical and religious education value, teaching about standing up against injustice and the foundational Judeo-Christian narrative. However, the abysmal critical reception (19% RT, 25 Metacritic, 3.0 IMDb) suggests the execution is so poor that any educational value is undermined by boring, low-quality animation that won't engage kids enough to actually learn anything.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Introduces the Moses story and Ten Commandments narrative for families who want religious education
Available free on multiple streaming platforms, so at least you won't pay for the disappointment
Models standing up against oppression and fighting for freedom, which are timeless values
Short enough that when your kid inevitably gets bored, the suffering won't last too long

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What to Watch For

The ten plagues include some genuinely disturbing imagery even in cartoon form—boils, locusts, darkness, and the death of Egyptian firstborns
Pharaoh's army drowning in the Red Sea is a mass death event that may upset sensitive kids
The animation quality is reportedly terrible—think early 2000s bargain-bin CGI that will test everyone's patience
With a 3.0 IMDb rating and 19% on Rotten Tomatoes, this is objectively one of the worst-reviewed animated films available

Conversation Starters

"What do you think it would feel like to be told you have to do something really hard and scary, like Moses was?"
"Why do you think Pharaoh kept changing his mind about letting the people go?"
"The plagues were pretty intense—which one do you think would be the worst to experience?"
"Do you think Moses was scared when he went to talk to Pharaoh? What makes someone brave?"

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