Yeah…. So being the single gal that I am I decided to celebrate V-day with some cheesecake and a movie. And in honor of the day that honors love I naturally had to watch a romnticy type movie. What I finally settled on was a movie that until a cursory perusal of the movie section at Target I had not know was even in existence, One night with the king. It is a FoxFaith movie which tells the biblical story of Ester (for those who aren’t familiar with that book of the bible, here’s the nutshell version.
King Xerxes of Persia (486-464 B.C.) who controled much of the “civilized” world at that time (with the exception of Greece **and Ireland of course(>;**) held a great banquet and sent for his queen to dispay her beauty before those in attendence. Queen Vashti however refused to come when summoned. As penalty for her disobedience she was stripped of her position and it was commanded “that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.” Therefore Xerxes in need of a new queen upon the advice of his personal attendents a search was made for beautiful young virgins to be brought to the palace to recieve 12 months worth of beauty treatment afterwhich time they would go before the king and the girl of his choosing would be crowned hid queen.
A young Jewess orphan named Hadasseh but also known as Ester in the care of her devote uncle Mordecai was chosen as a canidate and ultimately chosen as the new queen. ***Enter bad guy*** Then enters the story Haman who for some or other reason the king elevates to a seat of high honor and power greater than the other nobles and commands all royal officials to kneel down to pay him honor. Mordecai however refuses to bow before Haman so Haman gets angry and decides he not only wants to distroy Mordecai but all of Mordecai;s people (the Jews). Therefore Haman advises the king to order the destruction of the Jews as they have different customs from the norm and are disobedient to the King’s command which could spread derision. So the king tells Haman to “Do with the people as you please.” So dispatches were sent throughout the kingdom to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, far and wide. Mordecai then persuades Ester to go before the king (according to custom at that time and place, to go before the king uninvited could mean death should he not choose to spare your life)to pleade the case of her people. She does… he listens… Haman is put to death.
Anyway so back to the movie
I admit, I liked it. So it definately took some liberties with the story and changed a few things, but what feature film hasn’t. I didn’t like that they took some liberties with Jewish hitory to embellish Haman as some Agagite (Agagites being the desendants of King Agag who King Saul took prisoner instead of killing as GOD commanded after the mustering of the Israelite army at Telaim) Of course upon learning of Saul’s disobedience Samuel puts Agage to death personally. Now let me clarify, this is indeed what happens in the movie, but for dramatic effect the movie proposes that King Agags wife was also spared and of course escaped, pregnant with Agage’s son and ultimate avenger, the infamous Haman. This of course is Scripturally baseless and that is what bothers me most. I mean it’s one thing to add details here and there to make a story come alive, but to fabricate stroyline threads and pass them off as fact bothers me, particularly with regard to a biblical story. But it is just a movie after all and I suppose that is not a critical point of theological importance.
I did like the epic feel of the movie. Great costumes and cinematography. The script could have been less tedious and more polished but overall as I have said I found it entertaining and a decent love story that isn’t too sweet with a fair does of intigue, decadence and the threat of war, just the way I like my love stories.
If you appreciate history, sweeping scenery, and want to see the story of Esther come to life (albeit with a side of the sometimes slightly rediculous) check it out. There are certainly a lot more unwholesome things to watch. I warn you however although the jacket boasts Peter O’Toole as a part of the all-star cast his total screen time is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 min.
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