Joseph - King Of Dreams [VHS] [2000]

The good: Bravo to Dreamworks for an entertaining, beautifully animated story about one of the Bible's favorite characters! A few privileges have been taken with the script, but these are additions that improve the story and sort of fill in the blanks. Giving Joseph a love interest from Potiphar's household whom he eventually marries when he is under Pharaoh completes the picture of Joseph as a husband and father when his brothers find him. Adding a scene that shows Potiphar sparing Joseph's life because his wife asks him to, confirms that Potiphar realized his wife was lying and that he knew Joseph was really innocent. These situations don't change the story, but instead makes sense for children who are trying to figure out what happens in those scenes. The dreams are illustrated like Van Gogh paintings, 3-D camera angles surround characters to create a more realistic shot. A half dozen songs are skillfully used to bridge plot situations, explain a character's action, illustrate time lapses and celebrate events. The painful situations of his brothers selling him into slavery, Potiphar's wife betraying him and the joyful reunion with his family are handled in a tender way that children will understand and learn from. This is a visual treat that can be shown to Sunday school classes, neighborhood kids, schools and anyone else who wants to see an inspiring story with a life changing message. It will create great discussion about forgiveness, God's plan for our lives and trusting God when things look hopeless. Adults, don't let the fact that it's animated fool you -- I enjoyed every minute of this colorful, inspiring story!

The not-so-good: Just being picky, but the animation -- despite the fact that it's colorful -- could have been a little more realistic. There are a couple of scenes where the brothers take off their shirts and go swimming, and girls in pretty costumes dance for the men in the palace, but all of it's very tame and nothing is offensive.

Parental advisory: Parents might want to watch this with your little ones under 7 because of the inevitable questions concerning the adult themes (betrayal, forgiveness, attacking a woman, etc.) that may need explanation.