Film Review: The King of Kings

By Kristina Cooper

As well as the wonderful Triduum liturgies, there is also something to get the  Christian message over to younger audiences this Easter. This sees the release of a new animation film from Angel Studio called, King of Kings. The film is based on “The Life of Our Lord,” the book which Charles Dickens wrote for his children,  which he read to them every year at Christmas to reinforce the Christian message.  Dickens saw his telling about the life and death of Jesus  as something very different from his other literary work. He  even stipulated that it should never be published. And in fact it wasn’t, until 1934 when the last of his children had died, and the next generation gave permission for its publication.

Watch the trailer for The King of Kings here:

The King of Kings has a very starry cast, with Kenneth Branagh lending his voice to the character of Charles Dickens, and Pierce Brosnan playing Pontius Pilate as an Etonian style military man, with posh English accent, and Ben Kingsley as Caiphas. Jesus is played by  Oscar Isaac, who played Joseph in the Nativity Story film (2006).

This is director Seong-ho Jang’s directorial debut. The founder of Mofac Animation, a well known special effects studio in Korea, Jang also produced and co-wrote the script with Disney screenwriter Rob Edwards. Not surprisingly, the animation is excellent, managing to convey character and nuance and realism, despite the stylised nature of a cartoon world.

Although Charles Dickens  is very recognisable  with his iconic quiff, his character reminded me more of  a harassed, busy,  contemporary parent, desperately to trying to control and pacify his over exuberant child, than the Victorian pater familias that I would imagine Dickens himself was. I am sure Dickens would have sent Walter to bed with no supper rather than staying up all night to entertain him.  

Walter in the film has a very limited attention span. Once again, rather like the over stimulated children of today. Thus the film races along at speed as Walter is treated to a ring side seat at the major miracles and events of Jesus’ life and becomes immersed in the story.

All Christians know the Gospel, and the Dickens subplot doesn’t particularly add anything to the story, but is more there to provide the framework for the action, and an excuse for some humour and fun animation.  Some of the graphics are spectacular, and the action and characterisation amusing, so I’m sure it's a good option for a family trip to the cinema this holiday-as long as the children realise that the hero is Jesus and not Walter.

On release at selected cinemas from 11th April onwards-book your tickets at thekingofkingsfilm.com