Prince of Egypt

(DreamWorks)

Visually striking and often ingenious, this animated DreamWorks entry gives the familiar tale a glib contemporary spin, posing the founder of the Western religious tradition as a spoiled yuppie who finds God and his purpose in life despite his worst intentions. Val Kilmer as Moses, Patrick Stewart as Pharaoh Seti, Helen Mirren as his Queen, Ralph Fiennes as Moses's adopted brother Rameses, Michelle Pfeiffer as Moses's fiery Midianite wife, and Jeff Goldblum as his feckless brother Aaron all have the unfortunate flat affect of the ants in A Bug's Life. Only Sandra Bullock brings a little spunk to her role as Moses's sister Miriam.