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One Night with the King [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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The Queen who saved her people
Review date: 2008-05-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

Visually stunning dramatization of the Purim story, the movie brings to the screen in a thrilling and engaging way the story of Hadassah, the beautiful Jewish orphan girl who becomes Queen of Persia and saves her people from the annihilation planned by Haman (James Callis), the Agagite.
The prologue begins with the capture a few centuries before of Prince Agag by King Saul, and his execution by the Prophet Samuel (Peter O Toole).
Agag's pregnant wife escapes however and perpetuates the descent of the ancient enemy of Israel, the Amalekites.

Tiffany Dupont plays a beautiful, spirited, intelligent and engaging Hadassah as we see something of the life of the Persian Jews in Susa, being raised by her uncle Mordecai (John Rhys-Davies), who adopted her when she was a little girl after her family were murdered by the Agagites.

We see several flashbacks to this event.
Haman is introduced amidst his scheming and his deep and ancient hatred of the Jewish people (his emblem is even that of the swastika.), and his Nazi/Hamas type rallies where he rails against the Jews. He continually alludes to the false alliance of the Jews with the Greeks and their plans to introduce democracy, pouring scorn on both the Jewish G-D and Greek democracy.
Very grand and majestic settings and a brilliant cast.
Luke Goss adds force to the role of Xerxes and the beautiful Indian actress Jyoti Dogra is perfect in the role of the proud and tragic Queen Vashti.
Several elements of intrigue are added to the story such as the plottings by Prince Admantha (John Noble) and Haman. Admantha is outwitted by Haman who rises to become Xerxe's prime minister.
Haman's plans to slaughter all the Jews in Persia, and building of a huge gallows erected for Mordecai who had refused to bow before Haman, thus incurring Haman's rage and hate.
Hadassah's pain and strength shine forth as she eventually manages to expose Haman and reveal herself as a Jewess - Hadassah Bat Abihail, to the beautiful scene of the appearance of the Stars of David floating across the horizon. The Star of David will triumph over all of Israel's enemies.

She persuades Xerxes to cancel the evil decree of genocide.
The scene where Haman is caught by Xerxes in Hadassah's chamber has an added element of violence as Haman is actually caught strangling Hadassah by an enraged Xerxes, before being sent to his death.
Always we are reminded of the theme of the struggle of the Nation of Israel to survive through the millenia of persecution, where in each generation, a new enemy arises to try and annihilate the Jewish people.
At the end of the movie Mordecai is appointed the King's Chief Minister, and decrees the right of the Jews to rise up and defend themselves against those who aim to annihilate them. Certainly a relevant theme today.

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Reviews


Call to the beloved bride of Jesus Christ
Review date: 2008-03-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

The movie is beautifully done, awesome! Inspiring & breath-catching & is truly an inspiration in understanding the leading of God in our lives as we learn to obey Him also thru' those that God perphaps puts in our lives like with Esther. I would recommend reading Tommy Tenny's book (Special movie edition) first which gives even more insight & dimension to the movie.

Better Than Expected
Review date: 2008-02-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

A really moving account of the story of Esther from the Old Testement and of Epic proportions, beautiful photography, fantastic sets and scenery, great acting. This film needs an airing in the UK Cinemas.

I wish there was a Region 2 version for my parents
Review date: 2007-10-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

An awesome movie - really impressed when I saw it in the USA last year. A good balance of dramatization with the Biblical story of Esther.


A Christian movie in the style of Cecil B Demille
Review date: 2007-05-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

The story is about Esther, the lady who saved her people from being exterminated. It is one of the most popular books in the Bible, and this fim lives up to its promise.
In fact, the film derives its story line not from the Bible, but a novel based on the Bible, but a novel by Tommy Tenney, a well known Christian author and speaker. I5 follows the Biblical story, but with some extra additions.
The additions are not contrary to sceipture, but are more in the line of added people to the sotry. For example, Omar Shariff plays a
Persian general, who must have existed, but is not mentioned by name in the Bible account.
This is a prophesional production, a rare thing in so many Bible films. It is on a grand scale, all the buildings are huge, pretty well like you might think the capital city of one of the greatest empires in the ancient world would look like. The armies look big, there are set piece movements and the people are believable.
While stating the obvious, the story revolves around the love and LuKe Goss (Xerxes) for Tiffany Dumont (Esther). It is the clear chemistry between the two which makes this film, they look and act like a couple in love.
Peter O'Tooke as the prophet Samuel is only on screen for about 5 minutes. The narrator is John Rhyss Davies, as Mordechai, the uncle of Esther.
It is a film worth watching again. Sadly it has never been released in the cinema in the UK, and I had to buy from Amazon USA. but it is worth it.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Omar Sharif
Tiffany Dupont
John Rhys-Davies
Luke Goss
John Noble

Creators:
Tiffany Dupont (Primary Contributor)
Luke Goss (Primary Contributor)
Carlos DeMattos (Producer)
John Nelson (Producer)
Laurie Crouch (Producer)
Lawrence Mortorff (Producer)
Mark Andrew Olsen (Writer)
Stephan Blinn (Writer)
Tommy Tenney (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
EAN: 0024543408260
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: AC-3, Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2007-01-30
Universal product code (UPC): 024543408260
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006-10-13
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Dubbed)

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