CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Ariella Broughton
It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
Brooklynn
There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
Armand
an important Polish novel. a special film, precise adaptation of the first. and atmosphere of an old empire. short - a kind of parable about power, illusion and generous plans. after decades, its basic force source is the delicacy of details and performances. the slow images, the links between politic and religion, economy and need of change, the supremacy of a group against the king will , the fragility of a young leader and the fall of each great state. the music, the images and the hard work to create a remarkable film. the emotions and the spirit of lost world. more than adaptation of Prus masterpiece, it is reflection of profound roots of each period. and that fact does it not only a form of history lesson but a seed for reflection about present.
bradnfrank
FARAON, aka PHARAOH, is about a power struggle between Rameses XIII, heir to the throne of an impoverished Egypt, and the temple priests, who are hoarding a vast treasury of gold (tribute to their gods). The film lacks the grand spectacle of Cecil B. DeMille, which is to say that it's probably a much more accurate depiction of ancient Egypt than the Hollywood versions you're used to seeing. Lots of political intrigue, several good battle scenes, and some really wild wigs! The liner notes to the DVD say that this was the most important film in the career of director Jerzy Kawalerowicz.
ania2001
Interesting movie. Beautiful costumes and sites. The costumes look very much original. Should be longer: 6 to 12 hours. Worth having it in your own DVD library, if you like history movies. This particular edition has only English dubbed version; I wish that it had the original Polish version as well.
ccmiller1492
This film is a lovingly rendered meditation on the dissolution of an ancient dynasty. The slow and stately pace matches centuries of the oppressive weight of ossified tradition bearing down on a dying culture, symbolized by the dead stone colossi and gargantuan architecture. There are moments of great beauty realized in its passing, such as the lovely sequence of fowling from a punt in the marshes, and the opening scene of divination on the battlefield by means of observing the movements of the sacred scarab dung beetles. Without a doubt, the most convincing depiction of those fascinating past people to date on the screen