3 Reasons ‘The King of Kings’ Is the Animated Jesus Story Every Family Needs
Movies
Audio By Carbonatix
9:30 AM on Friday, April 11
By Michael Foust, Movies
1. It's Faithful to Scripture
Modern movie history includes plenty of films about Jesus -- The Gospel of John, The Passion of The Christ and The Chosen come to mind -- yet animated versions of His life are extremely rare. This is especially true if you eliminate animated series from the list, such as Superbook.
The King of Kings provides a refreshing option for families: an entertaining 90-minute animated film that stays faithful to God's Word.
The biblical story begins roughly 12 minutes into the film, when Dickens tells his son about Mary giving birth to a newborn King -- a baby Dickens calls the Son of God. Dickens then fast-forwards to the story of Mary and Joseph accidentally leaving young Jesus behind at the temple, and later to His baptism by John the Baptist.
The rest of the film includes the temptation in the wilderness, the calling of the disciples, the healings of the blind man and the paralytic, the sparing of the adulterous woman, the raising of Lazarus, the feeding of the 5,000, and the walking on the water.
Dickens' story about Passion Week covers the major events: the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the washing of the disciples' feet, the Lord's Supper, the betrayal, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. The final hours of Jesus' life -- bloody in most films -- are toned down for The King of Kings. Jesus is flogged but off-screen. He is nailed to a cross, yet the scene is brief. He hangs on the cross -- wearing a crown and visibly wounded -- but the animation avoids graphic detail. There is some blood, but He is not drenched in it. In the final minutes of the film, we see Him alive again.
The writers smartly included flashbacks to the Old Testament stories of the Fall and the Passover, helping explain the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice.
"Jesus knew He had to die for our sins," Dickens tells Walter.
Throughout the movie, Walter is immersed in the action, although he does not interact with the characters. Dickens narrates. The moment Walter hears Jesus rose from the dead, he bolts around the room, leaping and laughing with pure joy. "Everyone should tell His story!" Walter says.
Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios
2. It's Bursting with Famous Names …Both Old and New
The film was inspired by Dickens' own manuscript, The Life of Our Lord, which he wrote as a heartfelt retelling of the life of Jesus for his children. It was not published until decades after his death and contained hints at the author's own personal beliefs. Dickens wrote of Jesus: "Everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong or were in any way ill or miserable as He was."
The credits on The King of Kings read like a Who's Who of Hollywood. It stars the voices of Oscar Isaac (Star Wars sequel trilogy) as Jesus, Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express, Dunkirk) as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman (Kill Bill franchise) as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan (James Bond films) as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise) as Herod, Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) as Peter and Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) as High Priest Caiaphas.
Any major Hollywood film would love that cast. Here, though, they've come together to tell the story of Christ.
Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios
3. It's Delightfully Charming from Start to Finish
The King of Kings is more than a faithful retelling of the Gospel -- it's also a charming story about a family bonding over the greatest story ever told. They gather around a cozy nighttime fire, its gentle glow adding warmth and wonder. Dickens pulls out a globe, pointing to a tiny dot on the map -- Bethlehem -- where it all began. Walter's eyes light up with curiosity and awe. Every now and then, Dickens' wife, Catherine, chimes in, helping with the lines. The British accents and references to London life only add to the film's brilliance. Roman Griffin Davis, who voices Walter, is perfect for the role.
The film is a reminder that all great stories ultimately point to Christ, as Tolkien and his friend C.S. Lewis separately argued. That includes King Arthur, yes, but also nearly every story that includes themes of grace, mercy, love and truth -- not to mention fall and redemption.
The film is also a gentle reminder of the central role of family in discipling our children. Dickens begins with King Arthur -- meeting his son where he is -- and gently guides him to the greatest King of all: Jesus.
Rated PG for thematic material, violent content and some scary moments.
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Discussion Questions for Families:
- Was the film faithful to Scripture? (Explain your answer.)
- What, if anything, would you have changed?
- For smaller children: Why did Jesus perform miracles?
- Why was Jesus' sacrifice on the cross necessary?
- What do you think His disciples were thinking during the hours and days between His crucifixion and resurrection?
Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios
