Movie Review – “One Night with The King”

Slipping into my seat to watch “One Night with The King”, I had high expectations; I had been waiting what felt like forever for this film to be released. I settled in for nearly two hours of anticipation on a story I thought I knew.

The production value was superb, and the costumes and sets were an incredible feast to the eyes. The computer graphics added were not over the top and did not distract in any way from the movie; they were appropriately subdued. For a change, not one character, in my opinion, turned in a bad acting performance, and there were several big names signed onto this movie: Tiny Lister, John Rhys-Davies, and Peter O’Toole. Grading the movie on these aspects, I would have to give it a solid “A-”.

In terms of how well the plot followed the biblical story of Queen Esther, I would have to have to give it a “C-“. As a Christian, I knew the story of Queen Esther with its overwhelming theme of, “God rises everyone up for one moment in their lives – be prepared to accept your challenge when God calls you.” I found myself watching the screen during scenes and thinking, “this isn’t in the Bible”.

For instance, there is a scene in which a trusted old general is ambushed in a plot and then “conveniently saved” by Haman, the book’s villain. Then there’s an early scene in the movie when all the young virgins are taken at night and by force to the palace; the Bible doesn’t make mention it was done by force or that any young virgin objected. There’s also the necklace Esther wears and presents as a gift to the King, and a lot is consistently made of it throughout the movie. The very first scene that made me question the accuracy the film was after the virgins had been taken to the palace; the young men of the village were taken and made into eunuchs. Of course there is plotting between Prince Memucan and Haman that isn’t part of the story line, either, along with internal political palace conflits.

There is a possibility any of these things could have taken place, however, they’re not in the record. I guess I’m a purist when it comes to Christian films because there’s always the chance someone who’s buying a ticket may find their lives being impacted as the Holy Spirit works on them. There’s always a desire for churches to entertain and sex up the Word of God, but it’s sexy on its own if you just read it. There’s murder, sex, greed, rape, human sacrifices, slavery, extortion, war, heroism, and love inside its pages and reads like any modern day blockbuster book. Why would you want to alter that?

When Queen Vashti was portrayed as an anti-war person in what should be chapter one of the book, I knew I better be on my guard. I don’t like seeing modern day politics injected into biblical plotlines. In all the commentaries I’ve seen and read, Vashti refused to go to the King because he wanted her to appear naked in front of a drunken court, wearing only her crown, to display her radiant beauty. She refused as an honorable woman would have, and was permanently removed from the King for being disobedient.

If you go hoping for accuracy to be important, throw that hope out the window. There is little that bears resemblance to the Book of Esther, but it remains a solidly entertaining film with convincing acting roles turned in by all players. This should become a mainstream success even for non-Christians who just fancy a good old-fashioned love story from pauper to royalty. It is also a family friendly movie with mild hints of seductive love and almost no violence. Take your little princess and watch her dream.

My advice? Buy a cheaper afternoon ticket and save your money for one of the other big movies at the more expensive evening rates.

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