A new animated Film
Now showing at SALA, through Easter Sunday, April 20, is a wonderful, new animated film, “The King of Kings”. It tells the story of Jesus in a way both children and adults can appreciate. A film based on “The Life of Our Lord” written by Charles Dickens, this story was meant for his own children, to be read at Christmas every year. Dickens, who died in 1870, insisted the story not be published during his lifetime and not until the family agreed to it. In fact, it was 1934 before the story was published, 64 years after Charles Dickens’ death and after the last of his children had died.
A Message of Hope
This film version, “The King of Kings” was just released by Angel Studios, which supports independent films that are meant to be uplifting. Angel describes “The King of Kings” storyline thus:
- “A father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child.”
The movie opens with Charles Dickens on stage, telling his Christmas Story to an audience. Just as Scrooge walks in the graveyard, saying he has learned his lesson, noise erupts behind the stage. The Dickens family and their cat Willa are back there, where youngest son Walter is causing a ruckus, waving his wooden sword around as King Arthur. That night, Catherine insists that Charles share his story of Jesus as a bedtime story for Walter. The movie features a talented voice cast, including Kenneth Branaugh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Roman Griffin Davis as Walter, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as Caiaphas, and Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate. Throughout the storytelling, Walter imagines himself in the story, a witness to all that happens. Willa the cat is there with him, adding a humorous touch. As you can guess, Walter finds Jesus’ story more compelling even than that of his hero King Arthur. He finds the whole thing deeply moving. “The King of Kings” is “Rated PG for thematic material, violent content and some scary moments.” But it is a film children will easily enjoy, as will the grownups around them. SALA is showing the film 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Highlights of the Film
| Highlights | Description |
|---|---|
| Jesus’ miracles | Witnessing the miracles of Jesus, Walter begins to understand the true nature of the divine. |
| Walter’s imagination | The young boy’s vivid imagination brings the story to life, adding a touch of humor and wonder. |
| King Herod | Mark Hamill brings the villainous King Herod to life, adding a sense of drama and tension. |
A Family-Friendly Film
“The King of Kings” is a film that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The film is rated “PG for thematic material, violent content and some scary moments.” However, the film is suitable for children and will likely be enjoyed by the grownups around them as well.
Conclusion
The film “The King of Kings” is a wonderful, new animated film that tells the story of Jesus in a way both children and adults can appreciate. With its talented voice cast and engaging storyline, this film is sure to be a hit with families and film lovers alike. Don’t miss the opportunity to see “The King of Kings” at SALA through Easter Sunday, April 20. Rated PG, it is a film that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Showing 1 p.m. Get ready to be inspired!