Salomone

My English teacher in 10th grade knew how much I love movies and at the time I watched VHS tapes. She gave me 2 that her husband wanted to throw away since they were not going to watch them ever again. One was Disney's George of the Jungle and the other was this, since she also knows that I am religious and love such movies.

I put the tape in(well-the first of 2) and I was intrigued by the 8 minutes of previews. I usually skip those, but this advertised the other movies in the series and a preview for the Jesus one alone.

Then the movie began, and the start of it fit, since he was making out with a woman while Song of Songs is quoted. This fit since he wrote that song(or it was written for him for one of his weddings.)

Fun Fact some people don't know, like a woman at my church yesterday: see 1 Kings 11:3 and you will read that Solomon had 700 wives, and 300 concubines.

Anyways, I liked how it was starting but I did not understand the rest.

I made it into a half hour...twice. It was just lackluster(a word I hardly use, by the way) and it was not really that great. It may be better than what I am saying, but I just didn't see it.

It's just boring. That's all I have to say.

A great Biblical Epic Story of Solomon, the son of King David.

Wonderful set pieces, makes you think you back in ancient biblical times.

Ben Cross as Solomon, and David Suchet as Joab are on point and are quite close to biblical interpretation in terms of their characters.

Suchet is a believable Joab that wields great power and influence as the commander general of the ancient Israel army.

Max Von Sidow is okay as the ageing King David. Although I would have preferred Nathaniel Parker as the aging King David. Parker, I thought did a good Job as

David and was close to the biblical interpretation of his character.

Sidow's interpretation as punishing Suchet (Joab) in the movie was a little inaccurate. It is only after King David's death that Solomon moves quickly to execute Adonijah (his half-brother) and

Joab who he saw as a threat to his throne.

The film also boosts a great cast that also deliver.

Although at times the story does drag, this television movie about the man who took the Kingdom of Israel to the apogee of its power only to have it fall apart after its demise, the film does stick pretty close to biblical scripture as is dramatically possible. After all we do have to make the story interesting and their are a lot of blank spaces left in the Bible. All the better for a little dramatic license.

This is quite a bit different from the film Solomon and Sheba in which Yul Brynner took over from Tyrone Power. That film stopped with the defeat of brother Adonijah and his attempt to topple Solomon. This goes on right until the death of Solomon and the aftermath.

Ben Cross is a most human Solomon, granted by God the wisdom he sought to rule his kingdom, but still subject to human frailties. Cross as Solomon has a most healthy sexual appetite. In fact people including his greatest love, the Queen of Sheba played by Vivica Fox make him a present of some dancing girls, that is before she gives in to him. Like later rulers, Solomon makes political marriages and in those days if you could afford more than one wife men enjoyed polygamy. When he allowed foreign wives to worship their own Deities, that got everyone including the self described jealous God Jehovah upset.

After husband David's death, Bathsheba as played by Anouk Aimee exercises a great deal of influence behind the throne. She's a clever woman, the way Aimee plays her, she's not all that different from Sian Phillips as Claudia in I Claudius.

Another guy too clever by a half is Joab who moved to get Adonijah the throne. Joab was the commander of Israel's army under David and a man who took a lot on his own. Earlier in scripture he slew Absalom another of David's sons against the express order of his king. Played by television's Hercule Poirot David Suchet, Joab emerges as a reckless sort who gets dispatched probably for the good of Solomon's reign.

It is said in the Bible that Solomon's wives numbered in four figures and while that may have been good foreign policy, it didn't say much for the stability of home life and the example the king should set. After a while his own subjects are saying he's thinking with his groin, especially after the Queen Of Sheba leaves with their son, but Solomon increases the tax burden to set up an Israel to the south. We call it Ethiopia today.

Cross, Fox, and the rest of the cast do yeoman like service to the story of Solomon a complex figure that even religious scholars debate the merits of today.

When I first started watching it I gave a review that Ben Cross looked to old to be a child. As I got further into the movie and then God asked him what he wanted then Ben Cross said but lord I am only a child and then asked for wisdom so I have changed my views on this movie. I am enjoying it alot. I usually don't give movies a 9 but I will on this one because it seems to me they put alot into making this with the sets and costumes. I saw the 3 hour version and was amazed at the production.

Expensively mounted Biblical production with all star-cast and spectacularly filmed in North Africa . Breathtaking story set in Biblical times with emphasis in lavish costumes and crowds . Justly before his death in ancient Israel King David (Max Von Sidow) has a vision from God saying him that his younger son Solomon (Ben Cross) , should succeed him as king . His other son Adonijah (Ivan Kaye) is mean and promises to achieve the kingdom by whatever way . King David names his younger son, Solomon his heir and -Bathsheba's (Anouk Aimée) son- facing his older son Adonijah. King Solomon acts with wisdom and benevolent and his government is seen as a threat to more tyrannical monarchs in the region and subsequently building the templo of Solomon . But Joab utilizes the ambitious Prince Adonijah in her plots , making life dangerous for Solomon . Later on , Joab (David Suchet) and Adonijah agree schemes and to encounter manners to overthrow Solomon . Meantime , the Queen of Sheba (Vivica Fox) arrives in Jerusalem, supposedly for a friendly meeting , Solomon slowly falls in love with her.

An overblown all-star treatment of the stories in the Old Testament dealing with David , Salomon , Sheba and Adonijah . Lavish spectacle about Solomon and his lover Sheba based on historical events . Ben Cross and Vivica Fox play a sultriest couple , including some sexy scenes , as when they are bathing and swimming get together . There is also a fine support cast such as Max Von Sydow , David Suchet , Ivan Kaye , Umberto Orsini , G.W. Bailey , Michael Culkin , Stefania Rocca ,and Dexter Fletcher as Rehoboam . There's so much visual padding full of armours , weapons, carriages , and crowd scenes . Based on Biblical events with sad final as the kingdom that Solomon received from his father David, and invested with such might and magnificence, is divided between Jeroboam and Rehoboam . Director gives this film the feel of great spectacle , but there is little human touch to any of the deeds . Very good and evocative photography by Raffaele Mertes filmed in Tunez and Morocco . Evocative and impressive musical score by Patrick Williams and Ennio Morricone . Rating : 6 , passable and acceptable.

There is another known rendition in 1959 ¨ Solomon and Sheba ¨(original title) with Yul Brynner , though Tyrone Power died during the shooting in Spain and some shots still show him , he was replaced by Brynner who remade his early scenes, and Gina Lollobrigida , George Sanders , Harry Andrews , Marisa Pavan , John Crawford , Finlay Currie , David Farrar ...