Jang Seong-Ho’s The King of Kings is a gorgeously animated film that tells a familiar and comforting story through exceptional voice acting. We exist in a time where anyone who’s anyone, no matter their religious upbringing, knows the story of Jesus Christ. In this regard, no part of the film is shocking, nor does it explore a part of the Bible that maybe non-Christians might not be aware of. It sticks to the classic story, but where it shines is in its The Princess Bride approach.
Yes, I said The Princess Bride, and no, that isn’t a typo. Told from the point-of-view of Charles Dickens (voiced by Kenneth Branagh), Dickens tells the story of Jesus to his young son as we follow the narrative from Christ’s Christmas-day birth to his Easter resurrection. Amid the story, we get breaks into the present time, where young Walter’s (Roman Griffin Davis) reactions move the story through the bigger beats.
As a film designed for the enjoyment of children, The King of Kings is indeed a lovely and warm story. It’s perhaps a little harder to stay invested as adults when we’re well aware of the story as a whole, yet interestingly, it’s Oscar Isaac’s voice acting as Jesus Christ that works best. At a time when Christianity is co-opted by bigotry and hatred, hearing the soothing comfort of Isaac’s voice as Jesus helps to remember why many of us deem Christ as our Savior.
Isaac’s voice provides the right amount of emotion, depth, and nuance to thread together Jesus’ calm nature with his equal (and understandable) frustrations. When He’s teaching, we get a lovely sense of patience. When He’s irritated, we can sense the unease. Whatever the emotion, Isaac presents it with such a tender vulnerability that it makes the religious figure’s embodiment feel profoundly worthy. Often, with animated films, voice acting can take away from the role when the audience recognizes a distinction, yet with Oscar Isaac and all the stars in The King of Kings, it’s so easy to embrace them into these positions.
Again, as a story many of us are familiar with, there isn’t much to unpack as critics. It does a great job of honoring Christ, and it also does a relatively fun job of telling the story through a new lens. The nostalgia is perhaps where we as adults can find the most joy in.
What’s also thoroughly admirable and gorgeous is the animation work. With so many films like it, The King of Kings undoubtedly stands out. At the same time, there’s a familiarity in the film in the sense that it feels like it’s one that’s been around for decades. The animation work is so perfected that it makes the entire thing a visual feast for all ages.
Between the tremendous voice work and the well-executed pacing, the film’s runtime also passes relatively quickly. It never drags, moving through every significant moment in Christ’s history with careful consideration to showcase the immensity of Jesus’ love. It’s what Christianity should focus on more often, and films that do so are always admirable in that regard.
The King of Kings is now playing in theaters.