This amazing biblical drama chronicles the brave and historic legend of Hadassah, a Jewish orphan with exceptional beauty who rises to become Queen Esther of Persia and saves Persian Jews from genocide. By revealing her heritage to the king, Esther thwarts the evil prime minister's plan to annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire. The annual festival of Purim is inspired by her heroism.
The cinematography and sets look great, but the script is a bummer. It's overlong, overwrought and overblown.
– V.A. Musetto,
New York Post,
13 Oct 2006
rotten:
Unfortunately [O'Toole and Sharif are] separated by five centuries, and never share a scene. For a movie with the most righteous of intentions, that's perhaps the most grievous moviemaking sins of all.
– Stephen Whitty,
Newark Star-Ledger,
13 Oct 2006
fresh:
Esther's triumph isn't because of divine intervention. It's her humanity and bravery that make her a legend, and make that One Night worth remembering, 2,500 years later.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
13 Oct 2006
rotten:
The movie devolves into a talky, static affair featuring a cast with wildly varying accents and acting abilities.