This movie was a rather fascinating present I received last year from my brother. Since today was a particularly droll day, we decided to watch The Prophet at his request. What followed was a very stereotypically fraternal dual reaction to it. But that isn't important, so let's get on to the good items. The story is, of course, adapted from Khalil Gibran's identically named fable compilation, though since it focuses more on specific Prophet fables than others, it is rather disadvantaged and disappointing as a movie plot. If the movie was in production longer, then surely it could have been possible to work in other chapters, as with only some of the 26, it doesn't have full potential. The characters are better than the story, as they translate better into a 1:24 movie better than each fable (or reference to) does. Of course, they did take much- needed time to introduce characters not from the source, but given how Almustafa was really the sole important shared character in the collection, it really was a great idea. Not to mention, I am actually somewhat jealous of Almitra's ability to parkour, which proves important in many scenes. As a downside, though, most of the other characters are forgettable, and in some cases not when they are meant to be. However, potentially the biggest saving grace in all of animation comes in this film's... well, animation. I was dazzled, concerned, scared, mystified, and hypnotized due to the animation, which undergoes several different styles. All of them, however, can be summed up as graceful and absolutely successful in depicting everything else. To sum up, expect from this movie a bit like what you'd expect from The Red Turtle: fantastic animation but not a lot of other notable substance. By all means, do check it out if you cannot deny curiosity.

In terms of film, there is a difference between an anthology and a collective set of work. Trick r Treat and The Twilight Zone: The Movie are anthology movies as each have a story is somewhat connected to the next and have reoccurring characters that might meet up. Fantasia is the prime example of a series of collected works. The same team may have been behind all the shorts, but they weren't meant to be published as a flowing set. Nothing about Fantasia's stories would confuse people into thinking that "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "The Nutcracker Suite" would be connected. Each story of Fantasia is it's own thing and is simply within the film because the filmmaker has chosen to put it in there.One reason we don't see a lot of collective works set to one film is that a lot of people come to a movie to escape into one long story. That's not to say that there are people that like a set of short stories, but it's been proved by the studio system that a mainstream audience wants to see safer content. While you might find short film series' in a film festival, The Prophet is a collected work of artistic expression.In a village within an unnamed middle eastern country, young speechless Almitra (played by Quvenzhané Wallis) is considered a trouble maker by her village as she is a compulsive thief and can make bird noises that allow her to communicate with seagulls. Her mother Kamila (played by Salma Hayek) tries to keep her under control now that she is a single mother (the fathers death is said to be the cause of Almitra loosing her speech) and working at a political prison. Finding school uninteresting, Almitra follows her mother to work and finds someone special behind a gate.She finds an older but kind man Mustafa (played by Liam Neeson) who is an artist and a writer who has spent seven years under political arrest for writing controversial content that detest's the government. Mustafa and Almitra bond as the latter expresses his thoughts on life, love and freedom, as shown by segmented shorts that are usually just artsy expression of his essays. Two guardsmen (played by Alfred Molina and john Krasinski) are responsible for taking him to a ship that can return the artist to his home country, but the people may not be ready for him to leave.Part of me really wanted to love The Prophet as it's rare to see a hand drawn animated movie and it really has passion for the essays as written by Lebenon artist Kahlil Gibran. The shorts are well done and look beautiful. It almost felt like that I was watching Fantasia again. But there's a problem; the movie tries to put them into a narrative.I have nothing against this idea, but the movie's perspective is through the child and not the artist. This means that the story is simple and has been created as an attempt to be family entertainment. The content is tame, but I would think that most kids would find much of the artistic expression really boring. What's weird is that I have nothing wrong with the actual story of a girl bonding with the artist and a village coming together as one. The voice acting is great and the animation looks nice. When the main narrative and the shorts are separated, their both magnificent. But when put together, it's tone is inconsistent, never finding a ground that can attract both children and adults. Given I'm conflicted, I'll give this four collected works of Kahlil Gibran out of five purely on an artistic level. As inconsistent as the setting is, I still recommend the movie simple for it's animation. I'd say only see this if you really want to see another rare hand drawn movie.

Kamila (Salma Hayek) works cleaning house for Mustafa (Liam Neeson) while worrying about her mute daughter Almitra (Quvenzhane Wallis), who has not spoken since her father died two years ago and who is always stealing and causing problems in the market. Almitra comes to Mustafa's house and on meeting him, finds a gentle soul who speaks to her in poetry without demanding her response; when guard Halim (John Krasinski) is told by the Sergeant (Alfred Molina) that Mustafa is to be freed and taken to a ship that will take him to his own country, Almitra follows them and learns that freedom may not be where Mustafa is being taken at all....This is an animated film, with each segment directed by a different animator, as a result of which it is an absolute feast for the eyes; there's something new and wondrous on the screen practically every minute. The story is really meant to just frame the poetry of the famous author, which is recited by Liam Neeson, who probably has the best voice in the world for such words. The poetry itself, well, that depends on your tolerance for such metaphysical musings; me, I have not much tolerance for it, but even so I thought the film was beautiful to look at, which can be enough in itself for some films.

How many times have you read an excellent book and been so disappointed when you watch it as a movie?I was afraid to watch The Prophet. I was so afraid to spoil all the imagination I have had every time I have read The Prophet or even a small part of it from time to time. And The Prophet isn't just an excellent book. For me it is a philosophy of life, a reference, an anchor. So yes, I was really afraid to watch the movie, but I did, because I have to.The colors, the sounds, the settings, the music, the voices, everything about this movie woke up Gibran inside me. It is like he came to life, or maybe I just want to believe that?The movie looks like the paintings and drawings in Gibran's museum in Becharre (Lebanon), it feels like the makers knew Gibran, it feels like they understood him... there is his touch in the movie... or is it just me?The movie is a must, especially if you're a Gibran addict (because you cannot just "like" Gibran Kahlil Gibran).It is an artistic masterpiece, thank you!