User reviews

The only reason I give this movie a score higher than 1 is that it made me laugh repeatedly. It was that bad. Production values were down to nil, and boy does it show. Oh, and you know the kind of acting where it's been rehearsed so often as a group that everybody knows what's going to be said next, so that everybody looks at the guy with the next line as soon as the current guy finishes his line? Yeah, that's the kind of movie this is. I absolutely couldn't believe somebody agreed to put it up on the big screen. It was totally the stuff of a high school play, okay, college, but no more. Again, hilarious.

Now, the cast. When I first saw Hadassah (Esther) I thought, sure, pretty face, but completely lacking any hint of an actual Jewish bloodline, as typically there are certain distinguishing features. (Nor does much of anyone else look Persian.) Also much older than the 'girl' of the biblical narrative and, accordingly, a bit paunched. Paunched? Really? The most beautiful virgin in the whole wide kingdom was paunched? I don't think so. Again, hilarious. And I'm still trying to get a handle on why Mordecai had a California-grade tan while almost everyone else was a nice, soft shade of pasty.

Okay, the acting. Stiff. Sometimes vacuous. Often sappy. Invariably affected. Watch this movie just for the exercise in squirming. Simply put, not believable. No, not ever.

Finally, (and, honestly, most importantly), this effort at a story drifted ridiculously far from the biblical one. They announce at the start of the film that the story is missing biblical elements and that it contains non-biblical ones, all in the name of dramatic effect. Really? Read the Book of Esther. It'll only take ten minutes. But despite its brevity it's one of the most inherently dramatic narratives in all of scripture. The idea that someone decided to change it for dramatic effect is absurd. It's also disingenuous. Following the story as it is written would have cost more. Tweaking, condensing and changing the order of events allows for a more concise script and a more abbreviated screenplay. Shame though. Too bad the producers weren't more well connected.

Someday someone will do this story up right. It'll be spectacular.

The general story is the same but so many details are changed or left out that this did not give a good account of the book of Esther. It seems like every aspect of the story was changed in some way so that the true account wouldn't be the same. Part of the significance of the real story, in my opinion, is the hardship that Esther and her family experienced. Persia was full of corrupt practices, conniving actions, and utter extravagance but this movie portrayed none of that. I must say that any movie made by Christians to reach those who are unfamiliar is worth the effort but staying closer to the story would have increased the quality. If you want a great version to better depicts the story, watch "One Night with the King." Though it also changes a few details, it portrays the story in a better way.

Some of the actors are good...some are terrible...but overall it is just like watching a student film by a Game of Thrones fan filmed with people who are taking an acting class at their local community college. The lighting isn't bad. I spent a lot of time watching it trying to decipher whether or not it was just the budget that was making it bad and I really think that is nothing to do with it (although some of the costumes were like something ordered off of Amazon.) However it was really just the writing and the acting that ruined it. For example the lady that played Esther...are you kidding me? Just awful. And the guy that played the eunuch proved the makers of this movie watch a lot of Game of Thrones. Obviously some of these people got their parts because they knew the people making the film.

Seeing that this movie was made by Pure Flix Entertainment, a Christian movie production company, we thought we would see an accurate portrayal of this story. At the beginning of the movie, a disclaimer was shown stating that the producers have changed some details of events for dramatic purposes, which is understandable. Unfortunately, they lied. They didn't change SOME details - they changed almost ALL the details. The only similarity this movie has to the Biblical record is the names of the principal characters.

I'm extremely disappointed in David A.R. White as the director and writer Timothy Ratajczak (who has written many excellent Pure Flix movies) who are responsible for this piece of trash. I've always held White and his company Pure Flix in high regard. To see a Christian production company, who one would expect to be Biblically true to actual events chronicled in the Bible, produce a movie about Biblical events and completely change the details is inexcusable.

With their "dramatic license," this movie is completely unrecognizable as the story of Esther. The Veggie Tales episode on Esther is more accurate than this movie can ever pretend to be. I'd recommend watching that instead.

I am saddened to say that this film is absolutely atrocious. I watched it a couple of months ago at a Youth Bible Study, and still cannot fathom the atrocities that I saw. Before I begin, I'd like to say that I am a fan of PureFlix and respect the fact that the production company does its best to make high quality Christian films as a means to spread the Gospel. However, the 'high quality' thing I just said up top extends millions of miles away from what one sees on 'The Book of Esther.' It is one of the worst movies I have seen in my entire life. (And I've watched crappy TV movies from both Lifetime and Sci-fy channel.)

To make my list of reasons easier, I will number them: 1. The CG is laughable. 2. The acting is as if the producers hired volunteers off the street instead of legit actors. 3. The props looked as if they were bought at Walmart - no lie. (e.g. Queen Vashti's wig looks like it was bought at the after-Halloween clearance section from Walmart. 4. All actors had different accents. (e.g. Queen Esther sounded like she came straight out of Los Angeles, which really threw me off). 5. Slight inaccuracies to the biblical account here and there, but nothing too major.

All in all, this movie is horrible. I know that budgets are not high enough to turn the movie into a big action-y straight-out-of-Hollywood movie, nor do I expect it to be, but I believe PureFlix could have done way better than this.

As I was watching this movie, the whole time I'm thinking, "this doesn't happen!" This movie is called "The Book of Esther". If this is what the movie is called, let it be true to its story. The fact that none of the events that happened in the movie happened in the book really saddens me. When I first saw this title, I thought, "oh okay. They made a movie about Queen Esther. I hope it's not like that 'Noah' (2014) movie, where the movie wasn't true to the actual story. The storyline is okay; only very very few parts were true to the actual biblical story, but other than that, this is not what happened. At all. They might as well rename the movie and the characters because I don't remember any of this happening. Unless I've been reading the story wrong my whole life, there were far too many errors for it to be named "The Book of Esther." Additionally, even if I didn't know the story of Esther, it looks like the movie was poorly made; when switching scenes, the outside home/palace would be shown to say "this is where the next scene is". The outside home/ palace that's shown is clearly computerized. I noticed right when I saw that it was poorly made. At some points, I thought I was watching a low budget theater show. I'm extremely disappointed with how it turned out and I do not recommend this movie to anyone who's interested in the story of Esther.

This entire movie could be summed up as someone who doesn't like, or understand, the book of Esther; so they decide they will plug their own invented story into the backdrop of a Biblical setting. I might expect this from a secular movie company that arrogantly thinks their storytelling is more relevant and interesting than a Biblical account that has stood for thousands of years; but to see a supposedly Christian movie making company do this is mind-boggling. They are suppose to have respect for the source material, but so far they have been the ones to butcher it more than any other Esther movie I've come across.

The production values are rock bottom. The acting is terrible. That would be forgivable if they actually made an effort to faithfully convey the account of Esther based on the Bible and history.

They've tried to invent a story they probably think is more relevant to a modern American audience. The entire point of the Biblical story is lost, and it's full of anachronisms from modern American culture and values.

Rather than an accurate picture of ancient middle eastern culture where Esther could be killed for entering into the presence of the king uninvited, we see a modern American woman who suggests that things are going to have to change once they are married to be more of an equal partnership; to which the king aquieseced somewhat meekly.

Rather than an accurate story about a woman who is taken to be a concubine for a despotic king, in which they may only have on sexual encounter with her never seeing the king again unless he decides to marry her; it is replaced with a modern American tale of a woman who is getting older wondering when she will meet the right man, and involves her insisting to the king that they will have to wait before they are married before they will have any kind of physical romance.

If you want to make up your own story, with it's own values and message, then go do so - just don't force this pablum into a setting that claim to be based on the Biblical book of Esther. Although they do have a disclaimer about some things being changed, what they don't tell you is that nothing of significance about the original story has been retained aside from names.

One of the Bible's most powerful stories had every terror, twist, brave act and godly intervention ripped right out of it. The things that happen here are not even closely related to the wonderful, amazing Bible story about God in control in our lives, even when He appears hidden.

Biblical Esther was a true hero, decisive, courageous, and righteous--this puff-princess Movie Esther harps on and on hoping to get married--literally to a Prince. The driver of this story is the Antagonist, Haman---not Esther. (Unrelated--but in this day and age were there NO brown-skinned, long haired girls to play (Young Esther) a Jewish girl?? Could not the director have passed on the White girl wearing the second-hand store wig for ONE more movie??).

Very disappointing effort by Pureflix, adds nothing to Christian entertainment or biblical truth/revelation through visual media.

The Movie starts slowly at first half and then second half was wonderfully done.This is the movie according to bible.All ages can enjoy,Comparing to old Esther movie this movie was also wonderfully done.I thank Director David white for this wonderful movie given to us.It is very nice to see that is in blue ray format.Its a treat for all Christian friends.I highly recommend this movie to everyone.This movie was produced by PureFlix Entertainment that really excited me,they are on top producing Christian films.In today days they are giving us so many Christian movies that is really inspirational and entertaining for Christian friends.

I gave this one star, because you can't give less than one star. Attempted to watch this on one of the streaming services. Making it less than half the way through, had to watch something else. The writing, continuity; everything about this "movie" makes watching paint dry more appealing and worthwhile of my time.

Because of this, I asked myself who would dare to put out something this bad for a very small fringe of viewers? Doing some research, found out the same company who released "God is not Dead" is the culprit. Refusing to see this pile of garbage as well because of the same "fine" concern for detail, I fail understood how the audience for "God" and "Esther" is would find any of their movies "entertainment".

My advice for anyone who wasted your time on this or any film from this company, the producers of these movies should give you an apology and refund.

Without a shadow of doubt, this is the worst movie of the Book of Esther that my wife and I have ever encountered, let alone the worst adaptation of any Biblical book. The screenplay was atrocious, and the plot was sketchy given the many liberties taken the scriptwriter in a futile attempt to bring something fresh and novel to the age-old Biblical narrative. The direction, cinematography and editing left much to be desired. The lead actress was much too contemporary American in speech and mannerisms - not befitting of Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia. Some of the others in the cast were not convincing either. Our advice to film-buffs is to avoid this movie altogether. In other words, give this PureFlix film the flick.

I should admit at the outset that this is the first review I've ever posted for a movie that I haven't watched all the way through....but I figured if I have given it 40 minutes and see no redeeming features, I earned the right subject to full disclosure. Clearly developed without the insight of any Christiam theologians, and with an eye on 'accessibility', this has translated to the barest bones of the Bible story being presented like a US daytime soap opera, as if made by Disneys TV unit. Production values are low, but the 'look' of all the actors (especially the titular character) is pure valley girl gloss. If the faux 'gloss' of modern hair stylings, make up etc is an attempt at higher production values, it only serves to underscore the shallowness of thought behind the production. The bible story has the bones of a cruel plot, slavery etc, and it's a story worth telling, but it needs a real director and someone who doesn't equate the Bubke with 'family fare'! So bad it was funny, my personal high (low) point was the screeching English actress playing the Queen, who managed to appear quite young but also dreadfully surgically altered in the way normally confined to US actresses, all cat eyes and wide mouths. She really stood out as the worst of a dreadful dreadful bunch. Save yourselves, run far and run fast...

I was hoping to compare other productions of the Book of Esther, and this was completely the worst rendition of the three. This effort cannot possibly be compared to the biblical account. In other productions like the Book of Daniel, the team did a fine job to cast and portray the characters for the show, but I cannot say the same this time round.

At first I brushed of the warning that some of the story had been changed for dramatic effect, for this happens all the time, but I did not realise just how far off-base they meant.

Every actor over-played their role, and seriously misrepresents the account in the Bible. It really does seem that no historical research had been done. In fact, I cannot believe that David White even approved the script and story-line.

Had I been an actor or worker on the set, I would have seriously protested and denied any roles offered.

No offense to the actors, but this was a very poor attempt at representing a pivotal time in the Jews history and how God intervened in very unique ways. This movie failed to have the various story lines run in perfect harmony to its final vindication of an evil plot to exterminate a people.

To me it was disappointing. I was expecting a lot better from what I know Pureflix is capable of.

It was so laughable at times that I couldn't take the rest of it seriously.

Without further "adieu"? Plastic food I'll-fitting costumes.

What a pity!

Hidden in there somewhere was the magnificent story of Esther and, at times, some good acting.

Absolutely wonderful! Ignoring previous comments of negativity. They executed this very close to the Bible. The acting was so good and you felt like you were really in the middle of this movie when you're watching. I highly recommend and everyone I've told has loved this as well.

My girls, 8 and 10 refused to continue watching this film after 40 minutes of wasting their time in front of TV. The story of the film completely misrepresents the Esther story from Old Testament. The main accent of the story is about feminism, not obedience to God. Poor narrative continuity, film looks like a cheap TV serial Poor visual continuity, for example the one shot, CU in film reveals faces in shadow, the next one, MS reveals the same shot with faces well lit. Very poor casting. They could find a king who looks at least a little more Persian. Actually king's play looks weak. Narrative doesn't reflect visuals. Producer tries to pursue that Haman's daughter is ugly. However following visual (and even dialogue) she looks and thinks way better compare to Esther. There is much more that makes this film looking not professional...

The movie has a great dramatic story line. However, the storyline doesnt go in accordance to the Bible in the book of Esther. I advise you not to watch it

Did anyone read how hypocritical this guy is ? And is casting now these movies? Directors should read .... and most definitely di not endorse him .

I get that Esther is part of the Christian canon. But it's a Jewish book. All the images of crosses at the beginning is ludicrous. Christianity was still a long way off. And it's just insulting.

Nothing like the real story of Esther as one would read in the bible.

To many contradiction, crazy confusing situations, unrealistic and slightly misleading.

Who ever did the script seems to have skipped the chance to open the bible and actually read it for themselves.

There should be a disclaimer at the beginning that there is very little content from the Book of Esther in the movie, or the loose personal interpretation of the producer.

An apology to viewers who were expecting actual realistic content.

This was painful to watch and would advice everyone who hasn't seen it to DON'T waste yoout time. Poorly written, poor story line, very loose/ radical interpretation and just plain dumb in many spots.