King David (1985)

King David (1985)
Member Rating:  
Director Bruce Beresford has safely stayed within the domain of the Bible and not strayed into patches of Hollywood fiction in this routine version of the story of David (Richard Gere). For that reason, anyone unfamiliar with Biblical history might be puzzled by the episodic presentation of David's life. In the opening scenes, Samuel condemns Saul and anoints the young David as his heir, and in fairly quick succession David slays Goliath, incurs Saul's jealous wrath, leaves, and, much later, comes back to rule after Saul has died. Once David is on the throne, Bathsheba and then Absalom enter into the picture. Interspersed are brutal scenes of fighting, but not much in the way of motivation for David's complex behavior. Gaps in the narration or unclear motivation may be the result of trying to cover too many events in a 114-minute running time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Starring:
Richard Gere, Edward Woodward, (more)
Director(s):
Bruce Beresford
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD  | Digital SD
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Synopsis of King David

Director Bruce Beresford has safely stayed within the domain of the Bible and not strayed into patches of Hollywood fiction in this routine version of the story of David (Richard Gere). For that reason, anyone unfamiliar with Biblical history might be puzzled by the episodic presentation of David's life. In the opening scenes, Samuel condemns Saul and anoints the young David as his heir, and in fairly quick succession David slays Goliath, incurs Saul's jealous wrath, leaves, and, much later, comes back to rule after Saul has died. Once David is on the throne, Bathsheba and then Absalom enter into the picture. Interspersed are brutal scenes of fighting, but not much in the way of motivation for David's complex behavior. Gaps in the narration or unclear motivation may be the result of trying to cover too many events in a 114-minute running time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
113 mins

Complete Cast of King David


Director(s):
Bruce Beresford
Writer(s):
James Costigan, Andrew Birkin
Producer(s):
Martin Elfand
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13(Brief Nudity, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Nudity, Violence, Questionable for Children)
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    Terry B.

    Wow, not what I really expected from a movie about a topic taken from the Bible. Realistically, nothing was accurate - even down to some of David's famous lines like, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." David said this about the son Bathsheba bore, not Absalom! I'll spare typing out the rest of the inconsistencies. Then there's the nudity...no, really...beware those who might be thinking it's a good movie to sit down and watch with the kids. Innacurate, bad acting (sorry, Richard Gere doesn't really personify who David really was), and totally misses the entire point of the parts of the Bible this was supposed to be based on. I'd give it a "no star" if possible. And like another reviewer touched on, David's quote at the end of the movie really made me ask myself why I didn't turn the garbage off much earlier in the movie.

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    Don E.

    This has to be the worst "adaptation" of a biblical story I have EVER seen! I could not keep from cringing every time the story grossly deviated from the original account as inspired by the Holy Spirit of God through the original human author. This was obviously the pairing of a famous historical personage (king David) with a famous up-and-coming actor (Richard Gere) for the sole purpose of making money, not conveying biblical truth. It's really too bad. The biblical David was, indeed, an adulterer, murderer and liar, but at the same time he was "a man after God's own heart" in that he truly repented of his sins. The closing scene where Richard Gere's character tells his son, Solomon, not to listen to the prophets, was an out-and-out lie that turned a great story about God's creating and sustaining a true king for Israel (albeit a sinful one) into just another shallow, human-centered drama where God is somewhere back in the dressing room.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Arnette C.

    It was different from the other versions I've seen on this character. Itt was ok...minus the nude scene.

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