A textbook demonstration of how good intentions don’t always make for good moviemaking, “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet” features an all-star cast of vocal performers and a telling list of name-brand animators behind the scenes as well. A clear labor of love where the labor shows, “The Prophet” has a framing story directed by Roger Allers (“Aladdin”), with additional vignettes from eight animation directors including Bill Plympton, Nina Paley and others.
Partially backed by Participant Media — with Hayek herself among the list of producers — “The Prophet” feels like a film curiously divided against itself. Adults may not need the animation and slapstick to appreciate what Gibran’s actual poems, from his 1923 collection of the same name, have to say for themselves; kids drawn in by the wide-eyed animated characters may be confused about the transformation of the book’s original backstory into a politicized framing device, as a poet named Mustafa (Liam Neeson) is released from seven years of house arrest in a pre-modern Mediterranean town and faced with forced exile for his work.
Hayek voices Kamila, the woman tasked with cleaning Mustafa’s cozy cottage of confinement; her daughter Almitra (Quvenzhané Wallis) is a trouble-making scamp who hasn’t spoken since the death of her father two years ago. Tagging along without permission on her mother’s work day, she’s our witness to what happens to Mustafa as his release begins to seem more and more like a different kind of imprisonment. Along the way, Mustafa intones various poems from “The Prophet” — about freedom, marriage, work, love — and these are animated by the guest directors who turn them into brief vignettes, each with a different style distinct from the framing sections of the film.
The good news is that many of these episodes are beautiful, striking and expressive. Paley’s, on children, pulses and chimes with movement; Tomm Moore, of “Song of the Sea” and “The Story of Kells,” crafts a segment on love that combines his distinctive animation style with the geometric glittering shapes and sights of a classic Gustav Klimt painting. Unfortunately, the film periodically dumps us back into the framing sequence, which has the curiously too-smooth and too-jerky look of Flash-based computer-crafted animation, which makes “The Prophet” often look and feel like the most earnest episode of “Archer” ever made.
It’s easy to respect the aspirations of “The Prophet.” Most animated movies exist to get kids to buy things, and the idea that this one will encourage them to think more than it encourages them to demand plastic trinkets is one I can certainly respect. At the same time, the Amblin-Entertainment-meets-Amnesty-International feel of the movie, mixing broad family entertainment with big-picture thoughts on poetry and politics, may be too much for even the most talented voice cast and animators to overcome.
The performers are all excellent, even if you get the sense that they didn’t spend more than an afternoon in the recording booth. (At 84 minutes, “The Prophet” feels both too brief and, when it sags, close to eternal.) But intoning poetry feels like a sad under-use of Neeson’s talents, and Mustafa’s character is a two-dimensional saint. Hayek and Wallis do good work as well — so much so that you almost wish the film simply focused on Kamila and Almitra. Other luminaries in the voice cast also deliver, including Alfred Molina plays a blustering cop, Frank Langella is a ice-cold servant of the state.
Allers is one of three credited screenwriters, but this is a clear case where many hands do not make light work; the symbolism and sub-themes here are fairly close to the surface, and that surface is fairly thin. Anyone looking for an introduction to Gibran’s poetry can find it in any bookstore; “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet” is achingly well intentioned, but not especially well executed, and its failings as a film can’t be overlooked.
30 Highest Grossing Animated Movies of All Time Worldwide
A look at top animated moneymakers as of May 2020, from "The Lion King" to "Zootopia." The numbers are not adjusted for inflation.
30. "The Incredibles" (2004)
Worldwide Gross: $633,019,734
In 2004, Brad Bird's first Pixar outing wowed audiences with complicated animated action scenes, cross-generational comedy and superhero mayhem.
Pixar Animation Studios
29. "Sing" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $634,151,679
Illumination's animal-karaoke musical crooned its way onto the list.
28. "Moana" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $643,331,111
Disney's Hawaii-set movie scored two Oscar nominations, for Best Animated Feature and Lin-Manuel Miranda's song "How Far I'll Go."
Disney
27. "Big Hero 6" (2014)
Worldwide Gross: $657,818,612
Disney's 2014 robot tale combined anime aesthetics, superhero action and Pixar's heart.
Disney Animation Studios
26. "Ice Age: The Meltdown" (2006)
Worldwide Gross: $660,940,780
Fox's 2006 prehistoric romp proved the success of the first was no fluke.
Twentieth Century Fox
25. "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011)
Worldwide Gross: $665,692,281
With the franchise's skills proven, DreamWorks Animation gave the world another hit of comedy with this animated martial arts sequel in 2011.
Dreamworks Animation Studios
24. "Up" (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $735,099,082
The 2009 fan favorite demonstrated that original ideas with big emotions could make big money.
Pixar Animation Studios
23. "Monsters University" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $744,229,437
Ten years after the release of "Monsters Inc," Pixar sent fans back to school in a 2013 prequel.
Pixar Animation Studios
22. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" (2012)
Worldwide Gross: $746,921,274
DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar" series kept the studio afloat with a string of breezy successes, including 2012's third installment.
Dreamworks Animation Studios
21. "Shrek Forever After" (2010)
Worldwide Gross: $752,600,867
The big green ogre's final chapter dropped in 2010.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
20. "Shrek the Third" (2007)
Worldwide Gross: $798,958,162
Made in 2007, this sequel proved there was still some gas left in this fantasy mash-up comedy franchise.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
19. "Coco" (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $807,082,196
Directed by Lee Unkrich, this animated film captured everyone's hearts and even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018.
Disney/Pixar
18. "Inside Out" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $857,611,174
Disney Pixar hit the home run again with this animated feature film about the emotions inside your head, starring Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader.
Disney/Pixar
17. "The Secret Life of Pets" (2016)
Worldwide Gross:$875,457,937
Universal/Illumination's story of dogs seeking out adventure while their owners are away charmed its way onto the list.
Profits abound for this 2012 fourth installment in the chilly prehistoric franchise, followed just behind it's predecessor.
Twentieth Century Fox Animation
15."Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $888,805,671
While other films have made bigger waves in the States, international sales have always returned big money for Fox's "Ice Age" franchise, proven again by the 2009 entry.
Twentieth Century Fox Animation
14. "Shrek 2" (2004)
Worldwide Gross: $919,838,758
DreamWorks Animation proved to be worthy Pixar competition with its successful "Shrek" franchise.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
13. "Finding Nemo" (2003)
Worldwide Gross: $940,335,536
"Finding Nemo" was something of a second-wind for Pixar, solidifying the company's place as the titans of modern animation.
Pixar Studios
12. "The Lion King" (1994)
Worldwide Gross: $968,483,777
Can you feel the love tonight for this Disney animated classic?
Disney Animation Studios
11. "Despicable Me 2" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $970,761,885
Illumination's sequel managed to make more money than its predecessor and put the upcoming "Minions" spin-off into motion.
Illumination Studios
10. "Zootopia" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $1,023,784,195
Disney charmed audiences in 2016 with its cop thriller pairing a rookie rabbit cop and a wily fox informant.
Disney
9. "Finding Dory" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $1,028,570,889
The sequel to "Finding Nemo" swam right back into audience's hearts.
Pixar
8. "Despicable Me 3" (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $1,034,799,409
Illumination's follow-up -- featuring Gru's blond-haired brother -- became the franchise's biggest grosser.
7. "Toy Story 3" (2010)
Worldwide Gross: $1,066,969,703
Built on Pixar's critical and commercial goodwill, the third installment in the mega-franchise brought in big profits.
Pixar Studios
6. "Toy Story 4" (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,073,394,593
Nearly two decades after the last film, Woody and Buzz and the gang returned for the top-grossing film in the series (not adjusted for inflation, that is).
Disney
5. "Minions" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $1,159,398,397
The little yellow helpers crossed the $1 billion mark at the end of August, raking in more money then "Despicable Me" and "Despicable Me 2" for Universal Pictures.
Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment
4. "Incredibles 2" (2018)
Worldwide Gross: $1,242,805,359
The superpowered family sprung back into action a full 14 years after the original -- but far surpassed the original film's box office haul.
Disney/Pixar
3. "Frozen" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $1,276,480,335
Disney's 2013 smash-hit takes the box office top spot. And then there was merchandising, video on demand and home video that audiences just couldn't let go...
Disney Animation Studios
2. "Frozen II" (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,450,026,933
Though it failed to garner an Oscar nom for Best Animated Feature, this sequel still managed to outgross its predecessor.
1. The Lion King (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,631,724,000
Whether the film is animated or live-action has been up for debate, the new "Lion King" was computer animated, so we're putting it on the list.
Disney
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Cartoon characters that cleaned up at the global box office, from “The Lion King” to “Incredibles 2”
A look at top animated moneymakers as of May 2020, from "The Lion King" to "Zootopia." The numbers are not adjusted for inflation.