For those unfamiliar with the story of Esther, she grew up Jewish by the name of Hadassah. After King Ahasuerus's (Thomas Kretschmann - Valkyrie) wife was banished from the kingdom, Hadassah was taken away by guards to be a part of a harem of virgins in the King's efforts to find a replacement queen. Because of the conflict between the Persians and the Jews, Hadassah changed her name to the Persian name Esther, which would later be revealed when saving the chosen people in Persia.
Esther's story is one of strength and courage, and as the queen, she played a powerful role in the lives of the Jews. It wasn't until after winning the true love of the king that she made the most of her destiny. Esther warned her king of an assassination plot, which would come to be paid back tenfold. As the king was advised to destroy the Jews, Esther finally reveals her true identity, saving the group of God-fearing people from destruction.
The Bible Stories: Esther is actually a very good story and film to watch for both those familiar with The Book of Esther and those who are not. While it's true that this film is not a huge Hollywood blockbuster, it retains a decent production quality that continues to hold true, even after ten years time. As long as you don't expect big-budget effects, you'll be able to enjoy the message behind the movie.
The Bible Stories: Esther's video and audio quality have held the test of time as well, and while the video shows its age compared to today's digital films full of eye candy, there is something to be said about movies that are shot entirely with practical props. The audio doesn't show anything spectacular either, only being Stereo, but the quality is still high in relation to its fidelity.
Despite the aura that generally surrounds religion-based movies, the acting in The Bible Stories: Esther is actually pretty good, and certainly believable. Where the DVD falls short, in my opinion, is that it lacks any and all special features (save for some previews of other inspirational movies). Unfortunately, a decade separating this release from the last hasn't done anything for a need to re-purchase the film, although newcomers may want to pick up this family-friendly film. It's a bit sad to see films like this repackaged without any real enhancements, because some behind the scenes footage of interpreting the Bible for the story of Esther would have been great. Still, I'd recommend The Bible Stories: Esther to all that ask.
