BILAL: A NEW BREED OF HERO – A Review by Hollywood Hernandez
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is a computer animated film like you haven't seen before. There are many unique things about this movie. First, it's based on a thousand year old true story. It's the story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became an early follower of Muhammad. Another unique twist on the movie is that it comes from a Middle Eastern film studio and animators from all over the world worked on the film. That gives it a very unique style on screen. Finally it's a pretty graphic animated film which earns it a PG-13 rating. But overall, it's one of the best animated films I've seen in recent memory.
In the movie, Bilal is a young boy who dreams of becoming a warrior. His whole world changes when his mother is killed and he and his sister are kidnapped and taken far away from their home. As a grown man, Bilal does become a warrior who fights for justice and the fight scenes on screen are both graphic and stunning. The grown up Bilal is voiced by Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje who played Adebisi on the cable TV series "OZ".
This is an amazing animated movie with great attention paid to detail. Although violent, it is a movie that can be enjoyed by young people (age 12 and above) and adults alike. Although it is the story of a Muslim follower, it's not preachy or self serving. It's just an enjoyable story about a noble young man who believes that all people should be treated equally. It's a simple story but if goes deep into many levels.
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is rated PG-13 for graphic, bloody fight scenes and has a run time of 105 minutes. It's a film, produced in Saudi Arabia, that deserves to be seen. I think you'll enjoy it. On my "Hollywood Popcorn Scale", I rate it a JUMBO!
