Ben-Hur
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Movie Reviews of Ben-Hur
Movie Review: "The race goes on, Judah; it goes on!"
Summary: 5 Stars
The final invective the trampled Messala heaps on the head of Judah Ben-Hur summarizes the emptiness of revenge in this classic epic directed by William Wyler, which was the first film to win 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Judah (Charlton Heston) is a prince of the Jewish people and the childhood friend of Messala, a Roman tribune who has returned to Jerusalem to rule with an iron fist. Inevitably the two men quarrel, and Messala uses an accident as a pretext to send Judah off to the galleys as a slave and his sister and mother to the Castle Antonia to be forgotten for years. How Judah plots his revenge against Messala is the main impetus for the story. Yet while he was being herded across the desert years ago en route to the galleys, he did meet with an act of kindness when a carpenter gave him a drink of water which revived him. Although the carpenter is never seen and never speaks, the audience knows that this is Jesus. But while Judah remembers the act from time to time, he is still bent on his revenge. Through many turns of events, he achieves his freedom, encounters and returns the love of a loyal household slave, Esther, and gets his revenge at the climactic chariot race, but still he has no inner peace. It will take a supreme act of faith and a fateful meeting on the Via Dolorosa before Judah finds what he has been searching for all along. "Ben-Hur" is really an excellent movie, much finer than Heston's earlier "The Ten Commandments". Part of the reason is that the DeMille epic is played for high camp by some of the actors, while this movie is dead on serious for the whole three hours. Another reason is that Heston does much beter acting here, displaying a fuller range of emotions than he had in "TTC". Kudos as well to the beautiful actress playing Esther, who brings dignity and grace to her role. Her outstanding performance shows up the other two women in the show, Judah's mother and sister, who are weak actresses: a pity that these pivotal roles should not have been cast with greater care. However, the strength of the other stars carries the movie notwithstanding that.
"Ben-Hur" earns its reputation as a spectacle with its exceptional chariot race. I heard that the great Russian composer Igor Stravinsky sat through the movie several times, just to see the chariot race over and over! Well, who can blame him. It's one of the most thrilling segments ever captured on film. Outstanding camera work and courageous stuntwork were hand in hand on this one.
When I was a kid, "Ben-Hur" lasted a full week on "The 4:30 Movie" because of its length. Today with VCRs and such, you can take it in during one big night--and I suggest you do so as soon as you have that opportunity.
Movie Review: GO BEN GO
Summary: 5 Stars
William Wyler, who won Best Director Oscars three times, is arguably the most highly-regarded of all American directors. He never resorted to flashy gimmicks or trendy styles. He was an intuitive artist with a refined sense of the emotional thread of a screenplay. The best director of performance in the American cinema.
The finest example of Wyler's work is on display in the much-anticipated DVD release of MGM's "Ben-Hur."
When Civil War General Lew Wallace began the novel, it was on a bet that he could write a story that would destroy the divinity of Jesus.
The provocative premise: A Roman-betrayed Jew, on the road to revenge, crosses paths with a Man many call Messiah. A Man who says "love your enemies." (The irony of Rome and Israel alive in our post-modern world is not lost in this story that has seen a new manifestation every 20 years since 1880!) When Wyler got the assignment to direct, he said he wanted to "out De Mille De Mille. And who better to direct a tale of the Christ than a Jew?" The material was familiar. As a newcomer to Hollywood, Wyler helped wrangle extras in the 1925 silent version!
By 1957, the production was the biggest, most expensive film ever and MGM's future was riding on it. In today's dollars, the cost would be $240 million.
The film went on to win in all the major Academy categories and no film to date has won more Academy Awards©. Heston won a Best Acting Oscar. He delivers an intense performance of a man who senses -- but can't understand why, if not for revenge -- that his life has been apparently directed and protected by Providence. Still, his free will remains his own to do as he chooses. Before the chariot race, he seeks forgiveness but surrenders to the course that has been set. His profound dilemma is almost palpable.
The DVD transfer of this Ultra Panavision 65 widescreen (2.76:1 aspect ratio!) wonder is as good as it gets.
Heston narrates some revealing moments. He says when he was required to do a simple jump down stone steps, it suddenly reminded him of a recurring nightmare of a similar setting. Wyler noticed something was wrong. When Heston did the jump, his dream disappeared.
The bonus material includes a picture gallery, an excellent "making-of" featurette, screen tests (see a serious Leslie Nielson try out for the role of Massala!).
This film has been meticulously preserved in a breathtaking digital transfer. The chariot race, the finest sustained action sequence ever with a sound mix created from 53 separate audio tracks, is an incredible experience in remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. (MGM, Color, Widescreen, Surround, 212 Minutes, Rated G, 1959)
Movie Review: 11 ACADEMY AWARDS
Summary: 5 Stars
An extemely enjoyable film to watch.If you liked The 10 Ten Commandments ,Spartacus or any similiar film you would definitely like this. A truely remarkable movie.Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd performed exceptionally well. Heston (Judah ben-hur) a judean and Boyd (Messala) a high ranking roman soilder.They were childhood friends. They remained friends in their adult life even though they hadn't met since their youth..The conflict between these 2 started when the romans were taking control over Judea.Messala even invited Judah ben-hur to be part of the roman empire and to basically deny his own heritage .Ben Hur refused and would not go against his own people..This was the start of 2 characters becoming bitter enemies.Eventually after some more rival events messala being in power took out his revenge and jailed the entire Ben-Hur family.Judah Ben-Hur ,his mother and sister.Judah was sent into slavery on roman military ships as a chained rower.The mother and sister were sent into dark deaseased inflicted dungens.A big budget film.There is also a full length commentary , Charlton Heston speaks about the film in detail scene by scene. Heston said in the commentary MGM spent so much money making this movie that if the film was a flop there would be no MGM studio but a parking lot at that location instead.When I was watching this film I was amazed how in 1959 that a film of this caliber was made.Remember in 1959 there was no such of a thing as computer animation .Whatever the camera records on film was real with real people and surroundings.The movie is about 3 1/2 hours ,a long movie but every scene is a masterpiece.Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is actually the full title .There are 2 stories which intertwine .The tale revolves around two storylines: the story of Jesus and the story of Ben-Hur.The last scene is filled with so much meaning and spectacular to watch.Ben-Hur's mother and sister where inflicted with the desease of leprosy which they acquired while they were imprisoned innocently.This story takes place during the time of Jesus (30 AD). The mother and sister heard of the name JESUS CHRIST knew Jesus was sent from GOD.They heard of stories of his miracles and his preaching.They seen him carrying the cross earlier and had hope and faith in Him. Jesus was on the cross; As he spoke His last words "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" He bowed His head .The Skys opened up ,Lighting ,Thunder,Earth quakes was taking place ,Blood was dripping from His wounds and mixing with the rain water below.And exactly the same time Ben-Hur's mother and sister while on there way home from the crucifixion where miraculously healed .Great movie, and in my opinion Charlton Heston is one of the best actors of all time.Movie Review: Vacuous fairy tale
Summary: 5 Stars
I read every one of 217 previous reviews; trying to understand why people love this movie, but did not come to conclusion with repeated expressions like: "Ben-hur is one of the greatest movies of all time" or "The chariot race is the BEST part of the movie".. well it is definitely not like the chariot fight of Gladiator.
However, among these reviews I liked the following negative comments that I hereby revitalize to equal the determined incomprehensible comments about the GREATNESS of this stupid classic.
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Certainly not a bad movie, certainly not worth 11 oscars, i guess nothing better came out that year, because this movies so long they could only make this
"Ben Hur" richly deserves its status as a gay cult film -- never before nor after was Charlton Heston so hunky.
Another is the cascade of Oscars it received - especially one to Charlton Heston for smoldering (considering that alternatives that year included Jack Lemmon in "Some Like It Hot," Cary Grant in "North by Northwest," and James Stewart in "Anatomy of a Murder"). This is not even one of Heston's best films.
While the cinematography and acting are spectacular, the over drama becomes heavy handed when it doesn't advance the story.
Jesus makes a cameo in this movie but to my great disappointment he doesn't take part in the chariot race.
I would recommend this movie for anyone looking for an in depth history of the time period, or just for someone looking for a little action and a lot of sleep.
I knew that I was not the only one having a hard time keeping mentally stimulated through this "classic" when three of the four people that were watching Ben-Hur with me were asleep at the same time.
The chariot race is great, but on the way to that race you have to face hours of suffocating piety, starting with the Star Over Bethlehem and all that.
Instead of the movie keeping the pace, I kept it myself, with a little help of the fastforward button.
You just spend ten minutes listening two the opening music, before anything happens. I first thought it was some sort of mistake. When the story finally gets started you just wish you were back with the music.)
the Charlton Heston "Ben-Hur" is so overblown that you may feel the need of an Alka-Seltzer at intermission
Remember you're a Womble! The problem with this movie is it's blatant theft from Smokey and the Bandit, they obviously believe a "Roman Twist" would confuse us.
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Movie Review: Our Folk`s Gladiator.
Summary: 5 Stars
Just as we "Young Un`s" lined up to awe at Ridley Scott`s and Russell Crowe`s virtual epic tour of the Roman world in "Gladiator", it`s sometimes hard to imagine that our own parents (or even great-grandparents in that matter) lined up to awe at epic visions they shall always call their own. William Wyler`s and Charton Heston`s "Ben-Hur" delivered these visions and even more. This film, complete with physical struggle and emotional anguish, blended with eternal themes of personal retribution and divine redemption, proves that even a forty year old film can carry the same compelling messages and visions without the aid of digital reality. At times, I found this film to surpass "Gladiator" on many sides. I`ll be quite blunt about it, Stephen Boyd`s Massala was a more vicious opponent to Judah Ben-Hur than Joaquin Phoenix`s Commodus was to Maximus. Sure, Commodus showed no mercy as he swiftly swiped Maximus`s identity away from the Roman sphere of power after Maximus defied his claim to power, but Massala took a more deliberate act of personal retribution to vanquish his blood brother`s standing in Judea, illustating Massala`s stern allegiance to the Roman Way. Yes, the acting is a bit theatric at times and there is a very overt religious message attached, but if you watch "Ben-Hur" closely you will understand how well constructed these parallels are. As far as the Chariot spectacle goes, sorry Ridley, but this scene shall always be film`s greatest tribute to Rome`s ancient glory. The organic vitality of this scene is simply unmatched in speed, fury, and urgency, and its surprising outcome will leave you shocked! Clearly, you will be at a loss if you don`t experienece "Ben-Hur", not only as a source of inspiration for our own epics, but also as a glimpse into the spectacles and values our older family members saw and learned from. The DVD is a complete evening of entertainment, really! Take time to notice the subleties of the color and sound. Later, relish the outstanding documentary film about this production. If you watch and listen very closely, you might notice that they never needed a computer to accomplish some very convincing illusions of size ans splendor, but that`s just movie magic for you, it inspires generation after generation, as this film always will. Watch "Ben-Hur", enjoy it with your family. And hey, do watch it side to side with "Gladiator" and notice their similarities, their differences and their wonder. But most of all, learn from it, and treasure it forever!