Ben-Hur
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Movie Reviews of Ben-Hur
Movie Review: Sandals & Robe Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
William Wyler's Ben-Hur is actually the third version of the film to appear. It was first done as a silent film, then remade in the 1920's and then tackled in this epic version. The film literally employed a cast of thousands and at the time of its release in 1959 was a technical marvel. Forty years later the film still stands up and the DVD version perfectly captures the grandeur of the film. The chariot race is one of the most famous scenes in movie history and despite all the technological advances has yet to be duplicated or surpassed. Charlton Heston won his only Oscar in the title role and he's at his bombastic, self-righteous and over-emoting best. Jack Hawkins is excellent as his one-time best friend turned rival and Hugh Griffith is delightful as the sheik who supplies Ben Hur with the horses for the chariot race. Mr. Griffith also won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor and Mr. Wyler won his third Best Director award as the film went on to win an unprecedented 11 awards (including Best Picture). That was record that stood until 1997 when Titanic matched it. One complaint about an otherwise superb DVD release is that instead of putting the almost four hour film along with all the extra material onto two disks, they made one double-sided disk. The lettering distinguishing the two sides is extremely small and difficult to figure out and it is a nuisance to get up during the film to flip the disk over.Movie Review: Fantastic Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Set in the time of Christ during the height of the mighty Roman Empire, historical epic Ben-Hur follows the lives of two former childhood friends Judah Ben Hur (Charlton Heston) and Messala (Steven Boyd). They become the bitterest of enemies as they grow older, as the latter shows unswerving blind loyalty to the Roman Empire. After Ben Hur refuses to help Messala round up what he perceives to be enemies of the Empire, he is framed for a crime he did not commit and is sentenced to a life of living hell on a galley ship as a slave.
His blind belief in his fate coupled with a thirst for vengeance helps him to survive this torturous existence. For three years, he is chained to an oar until during a battle with Greek pirates he saves the life of the Roman commander Quintas (Jack Hawkins), who takes Ben-Hur under his wing and frees him from his life of bondage. He becomes the main trainer of Quintas's stables and in time his adopted son and heir. Believing that Massala has killed his mother and sister, Ben-Hur exacts revenge by challenging him to a chariot race.
The 40 minute race took three months to shoot, in an arena that was a year in the making, and was one of the most ambitious set pieces ever staged by a major Hollywood studio, forming the focal point of the movie.
The DVD version of this movie has to be seen to be believed! The restore picture quality is awesome!
Movie Review: Classic Bible Epic
Summary: 5 Stars
This Heston classic never looked and sounded better! The DVD version also includes some rare footage screen test with Leslie Nielson as Masala! Ben Hur is a great film. Like its counterpart TEN COMMANDMENTS(which I actually like better), Ben Hur is hollywood splendor in use of sets, special effects, and cast of a thousands(LITERALLY!) Hopefully, a new generation will experience Ben Hur due to the success of GLADIATOR. Ben Hur is not just a tale of the Christ. This is a story of one's loyalty tested in tumultous times. The story of Hur and Masala take place during the time of Christ, and that is what makes the film so powerful. While the Roman Empire is at its height, and the conquered Judea is made to be colonial subjects of this empire all the while Christ is walking the earth and "doing his work...." Soundtrack by Miklos Roza works well on DVD version, and they did leave in the Overture and En'tracte. The old VHS version and some tv versions used to letterbox only the chariot race sequence. I will admit that at times film can be somewhat poky and pretentious, but why carp? This is a brilliant picture with all the epic splendor of a Cecil B. Demille masterpiece(even though he had nothing to do with this !!)I highly recommend this dvd version as it adds to excitement and power to an already incredible piece of cinema(WINNER OF 11 well deserved OSCARS).Movie Review: Before Gladiator, there was...Ben-Hur
Summary: 5 Stars
Ben-Hur set the bar for period films of today, and although the graphics in this film fail in comparision there is yet to be a film of this magnitude that can hold a candle to it. Ben-Hur is truly one of a kind and one that will never be repeated. Telling the story of wealthy Jewish Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) as his political ideas clash with his old friend and now Roman official Messala (Stephen Boyd) and cost him his friendship and almost his life. After their outing Messala uses anything he can to put Judah away, and when an accident almost costs the governer his life Messala finally has his excuse to send Judah to the gallows and throw his mother and sister in prison. Judah vows to get his revenge, and much like Russell Crowe's Maximus in Gladiator, Ben-Hur is given his chance in the most unique of circumstances. This epic is the best of the best, and while others have come close (Gladiator coming the closest) there is still yet to come another Ben-Hur. At 4 hours in length this may not be a one seating type film, but it's well worth the time is takes to watch it through. With brilliant performances on all fronts, Ben-Hur stands alone as one of the most worthy films to ever grace the oscars and one of the best films to ever take top honors. A worthy addition to your DVD collection. You won't be dissapointed.Movie Review: An Epic of a Greatest Magnitude
Summary: 5 Stars
One can be saddened or deeply shocked over the recent death of the star of Ben-Hur, Charlton Heston on April 5, 2008. Nevertheless, one thing that will never be forgotten is the magnitude of many of Mr. Heston's movies, such as Ben-Hur.
This particular movie is actually an epic of a greatest magnitude, whether one thinks of the chariot race or one of the other many scene's that will forever be imbedded in one's mind. This particular movie is sure to please audiences for generations to come.
My particular favorite of scenes was Mr. Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, as a slave who had to cross a desert into Nazareth and with the rest of the slaves dying of thirst. The Romans felt they and their horses should drink first, before any of the slaves. As for Judah, he was to receive no water at all. In his suffering, he lies down upon the ground asking God to help him and Jesus comes with water just for him and brushes the head of Judah, to give him comfort.
When a Roman soldier comes towards Jesus to hit him with a whip, Jesus get's up and looks at the soldier and he could not hit him after looking into his face. As for Judah, before he was forced to march again with the rest of the slaves, he had gotten his fill of water.
Scenes like that, is what makes a good movie for all audiences.