Ask anyone what's the movie of a roman slave that gets the opportunity to battle against his roman disaffection in the arena, and they will all say Gladiator. No, it's BEN-HUR! Epic, historical, classic hollywood!
It's a very familiar and typical slice of epic biblical technicolor Hollywood - even though it's taken me a long time to actually sit down and watch all four hours of it. Some sections are better than others, and overall I think Spartacus is a better film in almost every respect, so the massive Oscar love and high IMDB rating is a bit of a oddity to me. The story is actually very thin, and Heston isn't an actor I like very much, but it always looks and sounds great. Got to love that chariot race, it's superbly done, even though Wyler apparently didn't direct any of it.... And the moral of the story? Good roof tile maintenance can save you a life of agonising servitude and leprosy.
it's an epic movie, a must see for all movie fans ... but damn, it's so very long. 4 hours! The endig felt a bit out of place though ... it suddenly went all OTT on religion.
Sometimes it feels like an epic is acting like an epic because it knows it's an epic. Ben-Hur is such an epic. Sure, it's got scope and spectacle, but at times, especially in the first part, it feels like it's just giving us a tour o What We Know(TM) of the Roman Empire circa in the early ADs. Downtrodden provinces, galleys, arena events, and Christ on a cross. Somehow, our hero participates in it all, like a Forrest Gump of Antiquity, through circumstances worthy of a Dickens novel. I question its length if not its ambitions. Certainly, the famous chariot race is an impressive, well-choreographed action sequence, and not only "for its time" - one of the best in all of cinema. The idea of telling a story in the shadow of Jesus' works is an interesting one too. Ben-Hur is pushed to hatred and revenge impulse by the Romans, but starts out as a good man with peace in his heart (he's the one charioteer who doesn't whip his horses). So his final examination isn't a hard redemption so much as a rescue of his soul. That may be what the film is saying about Christ's death for humanity's sins.
It was very long. The chariot race was good but, again, long, like everything else. I know they were trying to show the torture Ben Hur went through but sitting through all that was a torture of its own. At least they could've cut out the 'romance' to skim off a couple of minutes. If someone had really actually died it might've justified his anger a little. Or even if she'd gotten married. It frustrated me how happy the ending was. And how this is so highly rated. Heston's acting was....well at times he seemed deranged and more like a bad guy than the bad guy. I had some trouble sympathizing with him, especially towards the end of the movie. And why exactly did god and jesus favor him so much? That really ground my gears. No other movie has really shoved in your face how good a person their protagonist is by Jesus himself trying to personally help him out of a bad situation. I mean sure, it's what Jesus would do, but, it just seemed sooooo.... You know how sometimes you see someone write themselves into fanfiction? As a helpful guide or even boldly as the lover of their favorite character? It seemed like self insertion of some sort. I haven't read the book or anything but to be honest, I think they only added Jesus in there so they could have that 'wizards did it' ending, oops, I mean 'jesus did it' ending where his mother and sister are cured and he gets his happy ending etc. and it just seemed so....very.... I dunno but definitely not a good thing. The ending was .... Well like the other two people here, I didn't like it. And Ben Hur himself was very inconsistant. One minute remembering Jesus and using him as a moral compass, the next, going off the deep end and forgetting he ever exister and calling everyone evil etc. Maybe it was Heston's acting.. I don't know but it just wasn't that believable. I'll stop now, I've ranted long enough. I wouldn't want this to get too long haha get it? too long! Just like the movie.
I did not find the length of the movie to be an issue, it kept me entertained all the way trough (two brakes to make a tea and snacks :)). I would not call it great but it sure has some flavour to it.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 22
fraveu
the charriot scene is absolutely fantasticDieguito
Ask anyone what's the movie of a roman slave that gets the opportunity to battle against his roman disaffection in the arena, and they will all say Gladiator. No, it's BEN-HUR! Epic, historical, classic hollywood!Malte
Epic movie, great acting. Being not a religious person I didn't like the ending though.dombrewer
It's a very familiar and typical slice of epic biblical technicolor Hollywood - even though it's taken me a long time to actually sit down and watch all four hours of it. Some sections are better than others, and overall I think Spartacus is a better film in almost every respect, so the massive Oscar love and high IMDB rating is a bit of a oddity to me. The story is actually very thin, and Heston isn't an actor I like very much, but it always looks and sounds great. Got to love that chariot race, it's superbly done, even though Wyler apparently didn't direct any of it.... And the moral of the story? Good roof tile maintenance can save you a life of agonising servitude and leprosy.danisanna
it's an epic movie, a must see for all movie fans ... but damn, it's so very long. 4 hours! The endig felt a bit out of place though ... it suddenly went all OTT on religion.Siskoid
Sometimes it feels like an epic is acting like an epic because it knows it's an epic. Ben-Hur is such an epic. Sure, it's got scope and spectacle, but at times, especially in the first part, it feels like it's just giving us a tour o What We Know(TM) of the Roman Empire circa in the early ADs. Downtrodden provinces, galleys, arena events, and Christ on a cross. Somehow, our hero participates in it all, like a Forrest Gump of Antiquity, through circumstances worthy of a Dickens novel. I question its length if not its ambitions. Certainly, the famous chariot race is an impressive, well-choreographed action sequence, and not only "for its time" - one of the best in all of cinema. The idea of telling a story in the shadow of Jesus' works is an interesting one too. Ben-Hur is pushed to hatred and revenge impulse by the Romans, but starts out as a good man with peace in his heart (he's the one charioteer who doesn't whip his horses). So his final examination isn't a hard redemption so much as a rescue of his soul. That may be what the film is saying about Christ's death for humanity's sins.Earring72
Epic adventure drama. Hadn't seen it in years, but loved it again. Still one of the best!!!ReVision
Awesome and epic story! I must agree with Malte on the ending though.arrbrr
Super cool movie. Loved it to the core.. Itching to see the 1925 version. And yeah, the chariot race was simply brilliant!!IreneAdler
Well, this was just a "classic" I just had to see once.Was okay, not overwhelming, but the chariot race was quite impressive. Not a fan of Charlton Heston... but I liked Haya Harareet.
So alright, I saw it and for back then it really is monumental, but I don't really need to see it again.
sweeety
It was very long. The chariot race was good but, again, long, like everything else. I know they were trying to show the torture Ben Hur went through but sitting through all that was a torture of its own. At least they could've cut out the 'romance' to skim off a couple of minutes. If someone had really actually died it might've justified his anger a little. Or even if she'd gotten married. It frustrated me how happy the ending was. And how this is so highly rated. Heston's acting was....well at times he seemed deranged and more like a bad guy than the bad guy. I had some trouble sympathizing with him, especially towards the end of the movie. And why exactly did god and jesus favor him so much? That really ground my gears. No other movie has really shoved in your face how good a person their protagonist is by Jesus himself trying to personally help him out of a bad situation. I mean sure, it's what Jesus would do, but, it just seemed sooooo.... You know how sometimes you see someone write themselves into fanfiction? As a helpful guide or even boldly as the lover of their favorite character? It seemed like self insertion of some sort. I haven't read the book or anything but to be honest, I think they only added Jesus in there so they could have that 'wizards did it' ending, oops, I mean 'jesus did it' ending where his mother and sister are cured and he gets his happy ending etc. and it just seemed so....very.... I dunno but definitely not a good thing. The ending was .... Well like the other two people here, I didn't like it. And Ben Hur himself was very inconsistant. One minute remembering Jesus and using him as a moral compass, the next, going off the deep end and forgetting he ever exister and calling everyone evil etc. Maybe it was Heston's acting.. I don't know but it just wasn't that believable. I'll stop now, I've ranted long enough. I wouldn't want this to get too long haha get it? too long! Just like the movie.Cundurs
I did not find the length of the movie to be an issue, it kept me entertained all the way trough (two brakes to make a tea and snacks :)). I would not call it great but it sure has some flavour to it.God
fucking helleumer
When you see this you will find Gladiator disappointing :PHorse scene is epic!
rufus.meistermann
"It took a Jew to make a good movie about Christ" William WylerShowing items 1 – 15 of 22