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BladeRunner391's Movie Reviews
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HOW DARE YoU NOT THAT!!!Neglify said:
BladeRunner391
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DominicCobb said:
Hell yeah!
BladeRunner391
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Ben-Hur is one of Hollywood's greatest epic films, a three and a half hour spectacle. The film is about Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who is betrayed by his former friend Messala, a Roman tribune, and sent to the galleys. After many years and adventures, he returns to his homeland seeking revenge, climaxing in the famous chariot race. He then finds redemption in the uplifting conclusion. Running parallel to this storyline is the tale of Christ, who's face is never shown and has no dialogue. The rousing, sometimes dark, but always entertaining film is more character driven than previous Hollywood epics, which put more emphasis on the production values and the huge cast than the story, but Ben-Hur is an intelligent, dramatic piece of filmmaking that cannot be missed.
The enthralling film begins with the nativity of Jesus. Roughly twenty or so years later, Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) is a wealthy merchant who lives with his mother, Miriam (Scott), and his sister, Tirzah (O'Donnell). Judah strongly believes in the freedom and future of his people and detests the Roman Empire. One day, Judah's old friend Messala (Boyd) arrives in Jerusalem, now a Roman tribune. Messala, in contrast, believes in the glory of Rome and the divinity of its Emperor. The Hur family invites him to dinner, with Judah giving him a fine pair of horses (foreshadowing the climax of the film). In one of the movie's best scenes, they get into an argument when Messala asks Judah to give him the names of those who are against Rome. Hur refuses and the evil Messala breaks off their friendship. Meanwhile, Judah's slave and good friend Simonides (Jaffe) is preparing an arranged marriage for his beautiful daughter Esther (Harareet). Judah grants her persmission to marry, but both of them are obviously in love. That night, in an emotional goodbye, Hur kisses her goodbye and receives a ring to give to the woman he wants to marry. A few days later, Judah and Tirzah watch the parade for the new governor from the top of their house. Suddenly, Tirzah accidentally causes a tile to fall off of the roof and strike the governor. Despite it clearly being an accident, Messala cruelly sentences them and sends Judah to be a galley slave while leaving Miriam and Tirzah to rot in a prison cell. On the long forced march across the desert to Tyrus, they stop at the small town of Nazareth. In of the film's most popular and inspiring scenes, Judah collapses from dehydration and exhaustion, but is given water by none other than Jesus Christ himself! This gives Judah the strength to continue on the long journey, and will forever remember that one act of simple kindness.
Three years later, only Judah's hate is keeping him alive as he is assigned to yet another ship, this time the flagship of Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Hawkins). Arrius has been ordered to wipe out a small fleet of Macedonian pirate ships. Arrius also takes a special interest in Hur, offering to train him as a gladiator or a charioteer, but Judah refuses. Right before the spectacular naval battle, Arrius mysteriously has Judah unchained. During the sea battle, their ship is rammed, and Judah heroically takes out the guards and frees the prisoners. When Quintus Arrius is thrown overboard during a fierce melee battle on deck, Judah dives in after him and saves him. They lay on a piece of debris and watch as the battle rages on, and Judah prevents Arrius from killing himself. Hours later, they are picked up by a Roman ship, revealing the battle to be a victory for Rome.
Judah and Arrius triumphantly enter Rome and Arrius is personally congratulated by the Emperor, while Judah is freed. Many years pass off-screen, during which time Judah learns Roman ways and becomes a respected charioteer. Arrius also officially adopts Judah as his son, and Judah reluctantly agrees. Arrius knows that Judah longs to return to his home, and with his blessing Judah finally leaves Rome. During the long journey to Jerusalem, he meets Shiek llderim (An academy award winning Hugh Griffith), who asks Judah to drive his horses in the upcoming chariot race before the new governor Pontius Pilate (Thring). Judah is not interested, until he learns that Messala will also compete.
At last, Judah returns to Jerusalem. Once there, he greets a shocked Esther, and learns she never married and still loves him. Simonides is also pleased he has returned, but everyone knows Judah is now a changed man after his ordeal. Later, in a scene recalling their prvious encounter many years ago, Judah notes he still has the ring Esther gave to him, and they kiss passionately. She also tells him of some of Christs teachings that she has heard, but Judah will have none of it. No one has heard from Miriam or Tirzah in years, and when he meets a bewildered Messala, he angrily forces him to find them. The audience learns that they have become lepers, and are released from the jail. They confront Esther, telling her to lie to Judah and tell him that they are dead, not wanting him to see them in their current condition. Esther reluctantly agrees, and once she informs him of the news, it breaks what's left of his spirit. Judah is now completely hellbent on exacting his revenge against Messala, and trains aggresively for the approacing chariot race.
After much preparation and training, Judah is ready for the big race, hoping to shame and humiliate Messala when he is defeated. The Shiek also seeks vengeance against Messala, hoping to bankrupt him. On the big day, the charioteers assemble in their racing positions. The shiek warns Hur of Messala's chariot, which contain sharp, lethal blades sticking out of the wheels. After a parade honoring the new governor, Pontius Pilate, the spectacular, relentless, and brutal ten minute chariot race begins.
The battle between the competitors is highlighted by a series of close ups of the action. One by one, Messala eliminates the other drivers in the ferocious race, shattering their chariots. The climactic ending to the race occurs when the chariots of Messala and Ben-Hur, in hateful rivalry toward each other, run neck-and-neck and slash at each other. Messala tries to destroy Ben-Hur's chariot by moving close with the blades, but as the wheels lock and he loses one of his wheels, Messala's chariot is splintered. He is dragged by his own team, then trampled, and run over by other teams of horses. Defeated, he lies bloody in the dirt, his body broken and horribly injured. The crows cheers as Judah wins the race! Pontius Pilate proclaims him the people's god, for the time being. Afterwords, on his deathbed, the broken Messala informs Judah that his mother and sister are still alive and are in the Valley of the Lepers. Messala then dies before they can operate, much to the indifference of Judah.
When Judah arrives, he finds Esther already there, providing them food. When she sees him, she forces him to hide behind a boulder before they see him. Afterwords, Esther views the sermon on the mount, while Judah meets Pontius Pilate and rejects his Roman citizenship. Back home, Esther truly believes the man she once loved is gone, consumed with hatred. In another visit to Miriam and Tirzah, Esther learns Tirzah is dying, and Judah reveals himself. They decide to go to Jesus to see if he can help, but they are already too late. By the time they arrive, he has already been sentenced by Pilate. Judah recognizes Jesus and tries to provide him some water, as Jesus did for Judah many years ago, but Roman soldiers kick it out of his hands. While Esther, Miriam, and Tirzah retreat to a cave on the outskirts of town, Judah witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus. A huge storm appears out of nowhere and rain begins to pour. In the inspiring finale, Miriam and Tirzah are cured, a miracle! The next day, Judah returns, having let go of his hate and finally at peace. Everyone embraces as the shot dissolves into one of a shepard and his flock, a prominent religious symbol.
Ben-Hur, although consistently enjoyable, is about an hour too long, and a lot of the acting, special effects, props, sets, etc. are dated, but these did not detract from the overall experience. Charlton Heston is solid as Judah Ben-Hur, and Hugh Griffith and Stephen Boyd steal the show as the Shiek and Messala. Everyone else does a fine job too I guess. The script is fantastic, sometimes subtle and complex, but always easy to follow as well. The score by Miklos Rozsa is one of the best ever done for a motion picture and is perfect all the way through. The depiction of Christ is genius too! The main set-pieces are extremely well edited and will have you on the edge of your seat!
Overall, Ben-Hur is an emotionally powerful experience and is a great watch for the whole family! The new digital transfer is fantastic as well! I give Ben-Hur a 100% rating, and I recommend it to people ages 12 and up.
Suggested MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense action and some violence.
Directed by: William Wyler
Produced by: Sam Zimbalist
Screenplay by: Karl Tunberg
Uncredited: Gore Vidal
Christopher Fry
Maxwell Anderson
S. N. Behrman
Based on: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
Narrated by: Finlay Currie
Starring: Charlton Heston
Jack Hawkins
Haya Harareet
Stephen Boyd
Hugh Griffith
Music by: Miklós Rózsa
Cinematography: Robert L. Surtees
Editing by: John D. Dunning
Ralph E. Winters
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s): November 18, 1959 (1959-11-18)
Running time: 222 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $15 million
Box office: $74.7 million (domestic); $72.2 million (international)
The enthralling film begins with the nativity of Jesus. Roughly twenty or so years later, Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) is a wealthy merchant who lives with his mother, Miriam (Scott), and his sister, Tirzah (O'Donnell). Judah strongly believes in the freedom and future of his people and detests the Roman Empire. One day, Judah's old friend Messala (Boyd) arrives in Jerusalem, now a Roman tribune. Messala, in contrast, believes in the glory of Rome and the divinity of its Emperor. The Hur family invites him to dinner, with Judah giving him a fine pair of horses (foreshadowing the climax of the film). In one of the movie's best scenes, they get into an argument when Messala asks Judah to give him the names of those who are against Rome. Hur refuses and the evil Messala breaks off their friendship. Meanwhile, Judah's slave and good friend Simonides (Jaffe) is preparing an arranged marriage for his beautiful daughter Esther (Harareet). Judah grants her persmission to marry, but both of them are obviously in love. That night, in an emotional goodbye, Hur kisses her goodbye and receives a ring to give to the woman he wants to marry. A few days later, Judah and Tirzah watch the parade for the new governor from the top of their house. Suddenly, Tirzah accidentally causes a tile to fall off of the roof and strike the governor. Despite it clearly being an accident, Messala cruelly sentences them and sends Judah to be a galley slave while leaving Miriam and Tirzah to rot in a prison cell. On the long forced march across the desert to Tyrus, they stop at the small town of Nazareth. In of the film's most popular and inspiring scenes, Judah collapses from dehydration and exhaustion, but is given water by none other than Jesus Christ himself! This gives Judah the strength to continue on the long journey, and will forever remember that one act of simple kindness.
Three years later, only Judah's hate is keeping him alive as he is assigned to yet another ship, this time the flagship of Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Hawkins). Arrius has been ordered to wipe out a small fleet of Macedonian pirate ships. Arrius also takes a special interest in Hur, offering to train him as a gladiator or a charioteer, but Judah refuses. Right before the spectacular naval battle, Arrius mysteriously has Judah unchained. During the sea battle, their ship is rammed, and Judah heroically takes out the guards and frees the prisoners. When Quintus Arrius is thrown overboard during a fierce melee battle on deck, Judah dives in after him and saves him. They lay on a piece of debris and watch as the battle rages on, and Judah prevents Arrius from killing himself. Hours later, they are picked up by a Roman ship, revealing the battle to be a victory for Rome.
Judah and Arrius triumphantly enter Rome and Arrius is personally congratulated by the Emperor, while Judah is freed. Many years pass off-screen, during which time Judah learns Roman ways and becomes a respected charioteer. Arrius also officially adopts Judah as his son, and Judah reluctantly agrees. Arrius knows that Judah longs to return to his home, and with his blessing Judah finally leaves Rome. During the long journey to Jerusalem, he meets Shiek llderim (An academy award winning Hugh Griffith), who asks Judah to drive his horses in the upcoming chariot race before the new governor Pontius Pilate (Thring). Judah is not interested, until he learns that Messala will also compete.
At last, Judah returns to Jerusalem. Once there, he greets a shocked Esther, and learns she never married and still loves him. Simonides is also pleased he has returned, but everyone knows Judah is now a changed man after his ordeal. Later, in a scene recalling their prvious encounter many years ago, Judah notes he still has the ring Esther gave to him, and they kiss passionately. She also tells him of some of Christs teachings that she has heard, but Judah will have none of it. No one has heard from Miriam or Tirzah in years, and when he meets a bewildered Messala, he angrily forces him to find them. The audience learns that they have become lepers, and are released from the jail. They confront Esther, telling her to lie to Judah and tell him that they are dead, not wanting him to see them in their current condition. Esther reluctantly agrees, and once she informs him of the news, it breaks what's left of his spirit. Judah is now completely hellbent on exacting his revenge against Messala, and trains aggresively for the approacing chariot race.
After much preparation and training, Judah is ready for the big race, hoping to shame and humiliate Messala when he is defeated. The Shiek also seeks vengeance against Messala, hoping to bankrupt him. On the big day, the charioteers assemble in their racing positions. The shiek warns Hur of Messala's chariot, which contain sharp, lethal blades sticking out of the wheels. After a parade honoring the new governor, Pontius Pilate, the spectacular, relentless, and brutal ten minute chariot race begins.
The battle between the competitors is highlighted by a series of close ups of the action. One by one, Messala eliminates the other drivers in the ferocious race, shattering their chariots. The climactic ending to the race occurs when the chariots of Messala and Ben-Hur, in hateful rivalry toward each other, run neck-and-neck and slash at each other. Messala tries to destroy Ben-Hur's chariot by moving close with the blades, but as the wheels lock and he loses one of his wheels, Messala's chariot is splintered. He is dragged by his own team, then trampled, and run over by other teams of horses. Defeated, he lies bloody in the dirt, his body broken and horribly injured. The crows cheers as Judah wins the race! Pontius Pilate proclaims him the people's god, for the time being. Afterwords, on his deathbed, the broken Messala informs Judah that his mother and sister are still alive and are in the Valley of the Lepers. Messala then dies before they can operate, much to the indifference of Judah.
When Judah arrives, he finds Esther already there, providing them food. When she sees him, she forces him to hide behind a boulder before they see him. Afterwords, Esther views the sermon on the mount, while Judah meets Pontius Pilate and rejects his Roman citizenship. Back home, Esther truly believes the man she once loved is gone, consumed with hatred. In another visit to Miriam and Tirzah, Esther learns Tirzah is dying, and Judah reveals himself. They decide to go to Jesus to see if he can help, but they are already too late. By the time they arrive, he has already been sentenced by Pilate. Judah recognizes Jesus and tries to provide him some water, as Jesus did for Judah many years ago, but Roman soldiers kick it out of his hands. While Esther, Miriam, and Tirzah retreat to a cave on the outskirts of town, Judah witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus. A huge storm appears out of nowhere and rain begins to pour. In the inspiring finale, Miriam and Tirzah are cured, a miracle! The next day, Judah returns, having let go of his hate and finally at peace. Everyone embraces as the shot dissolves into one of a shepard and his flock, a prominent religious symbol.
Ben-Hur, although consistently enjoyable, is about an hour too long, and a lot of the acting, special effects, props, sets, etc. are dated, but these did not detract from the overall experience. Charlton Heston is solid as Judah Ben-Hur, and Hugh Griffith and Stephen Boyd steal the show as the Shiek and Messala. Everyone else does a fine job too I guess. The script is fantastic, sometimes subtle and complex, but always easy to follow as well. The score by Miklos Rozsa is one of the best ever done for a motion picture and is perfect all the way through. The depiction of Christ is genius too! The main set-pieces are extremely well edited and will have you on the edge of your seat!
Overall, Ben-Hur is an emotionally powerful experience and is a great watch for the whole family! The new digital transfer is fantastic as well! I give Ben-Hur a 100% rating, and I recommend it to people ages 12 and up.
Suggested MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense action and some violence.
Directed by: William Wyler
Produced by: Sam Zimbalist
Screenplay by: Karl Tunberg
Uncredited: Gore Vidal
Christopher Fry
Maxwell Anderson
S. N. Behrman
Based on: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
Narrated by: Finlay Currie
Starring: Charlton Heston
Jack Hawkins
Haya Harareet
Stephen Boyd
Hugh Griffith
Music by: Miklós Rózsa
Cinematography: Robert L. Surtees
Editing by: John D. Dunning
Ralph E. Winters
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s): November 18, 1959 (1959-11-18)
Running time: 222 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $15 million
Box office: $74.7 million (domestic); $72.2 million (international)
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100% sounds about right to me.
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BladeRunner391 said:
I agree, and in fact this is on my "maybe some day" fanedit list. [Insert "will take forever to release" joke here.]
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Dwight Fry said:
This might give you some ideas:
Theres a couple super 8 digest versions of the film, both are really well done and unique for different reasons:
17min version: http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000432
50min version:http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000111
I agree on the 100%, but dissagree about dated fx/hour too long.
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Rogue-theX said:This might give you some ideas:
Theres a couple super 8 digest versions of the film, both are really well done and unique for different reasons:
17min version: http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000432
50min version:http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000111
I agree on the 100%, but dissagree about dated fx/hour too long.
Thanks for the links, Rogue! I do think that the FX are still impressive today, and as for it being overlong, it's not a matter of bad segments but rather some that are beautifully crafted but add nothing to the story (the whole prologue comes to mind).
BladeRunner391
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Dwight Fry said:
I was thinking the same thing!
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BladeRunner391 said:
You'll probably get there before I do, so...
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MeHNeglify said: