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Summary: THE BEST EVER!
Review: Every single detail of this film makes me want to cry it's so good. The actors, the directing, Music and everything is outstanding. The atmosphere of the film always hits me really hard. I saw this film a hundred times and it always gives a little more. All the time. This is the best ever!
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Summary: most brilliant film ever
Review: I can not say much about, Everyone should see this outstanding production by the genius William Wyler. This is my number one film
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Summary: Surpasses all others in the ¿Biblical Epic¿ genre
Review: Despite forty years of bashing by cynical critics, William Wyler's Ben-Hur lives on as the archetype of epic moviemaking. By skillfully counterbalancing the majestic with the mundane, Wyler sought to humanize the unwieldy scale of earlier Biblical films. And, while the gripping chariot race is considered the hallmark of the film, it is the small, human elements that carry the story. Judah Ben-Hur's love for the slave, Esther; his devotion to mother and sister and his transformation from the vengeful slayer of Messalla to follower of Jesus on the road to crucifixion is a heroic character saga of a type many find unfashionable in today's world.The film abounds with stirring dialog and memorable imagery. Witness the cruel centurion who leads Ben-Hur and others in chains to the galleys. "No water for that one!" he commands, pointing to the bleeding and parched Ben-Hur. And when Jesus himself emerges to disobey the order, the Roman stands transfixed and impotent; the camera simply pauses for a moment and allows us to study the conflict expressed in the man's shamed and guilt-ridden face. This scene is a small masterpiece of deft acting and direction. Or Messalla, having lost the chariot race, lies crushed and near death, awaiting the arrival of Ben-Hur. A surgeon nervously pushes for permission to begin an amputation of his legs. "I won't receive him as half a man!" he screams. When Judah finally arrives Messalla gleefully recounts the fate of his mother and sister, enjoying the horror it instills in Ben-Hur's eyes. In a veiled and malignant reference to how the hatred of men perpetuates itself, Masallah sputters with his last breath: "It goes on, Judah... The race, it goes on..." Though notorious as a "guy" film, Ben-Hur establishes female characters in strong, defining roles. Mother and daughter endure degradation, imprisonment and disease, living only for the sake of each other and the faint hope that Judah is alive. Released from prison, disfigured and self-banished as lepers, they plead with Esther to convince Judah that they are dead, wishing only to be remembered, "as we were". They hobble away into the shadows, sorrowfully locked in each other's arms, but spiritually renewed by a stolen glimpse of Ben-Hur in the distance. The love between Esther and Judah is a study of restrained passion. The scenes where Heston and Haya Harareet are together work well, proving the axiom that good actors generate their own chemistry; (and, for Heston, it probably didn't hurt that Harareet was a stunning beauty.) A warning to cultural nihilists: religious themes abound! This is, after all, a Biblical Epic. Nativity and Crucifixion scenes may remind you of those "Illustrated Bible" editions you might have seen in Sunday School. But, in the hands of director Wyler, they are splendidly and lovingly rendered. The Jewishness of early Christianity is never questioned; Esther refers to Jesus as "...a young Rabbi," a pacifist and healer who ultimately takes the sword from the hand of Ben-Hur. Overshadowing all in Judea is the heavy fist of Imperial Rome, its tyrannical rule driving the people to be, in the words of the departing Tribune, "obsessed with religion." As with all great movies it is the secondary players who invite repeated viewings. Ben-Hur has many notables in small, vivid roles. Two lesser known examples: Frank Thring, as Pontius Pilate, in a speech rich with insinuations of realpolitic, cautions Judah against crossing the will of Rome, ("There are many small men of envy and ambition..."). And Wyler's decision to cast veteran actor George Relph as Tiberius was a stroke of genius. In marked contrast to the majesty of his surroundings, the Divine Emperor looks rumpled and flea-bitten; more like a neglected grandfather than the power behind the Empire. Ben-Hur is a sumptuous delight of lavish craftsmanship. It cries out for a DVD edition that gives credit to its spectacular photography as well a (justly famous) musical score. Ted Turner, are you listening?
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Summary: Where is the DVD edition
Review: Ben Hur is one of the best of all times. It has everything you can possibly imagine except, a widescreen DVD version. Where is it!
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Summary: A Sundayschool story.
Review: This must be one of the most boring movies ever. Personally I could bearly keep my eyes open. Instead of the movie keeping the pace, I kept it myself, with a little help of the fastforward button. Charlton Heston is at his most narsistic. The story is so sentimental, that it is almost worse than the book. The only things worth watching are the chariotrace and Stephen Boyd as Messala. The rest might as well not exist.
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Summary: Sundayschool with gay tendencies?
Review: This movie is one Big mistake. It's at least twice as long as it should be (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 sentimentalism and the corny-ness of the plot defie all imagination. It reminds me of the Christmas tales my teachers used two read for a bunch of five-year olads and even then I was bored out of my skull. To enliven it the hero-villain relationship borders n the homsexual, but even that goes precisely nowhere.In the whole movie there are only two parts that bear watching: The sea-battle and the chariot-race. For the rest, forget about it. There are a lot of actors, who try, but there just is no way to make this movie interesting. If they scale it down to 100 minutes that would be an improvement. It shouldn't be too difficult. After all, the rest isn't worth watching anyway.
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Summary: Rememberance
Review: I saw this movie when I was 6 or 7 years of age. The race was such a visual experience that I still like this part of the movie the best. Now that we have 'the home theater systems'. The rest I grew up to appreciate and love as I grew up in age and whatever. MN
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Summary: Cool Movie!
Review: Charlton Heston at his best! This is a great movie. The chariot race is spectacular, the horses are gorgeous, and the acting is great! The story, while it doesn't follow the book too closely, is well acted and very exciting. Stephen Boyd is very good as Messala. He's so wicked that you just love to hate him! A must see for all Charlton Heston fans and for anyone that likes an exciting, well done movie!
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Summary: Chariot race of the century.
Review: Wonderfully made biblical epic which I caught on a late night channel. The well known story of the judean prince Judah Ben-Hur who is sold into slavery by his best friend remains a popular one in our family now going in to the third generation.Also as an added side interest is the pivotal but harrowing story of Christ and the crucifixtion complete with miracles & choral singing. Despite the deeply religious overtones it is replete with human conflicts. Love, betrayal, faith... and a chariot race at the end to upstage any car chase scene Bruce Willis ever did. I was impressed with the supporting cast especially Jack Hawkins as Ben-Hur's adopted father and australian actor Frank Thring as Pontius Pilate. But the acting laurels must go to Hugh Griffith,as they certainly did at the 1963 Academy awards,for his role as Sheikh Ilderim. A rather uncouth big-hearted but marvellously animated owner of a chariot racing stable who loves to gamble,hates the romans and enjoys a good fight.He is a pleasure to watch and at times provides some comic relief in this sombre & sonorous epic. Gore Vidal,interviewed in "the Celluloid Closet" provides us with some interesting anecdotes about the writing of the script especially the double-edged innuendos which amazingly made it past the strict censorship of the time. Every one seemed to have fun with it including Stephen Boyd who plays Messala.Only Chuck Heston didnt get the joke Vidal recalls. Perhaps his staunch republicanism would not have seen the humour of it. Despite the sacriligious perfidy of Vidal & co it is still a very watchable film and i recommend it to all new generations.Give it a go. Phantom Menace has nothing on this!
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Summary: Ignore the 'Amazon.com essential video' review at the top
Review: Forget TITANIC, the unquestionable champion of most oscar-honored film (11 in all) belongs to 1959's BEN-HUR. It is the pinnacle of all biblical epics. Critics and viewers alike have to admit that this film, telling about the adventures of a Jewish aristocrat in the time of Christ, is SOMETHING of a milestone, whether they love it, hate it, or feel it overrated in its acclaim. In my opinion, the belief that this film is overrated is simply not justified. Thanks to William Wyler, it avoids the handicap of some sword and sandal movies by successfully fitting both the dramatic and spectacular elements together, resulting in many memorable scenes of visual and emotional power: The nativity prologue, Messala's march into Jerusalem, the conflicting relationship between Judah and Messala, Christ giving water to the despairing Judah, the sea battle (even though you can tell those ARE model ships, the scene is still well done), Arrius' triumphant entry into Rome, the cleansing of the lepers, and, of course, the great Chariot Race. The production is excellent, the sets and costumes looking lavish and realistic at the same time, with the immortal epic music by Miklos Rosza playing throughout. As for the acting, for someone whose acting ability has been labeled wooden and stiff, Charlton Heston gives a great performance as the tortured title character. He is well matched by the superb Stephen Boyd as the ruthless and power-intoxicated Messala. The supporting cast is also fine, with Haya Hararret as Esther, Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius, and the delighful Hugh Griffith as Sheik Illdrean. All associated have truly made BEN-HUR an epic to beat all epics.
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