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Summary: It is one if not THE best biblical film
Review: Ben Hur features Charleton Heston's greatest performance. It features some of the greatest and largest scale scenes in film history (example: The Chariot Race). It might not be everyone's cup of tea, I mean just look at it's length, but that does not mean you shouldn't at least experience this one time in your life. And the DVD version is the best to see, and or own.
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Summary: ERIC C`S REVIEW
Review: THIS IS TIED WITH THE GODFATHER AS THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER! CHARLTON HESTON RULES!!
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Summary: this is an all-time classic!
Review: I first came across this movie at a local library, and I subsequently decided to obtain a copy for my personal library. It is a classic in every respect. Two thumbs high up! It is sad that the present crop of Hollywood directors/producers do not generally feature movies of this quality and depth these days.
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Summary: BEN HUR DESERVES BETTER
Review: I waited very patiently for what I expected to be the DVD of DVDs however I was disappointed with the presentation and packaging of this masterpiece. It seems Warner bros doen't take much pride in its DVD presentations. For one, the packaging stinks.... I had to buy a DVD case sold by Critics Choice Video in order to protect the packaging.The widescreen presentation was not the correct aspect ratio. When MGM released this title on laser disc they had the proper aspect ratio.The two side presentation was also uncalled for. MGM released the 195min "Greatest Story Ever Told " on one side and used a second disc for the extras. Wake up Warners.DVD buyers a more sophisticated than you might think.
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Summary: Do yourself a favor!
Review: If you haven't seen this,you must do yourself a favor.There is not much debate on the fact that the Chariot race is the greatest action scene ever filmed... 11 OSCARS INCLUDING BEST PICTURE OF 1959 The transfer to dvd is rather excellent concidering it's time..The sound really thumps during the race. Although fiction.The events that take place are excellent leading up to the crucifixion. A great theme of water begins when ben-hur meets christ for the first time.We never see christ in the entire three and half hours..but we "think we did"..Very well made A must for any collection.
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Summary: GO BEN GO
Review: 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 he 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)
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Summary: Classic Movie Deserving of a 5 Star Review
Review: The chariot race in this movie tops any scene in Gladiator. Plus the story is better. Gladiator was a great movie and one of my favorites, but this one takes the cake. The old-school sets and special effects in Ben-Hur rival that of today's computer-generated scenes. There is nobody I would NOT recommend this movie to.
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Summary: WARNER BROTHERS BLEW IT
Review: Well, after waiting months for the DVD release of this flawless film, what do we get; a cheap two sided disk with hardly any extras. Thank God at least the picture quality and sound are pretty good. This is the film that made movie going a special event, unlike the garbage that is on the screen today. How dare WB treat this film as if it were just another mainstream release! William Wyler would have been appalled. To the reviewer who implys the film was shot in Super Panavision 70: It was not. It was shot in the new MGM Camera 65, a wide but narrow wide screen format, which was not used again as far as I know. Even with the Anamorphic format, it still shows more black bars than a 70mm film. Please, let us hope that Ben-Hur will get what it deserves on DVD with a new deluxe release in the future. SHAME ON YOU, WB. The 5 star rating is for the film, not the presentation.
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Summary: One of the Greatest Films Ever Made!
Review: If you collect films, this William Wyler directed film is a must. The story, cast, sets, action, costumes, and filming, are all first rate. Charlton Heston is wonderful in the role of Judah Ben-Hur, as is Stephen Boyd in his role as Judah's one time boyhood friend turned adversary, the Roman Tribune Masalla. The original symphonic film score by Miklos Rozsa is among the finest orchestral works for film ever composed. Ben-Hur is the art of film making at it's best. Larry Christiansen
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Summary: Cheap Package spoils this DVD
Review: This is a great film and deserves better packaging and production than a two sided disk in a cheap box. I would refer MGM to the wonderful recent DVD release of Lawrence of Arabia as how to do this properly. A shame that this was released this way.
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