Ben-Hur

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I am not surprised at the glowing reviews devoted to this film. I experienced it during its first run in Boston, Washington, DC, and in France in French! I have owned it in every format including CAV laser disc. What surprises me is the customer reviews re Ted Turner & Charlton Heston (politics). If this is true, how come the appearance of the best film of ALL times in CED, Beta, VHS, Laser. If it is true, we all have to get together and flood Mr. Turner and Ms. Fonda with polite requests! I check the Internet constantly looking for DVD Ben-Hur. The CAV version looks and sounds great, but requires turning disc over or changing every half hour. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: The Epic of all Epics!
Review: I am astounded that this motion picture has not been released on DVD. I know that Ted Turner does not see eye to eye with Charlton Heston and the NRA, but please Mr. Turner don't let politics influence the non-DVD release of the greatest epic film of all time. And yes, this includes Titanic. I'll take a Ben-Hur DVD edition without an interview with Charlton Heston if that would help. The acting by the entire cast in this wonderful motion picture was incredible. I thought Best Supporting Actor honors should have gone to both Hugh Griffith (who won) and Stephen Boyd. The Director, William Wyler, certainly deserved his academy award. He pulled out the best performances from every actor. The "no special effects" chariot race sequence may never be equaled. So, please Mr. Turner, don't keep us waiting any longer for the DVD edition of the best movie in your MGM inventory!

Rating:
Summary: A movie that has everything!
Review: I have loved this film on tv since I was a child, and one of my favorite memories is finally seeing it on the big screen during a college film fest! It has everything: drama, pathos, action, heroism, faith. One last comment; has anyone else noticed that Hollywood-style ancient Romans always seem to have posh British accents?

Rating:
Summary: Over-Blown
Review: A remake of the original silent classic (so much so that the famous chariot race is stolen from the original almost shot for shot), the Charlton Heston "Ben-Hur" is so overblown that you may feel the need of an Alka-Seltzer at intermission.

Rating:
Summary: Ted Turner doesn't want you watching this film
Review: The fortieth anniversary of "Ben-Hur" came and went and nobody noticed. No restoration. No special limited theatrical re-release. No special DVD issue with commentary by surviving cast and crew members. Nothing. Why? How could a landmark anniversary for such a beloved and important film go completely unnoticed? Because today, the film's lead actor, Charlton Heston, is president of the National Rifle Association. Because the man who now owns the distribution rights of "Ben-Hur" is Ted Turner who disapproves of the likes of the NRA and by association therefore disapproves of Charlteon Heston. Turner does not want "Ben-Hur" restored, re-released, or published on DVD because somehow this might focas more attention on Charlton Heston who is a bad boy because he doesn't hold the same political beleifs that Ted Turner does. And because of the feelings of Ted Turner, the fans of "Ben-Hur" must endure repeated viewings of this film on a lackluster VHS transfer instead of DVD. Ted Turner... isn't he the guy who colorized classic black and white films? Yep. No suprise to me why "Ben-Hur" has never, and will never be released on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Just get it on DVD Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Review: This is one of the great ones. I have seen it twice, but I refuse to watch it until it is released on DVD!

Rating:
Summary: The Only One Picture with 11 "Real" Oscars
Review: Ben Hur is such a wonderful film,like the life itself! It's not a matter to compare with Titanic(with 11 "New" Oscars,thanks to computers and other devices.)Ben-Hur it's for Ever!

Rating:
Summary: greatest film ever made
Review: Ben-Hur is much more than a mere motion picture, it is for many a life changing experience. To adequately convey my feelings for this film it would take several pages of text. With out question, William Wyler achieved what other filmmakers dream of...a box office titan (in today's inflated ticket prices it would approach 1.5 billion dollars in ticket sales) and more awards than any film ever made...11 Oscars plus a 12th Oscar for the development of the 65mm Panavision camera used in making the film, and more awards and accolades from around the world ,including, being voted best picture, by the newspapers in the cities all over the world where the film played! No other film has ever achieved that, and probably never will. It is a Tale of the Christ, and from the beginning, to the very emotional and spritually uplifting finale, director Wyler never lets you forget it. No other film has ever successfully approached religion with such great taste and profound passion. Brilliant performances from the entire cast. From Charlton Hestons moving and emotional performance to Finlay Curries' touching and profound Balthasar. And Miklos Rozsa's score is the very essence of the films core. Giving passion to the scenes with Christ, and rivalling Handels' Messiah, with it's beauty and majesty. It is simply put, the story of one mans' journey thru life, and with all the pain and suffering of the time of the Roman tyranny, the pageantry and majesty of it all, and the one connecting link to all of this, was the chance meeting in the desert with Jesus, which repeats itself, but with reverse rolls, at the films climax. A film that puts life into perspective and gives it meaning.

Rating:
Summary: At the very highest level
Review: This movie is thrilling, thrilling from the start. Not just the chariot race, not just the sea battle and not just Charlton Heston, but the WHOLE movie is so great you'd never wish it would end. Which, almost, is the case.

Rating:
Summary: It has it all...
Review: Like everyone else said, this movie has everything from great acting to loads of adventure. Yeah, the chariot race is about the most exciting scene in a movie.