Ben-Hur

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd
Directed by: William Wyler
Rating: G
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
1959

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit by his old childhood friend. He is enslaved on a ship, but all the while is determiend to seek his revenge.

Review:

Tim: The sheer size and scope of this movie- especially considering the time in which it was made- is absolutely astounding. It should be of no surprise that this film won a record 11 Academy Awards. This is one of the all-time classics. It is amazing to watch- from the thousands of extras, to the expansive sets, to the sheer amount of dialogue, to the four hour run time- this is a massive, massive motion picture.

The story of Judah Ben-Hur is told slowly, allowing it to unfold over hours. There are so many memorable scenes- watching the chariots come into town, rowing the ship below decks, the ship battle, the chariot scene, the leper colony, and the crucifixion of Jesus. Is it possible to tell a more epic or widely-sweeping story? The chariot scene has to stand out as the highlight of the movie. Even 50 years later, this is still jaw-dropping to watch. Trying to figure out how they did this scene in 1959 simply boggles the mind. It is one of the greatest things you will ever seen on the big screen. It is a triumph and a landmark in film history.

Charlton Heston impressed himself on the film community for all eternity for his performance as Ben-Hur. He is simply amazing. The rest of the supporting cast is very good as well, but this show is certainly all about Heston.

If you haven't seen this movie, I certainly recommend turning off the phone, stocking up on food, and giving yourself some time to watch this uninterrupted. At 212 minutes, this is not an easy task to accomplish. After the climactic chariot scene, I figured the movie would be over. No, instead, it further continues the story of Ben-Hur for nearly another hour. However, I can say that in the end, it is well worth the effort. This is a classic that they may never surpass no matter how many years they continue to make movies.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gone with the Wind, Planet of the Apes