Ben-Hur

I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Every single thing about this movie pulled me in from the get go. My heart was racing till the end.This movie with phenomenal actors portrays a classic story of brother vs brother and betrayal. In the midst of the politically heavy superpower that is Rome there is an interesting tale of forgiveness and forgiving. It is a story as old as time and worthy of rewatching. A beautiful message of how through Christ even the most heavy of sins can be forgiven.

As a fan of the 1959 version, I mainly bought this version to see how 50 years of advancements in cinematic technology would show up on the screen. As far as that goes, I was blown away by the sets and costumes, as well as the climactic chariot race.The plot however,  was watered down to politically correct pap. Judah's deliverance from the galley was much more a matter of good fortune than of character.  His survival in the galley was a matter of knuckling under to his captors and not attracting negative attention,  and his deliverance from it more a matter of luck than will to survive.  Those of you who were fond of the Quintus Arrius subplot in the 1959 version will be disappointed to find that it has been entirely excised,  probably for time considerations.  Since this was in part a plot device to place Judah,  a convicted criminal,  into a position where he could reveal himself in Jerusalem and take part in the chariot race,  a different means of accomplishing this had to be devised.  Personally,  I find the original method to be far superior to what they replaced it with.Nothing was anyone's fault, it was all just a series of misunderstandings, and all the main characters live happily ever after. I suppose that the children of these times will enjoy that.One note to Amazon: this BluRay arrived with a broken case. Not cracked, but BROKEN right through the spine. The package itself was undamaged, as were the other items IN the package so I can only assume that the BluRay was already damaged when it was packed. As a former Amazon Associate, having done this myself, I am aware that there were 3 opportunities to damage the item out instead of shipping it to a customer [unless of course the item was damaged in-house in the FC]. The 1st was when the item arrived at the FC and had to be shelved. The 2nd was when the item was picked for my order. The 3rd was when my order was packed. Although it is not all that unusual for CDs, DVDs, and BluRays to arrive with cracked cases,  the damage on this item was egregious. Since the discs played, I replaced the case and taped up the insert instead of going through the hassle of getting a replacement, particularly since there was no guarantee that the new one would be in any better shape. C'mon guys!Amazon used to have a place where you could report packing issues, but they have discontinued it. The only other way to address this issue was to request a replacement or contact customer service, which is no longer as easy as it used to be.

I am a bit fan of the original Ben-Hur, I own the anniversary gift box! So when I heard that Ben-Hur was being re-imagined, I was like most people - very skeptical. I don't like to pre-judge movies without watching them, so I went into this movie with very how expectations and just try to see the movie as something new and fresh. This is a very worthy re-imagining of Ben-Hur!Here are my comparisons:- The sets were incredible as well as the feeling that you are actually seeing first century Jerusalem.- The famous chariot race is well done, but in all honesty the chariot race in the 1959 Ben-Hur is still breathtaking today as when it was first shown.- Jesus, yes he plays a part in both of these versions, more so in this new version. But the quiet presence of Jesus in the original film is very moving, there's no need to have dialogue. You absolutely understand what is going on and how this unfolds and effects the characters in the movie. But I will say that in this new version, Jesus effects all characters and his main teachings directly reflect what the characters are going through as well as the final outcome.- Relationship of Ben-Hur and Messala: there is no doubt that this new version shows us so much more about them as individuals and as true "brothers", this is the cornerstone of the movie, their love, devotion, loyalty to one another and how their fears over took their better qualities. It was very refreshing to see this on screen.- Character of Messala, in the original film you have no pity or understanding for him - you see why that hatred between both Ben-Hur and Messala exists and festers. In this version of the film, you see the confusion, the hurt that Messale feels. You have a mixture of feelings for both the protagonist and the antagonist.- Original film was about hate and revenge, a sentiment that all can relate to (especially under the circumstances of the film) but in this re-imagining it's more about redemption and forgiveness. I like both takes on this, but there is something very profound in this new version with both main characters going through this journey. The movie does a great job of conveying that there is only so much hate a person can have, that it will eat you up but in the end, does not grant you the peace that one longs for or is in need of.In all honestly, I like both versions of Ben-Hur a lot, for some reason this story has always touched me and I do agree with others who say that the story of Ben-Hur will always be relevant and transcend time.

I've seen the 1959 Ben-Hur multiple times - it's a masterpiece on every level and rightly won 11 Oscars. So this 2016 take was never going to be equal to it. However, that said, it does have its moments - notably the sea battle which is done with all the power of CGI (the 1959 version had to make do with models and back projection). Someone on the production also had the great idea of doing it from the POV of the galley slaves, so all the action and carnage is glimpsed through the oar slits. The result is claustrophobic and visceral.Morgan Freeman is the only big star in this production and he adds all the charm and charisma you would expect - which is fortunate because some of the dialogue is NOT good. (I hate it when people say "OK" to each other in historical epics, haha!) Thankfully, Morgan could add gravitas to a takeaway menu!I also VERY much liked Jack Huston in the title role. He's not a big guy like Charlton Heston (in the 1959 version) and looks MUCH younger, thus bringing more vulnerability to the part. He also had an iron-grey hair look going on towards the end which I found very appealing. ;-)All in all, this is SO different to the 1959 film that maybe they should've given it an alternative title. Apart from the galley slave sequence and the chariot race, most of the narrative, and certainly the ending, is TOTALLY different to the Heston version. It's not a remake - more of a reimagining.Anyway - I bought this through Amazon's sellers and it cost me just under a fiver. I think it's well worth a look for that price. :)

This is very very poor, the early life of Judah Ben-Hur and Messala is treated like a Californian teen television drama. There is far too much overt pressure on Messala to reassert his authority and have Judah arrested, therefore giving Messala some justification. When Judah escapes the galley he is just shipwrecked and returned still a fugitive rather than as Young Arius so he could be just arrested, it just doesn’t make sense.The flow of the narrative is also very patchy like it has been constructed to fit around commercial breaks on television. If you are thinking of getting this, think again. The 1959 version with Charlton Heston is a hundred times better than this tripe.I am no Christian but I am rather disturbed at how Jesus comes across as just some mildly charismatic guy who pops up now and again, okay you see him getting kissed by Judas and arrested and crucified but this is all skipped over in a rather perfunctory manner, giving it zero gravity.The story of Judah Ben-Hur’s mother and sister’s incarcerations, getting leprosy and healing is also extremely muddled here. This film never feels in the slightest bit epic. Even the chariot race is rather tame until the end, but just when it builds a little bit of tension, it just becomes laughably unbelievable.Morgan Freeman brings the only bit of presence to the screen, unfortunately his character is made up like he should be in Pirates of the Caribbean.A character who should have some authority in the story is Messala but he Just doesn’t have any.

As time goes by effects become different and writers think they can remake films to surpass the original classic and I have never seen a success of this, there was only one Charlton Heston and only one Ben Hur movie that deserves 5 star, who knows if the original never existed maybe this would get 5 star, but facts are the original does exist and any remake is going to be compared with it. The story line in this film as been changed i the original it is a slate that falls in this it is a arrow that is fired, he talks to Jesus while he is working as a carpenter and he doesn't save the captain of the ship as in the original, however it is a watchable film but nothing on the original and I find the book even better then the films. But there will never be a remake and another Charlton Heston and I am glad the original get the vote as it was a 100% film and never will there be a remake to match it so I must give this 3 star.

I really enjoyed this version of Ben Hur not as good as rhe original but still was very enjoyqble and worthy of praise in itsvoen right. It had a slight difference to the original but that is tbe appeal to ne for this. Well acted presented and deserves credit. Excellent price and good value. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this biblical epic

The entry of the Roman Army into Jerusalem was the most impressive part of this movie. The rest of the production was ruined by wooden acting, poor script and a poor story line. I am sorry I watched this production the 1959 movie with Charlton Heston is far superior.