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The world was supposed to end today but since your reading this,I guess it didn't.That got me to thinking about the epic films of my youth and as corny as some of them seem today,this one stands the test of time.I only take 1/2 star off because I wish I could believe it now like I did then.
I had read the book for school and this film is pretty close except for the salt mines which the book made pretty grim and is missing here.This film covers the galley slaves era as such grim times and that's portrayed in the book as well.
The film was released in 1959 and won 11 oscars and runs a very long 212 minutes but that what epics do.
Wether you've seen the movie or not,the Chariot races are legend and the inspiration for many a special effect,can you say George Lucas and the Star wars one race??
The story is also a idea of what Christ could or should have been but in the end,no,even Ben Hur is won over by the simple message and tragic march to the Crucifixion that was Jesus Christ.
Ben Hur is played by Charlton Heston and his childhood friend and than mortal enemy Messala,by Stephen Boyd in I feel his greatest screen role.
Long story short,Ben Hur is the son of well to do Jewish merchants and Messala is a Roman Centurion.Like many a close childhood friendship,theirs is no more as young men.Tension are rising in Roman occupied Jerusalem for many reasons including the occupation and the radical ideas of the new carpenter from Nazareth.
Long story short,Ben Hur is framed for a act of terror and imprisoned and his family stripped of their money and land and mother sent to a leper colony.In the book Ben goes to a salt mine for years,but the movie goes to the galley slave quickly and Ben is on the Roman Quintus Arrius,wonderfully played by Jack Hawkins,leaders ship.A great navel battle is fought in which their ship is sunk and Ben-Hur saves Arrius life.The battle is won however and Arrius enters Rome in victory and adopts Ben Hur as his son since he has no family of his own.Ben Hur however longs to return to his Jerusalem and while crossing the desert he meets arabs going to the Chariot races and learns that the man who could have stopped his framing,but didn't,Messala,is a champion of these races.
Well,I think you know what happens next.
You would also think the coming of Christ could be something like this.You have faith,you are stripped of it,and you recapture it.Substitute money and fame for faith. But no.After winning the race and vanquishing Messala,Ben Hur sees Christ and while Ben Hur could at this very moment lead a revolt against the Romans,he is that much loved himself,he instead is touched by Christ,literally after giving him water,and learns what Christ is all about and why he must continue his march.
It's still a powerful movie even in these less religious times.But is message is far more than dogma,its just be decent and good will triumph over evil.But as I said when I took 1/2 star off,to quote someone in a different time and place,"its been my experience that good had better be very,very strong."The Trailer URL follows the pix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlzfqVtmxVA
I had read the book for school and this film is pretty close except for the salt mines which the book made pretty grim and is missing here.This film covers the galley slaves era as such grim times and that's portrayed in the book as well.
The film was released in 1959 and won 11 oscars and runs a very long 212 minutes but that what epics do.
Wether you've seen the movie or not,the Chariot races are legend and the inspiration for many a special effect,can you say George Lucas and the Star wars one race??
The story is also a idea of what Christ could or should have been but in the end,no,even Ben Hur is won over by the simple message and tragic march to the Crucifixion that was Jesus Christ.
Ben Hur is played by Charlton Heston and his childhood friend and than mortal enemy Messala,by Stephen Boyd in I feel his greatest screen role.
Long story short,Ben Hur is the son of well to do Jewish merchants and Messala is a Roman Centurion.Like many a close childhood friendship,theirs is no more as young men.Tension are rising in Roman occupied Jerusalem for many reasons including the occupation and the radical ideas of the new carpenter from Nazareth.
Long story short,Ben Hur is framed for a act of terror and imprisoned and his family stripped of their money and land and mother sent to a leper colony.In the book Ben goes to a salt mine for years,but the movie goes to the galley slave quickly and Ben is on the Roman Quintus Arrius,wonderfully played by Jack Hawkins,leaders ship.A great navel battle is fought in which their ship is sunk and Ben-Hur saves Arrius life.The battle is won however and Arrius enters Rome in victory and adopts Ben Hur as his son since he has no family of his own.Ben Hur however longs to return to his Jerusalem and while crossing the desert he meets arabs going to the Chariot races and learns that the man who could have stopped his framing,but didn't,Messala,is a champion of these races.
Well,I think you know what happens next.
You would also think the coming of Christ could be something like this.You have faith,you are stripped of it,and you recapture it.Substitute money and fame for faith. But no.After winning the race and vanquishing Messala,Ben Hur sees Christ and while Ben Hur could at this very moment lead a revolt against the Romans,he is that much loved himself,he instead is touched by Christ,literally after giving him water,and learns what Christ is all about and why he must continue his march.
It's still a powerful movie even in these less religious times.But is message is far more than dogma,its just be decent and good will triumph over evil.But as I said when I took 1/2 star off,to quote someone in a different time and place,"its been my experience that good had better be very,very strong."The Trailer URL follows the pix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlzfqVtmxVA
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