Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
4/4
Ben-Hur review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 11/12/2011
Having viewed this again as an adult one can truly appreciate the beauty of this picture. A wealthy Jew named Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and childhood Roman officer Messala (Stephen Boyd) have disputes due to different beliefs. Ben-Hur's mother and sister Miriam (Martha Scott), and sister Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell) became peasants during the reign of Messala and was tendered by Esther (Haya Harareet), a daughter of a loyal servant. Ben-Hur encounters Jesus Christ twice. Had tremendous action sequences and enormous cast and set pieces without the aid of advanced computer graphics. Performances were realistic and screenplay and score were endearing.
One of my favorite lines: Messala: "It's an insane world, but in it there's one sanity, the loyalty of old friends." Arrius: "You …
Rating of
3.5/4
Epic that will stand the test of time.
mdtinney - wrote on 10/04/2009
Ben Hur is one of the greatest movies of all time. I just wish Hollywood could make a movie like it now. It's a story that plays like a novel (cause it's based on one). Charlton Heston (Judah Ben Hur) is great in the movie. I like his acting. Ben Hur has some of the best action ever and as a story can't hardly be beat. It's drama at its best. It's the story of a family that had it all, was destroyed and then given their lives back. Ben Hur depicts both the best and worst of the Roman Empire, its glory and progress and the oppression of the less fortunate who lived under its rule. There are two action scenes that really get my heart pounding each time I see the movie. First, the scene on the galley where the slaves are put through a grueling, forced rowing of their ship under the eye of …
Rating of
3.5/4
Review - Ben-Hur (1959)
Delorted - wrote on 04/12/2008
After Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is betrayed by his friend Messala (Stephen Boyd), he is sent into slavery. While on his journey for revenge, he meets Jesus of Nazareth (Claude Heater), which later becomes a vital part of his journey in the Best Picture winning "Ben-Hur."
I remember a few years ago when Mel Gibson released "The Passion of the Christ" and everybody thought it was THE religious movie. After watching “Ben-Hur,” I wonder if any of them had sat through the 3+ hours and understood the masterpiece. I also wonder how anybody could like that garbage that Gibson passed off as being spiritual when all it was was a gorefest for simple-minded Christians to see, but that's for another review (maybe I'll do that one next Easter).
Heston's acting is phenomenal and he, as …
Rating of
4/4
A Timeless Epic
Epic Fan - wrote on 02/21/2008
This is the definition of "epic" in everything it does. It sends a powerful message to it's viewers about revenge, and family and love. It is ultimately a religious tale but I did not let that bother me. From the start you very quickly in your heart bond with this kind man Ben - Hur and it's painful to see how his life is pulled out from under him so quickly by one he loves and you'll feel his rage and bloodlust for revenge almost as if you were Ben Hur himself. The emotion of this movie is so powerful, the effects simply breathtaking for their time, still to this day do a great job and of course how could I do a review and not mention the all too famous chariot race, that to this day is awe inspiring. If you like epic drama's you can't get any better than Ben-Hur.
Rating of
4/4
What a Giant of a Movie!
Franz Patrick - wrote on 02/14/2008
I'm not religious at all but I think the sheer power of this movie to move people is undeniable. I love how the filmmakers decided not to show the face of Jesus; every scene he was in, I gave my complete attention and I was captivated. Sure, I looked for the infamous homosexual subtexts and I was amused (because they are present), but that's not fully why I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Everything about this movie is epic: the set, the people, the script... A lot of people think that it's outdated and the actors don't act natural but who cares, really? I didn't care one bit because I was more concerned about the story and the message of the film regarding one's self, family, and friendship (all of which revolve around power and vengeance). The chariot race scene is nothing short of …
