 If you are looking for an epic action packed movie, Ben-Hur falls flat. I give it a C. Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince. Messala (Ma-salla) Severus is an adopted Roman who was raised among Judah’s family and treated as a brother. Yet Messala feels less than equal and sets out to become great through serving in the Roman Empire. When these two meet up again, years have passed. Judah is married and strife is rampant in Jerusalem. Eventually the two brothers are pitted against each other as a result of anger, revenge and jealousy.
Ben-Hur takes place during the time of Jesus’s life and we get to see his message of love and how it eventually impacts Judah and Messala, as well as their surrounding families. This movie was based on a book written in 1880 and was made into a 1925 silent movie. Most people remember the epic 1959 movie starring Charlton Heston, becoming one of the highest grossing movies of all time. Yet the age demographic of people who remember it are older and the audience at the theater proved it.
The movie is more about relationships and loving your enemy but the two amazing scenes will steal your breath. The Roman sea battle where the ship is attacked is hard to see at times but fascinating when you think this is how life was back in the days. The other wonderful scene was the chariot race. I did make sure that no animals were harmed because I still didn’t believe it after the horrible things that happened to them. The rest of the movie is slow and seems to ramble. There are some unbelievable events like everyone in the Roman fleet dies but Judah. How likely is that?
Unless you are dying to see this movie on a big screen, wait and catch it at home. Better yet, rent both and make it an epic Ben-Hur night.
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Melissa KeirIt's all about the movies... Archives
January 2020
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