On B List of Movie Reviews
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Ben-Hur (1959)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
4/05, 4/06, 7/11
4/05:
Ben-Hur is a magnificent epic that's beyond belief.
It's a big-budget picture amassing over 15,000 extras. Rome has never been so glorious-looking since the fall of the empire.
The greatest and the most breathtaking climax comes during the chariot race. This scene is the reason alone the epic remains
an insurmountable work of cinema. Although it's the highlight, the movie is much more than that. It's interesting to notice
how the rise of Jesus Christ overshadows everything by making the suffering of others trivial as compared to his.
Memorable for the famous line "There's still enough of a man here for you to hate!", Stephen Boyd should've won the Oscar
for his role of Messala. His hate is the cornerstone of the story, and Stephen Boyd plays the character so well that he gets
my vote as one of the best villains ever. So, I'm disappointed to learn that he wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Instead, it went to Hugh Griffith. Why?
All in all, Ben-Hur is a must-see spectacular epic in every sense of the word.
4/06:
Ben-Hur is a magnificent picture.
It'll never be equaled again in sheer grandness and brilliance. Forget the stupid, contrived CGI-made films. This is
the real deal. Outstanding performances are rendered by the ensemble cast throughout the picture. If Judah Ben-Hur is
the biggest star, then Jesus Christ overshadows him by a mile. What makes the film remarkable is the test of character,
morality, loyalty, and honor. One of the greatest screen scenes in cinema history is the chariot race at the Circus Maximus
in Rome.
All in all, Ben-Hur is a thrilling motion picture.
7/11:
Ben-Hur is the epic of all epics.
It simply has no equal and is the reason why people fall in love with movies.
All in all, Ben-Hur is a must-see masterpiece.