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Ben Hur

SCORE: 76

I jumped at the opportunity to watch and review the Ben Hur remake. I was curious to see how the themes would be handled. I made sure to watch it alone and keep the children away since it was unrated, and I have heard a lot about the decline in terms of standards on television. Good thing I did too.

Ben Hur is the timeless tale of forgiveness when one in wronged. Two childhood friends grow separately into very different adult lives. One a fair minded Jew who supports Rome. The other becomes a Roman soldier, and thanks to his Senator father rises through the ranks quickly.

Things take a shocking turn when an accident drops a tile onto the shoulder of Pontius Pilate. Ben Hur is wrongfully imprisoned on a galley ship. His sister, mother, and fiance are removed from his house as well. He assumes them lost and dead to him. God works in mysterious ways and he saves the life of a wealthy prominent Roman.

From here Ben Hur because an indentured servant. When his new friend and master dies Ben Hur is given all of the wealth, and station as a Roman citizen. Ben Hur decides to get revenge on the childhood friend who betrayed him, and wrongfully imprisoned him.

He does get revenge on his friend, and then realizes the power of forgiveness thanks to meeting Jesus Christ. He also learned how hollow and meaningless revenge is. It does not fill the soul with pride. It does not bring about satisfaction. Instead it is meaningless and wasteful. Forgiveness has to start somewhere.

Ben Hur is not a movie for children. There is blood, violence, and excessive amounts of nudity. One disappointment to me personally was the incorrect use of the thumb signals at the end of a gladiators fight. Thumbs down in ancient Rome meant sheath your sword, not kill him.

The Making of Ben Hur is the only special feature in this two part movie that lasts 192 minutes. A little over three hours. Thankfully it is broken up in two parts to make it easier to digest. Much of the Roman brutality is shown, as well as different classes of citizens. The corruption in government is also shown in its accuracy. What is sad is these problems exist to this day. Different cultures and the same problems persist. All due to the fallen nature of man.
- Paul

Graphics: 59%
Sound: 90%
Replay/Extras: 74%
Gameplay: 89%
Family Friendly Factor: 70%

System: DVD
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Rating: ‘NR’ - Not Rated
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