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I believe people have stayed away from this in droves because they are ideologically cemented to Heston, Boyd, and the grand wooden style of the late 50's and 60's. The older is grand mamma and daddy's version chiseled in stone that could not be equaled or surpassed. The new version would automatically NOT measure up.
Well, there is merit to both versions. This biggest failing of this film is casting: There is only one A-List actor, Morgan Freeman. The rest of the cast falls into the B-List primarily due to underexposure not so much talent. The story has been altered to include Freeman who just happens to find Huston washed up on a North African shore. He also narrates.
This version uses a lot of time on character development. It seems longer maybe for that reason. The art direction and costumes are lush, so lush it seems to give a new found of sense of elegance and wealth to Prince Judah's family and position. Messala is now of familial status as the orphan of a disgraced Roman politician. We are also served up a bit of sedition by a Jewish Zealot who brings down the Hur's not by a falling tile but an arrow aimed directly at Pilate.
Life on the galley does NOT have the significance of Heston's boat ride. There is no Jack Hawkins as tormentor and prisoner. There is a naval battle and a seemingly miraculous escape which leads to being washed up on Freeman's shore.
Since this is a "modern" film the CGI is fantastic. The recreation of ancient Jerusalem, the Circus, and the race are very believable. The film could almost stand on that merit for the exception of B-casting and Huston's own lack of personna. He doesn't have the lofty, wooden command of Heston but he does do a good, natural man without chewing up scenery.
The religious portion of the film has not been over-extended as it well could have been. What's there is meaningful but no more so than the original.
Production is A to A+. It looks real and not painted on glass. The star power is B and the entertainment factor is C+.
I wonder if our "progressive society is really at the heart of low attendance? Maybe someone could opine (who has seen the film).
Follow Ups:
A: Because his name was Ben Gay.
In the same manner, film historians in the future will choose to ignore the existence of this remake.
You are kidding. BenGay is an ointment.
Bill
Nt
No, Elvis could not have a brother. Looking like him, singing like him! No way.
Bill
I think that maybe, Geoffkait was referring to Elvis's scrotum. The Pelvis's little "brother" never appeared on film AFAIK.
Edits: 08/24/16
Hi, When I think of all the comments I think Chris nailed it right off! An epic movie needs an epic soundtrack. With no computer animation in the first Ben-Hur what makes it standout is the fantastic musical score by Milkos Roza. How many people will purchase the soundtrack alone to the new version? Milkos Roza, Alex North, Bernard Hermann all made those epic movies unforgettable to the ears. The only one alive today I can think of in that group would be John Williams.....Mark Korda
Putting thsee iconic classics into new versions using modern syntax and style, with newer tech, always seems like a sure bet. Heston's chariot run was the original car chase, so wha's not to like? The thing is that doing so always invokes unfair criticisms in comparisons, like a sacred cow just got butchered.And I don't think religious or religious-setting themes do well these days anyway, which is too bad because Exodus: Gods and Kings, with Bale and Edgerton, was one of the best films I've ever seen.
I wonder how long before we'll see new versions of The Maltese Falcon or Casablanca?
Edits: 08/23/16
A new Gone With The Wind? We know a lot more about the South now. What about a new Mockingbird? A more true to life Atticus perhaps? Spielberg may be listening.
Bill
...are being recast as cable TV series.
quality of the production (and from your review it really doesn't seem to be), I won't
bother to see this until it's been streaming for free for quite some time and I'm really,
really desperate to watch a bad movie. Doen't happen often, but has happened.
It has no appeal to me. The original had very little either for what that is worth.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
...I bet none of the movie-going millennials have seen the original.No good actors, the critics panned it and CGI chariot races?
Second week of Sausage Party out did it at the box office by $3 million.
I'd rather go see Start Trek again.
Edits: 08/22/16
I saw it in an IMAX 3D theater in Fairfield.
Aside from the music (which was a big letdown compared to Rozsa's score for the Heston version - see my comments over on the Music forum), I was surprised at how good this new version was. (Of course, I'd seen the various rotten critical notices, so perhaps I wasn't expecting that much!) One thing this new version has going for it is that it omits the bloat of the Heston version (it's over in two hours, rather than three). And yet, the writing still seems better, the motivations of the characters seem more believable, the characters themselves are more fleshed out, and everything just seems to proceed more naturally, without being forced. Particularly in terms of motivation, this new version scores over the older one, which relied on the main characters being simple and hot-headed. This new one exposes the mental anguish of Messala as he turns against his childhood friend in what for me was a much more credible manner. The director, Timur Bekmambetov, has stated that his version is more a re-interpretation than it is a re-make, and I agree with this assessment. (BTW, I also liked Bekmambetov's "Night Watch" from a few years ago, with its "vortex of damnation" over some woman's head - LOL!)
I also agree with BW that the CGI effects are mostly excellent (aside from the snow, which never did look right). The chariot race generally follows the progress of the Heston version with a few additions - one scene where a chariot accident (and of course chariot accidents are all over the place in this story!) frees one of the horses, who then races up into the stands where the crowd is, was particularly good I thought.
Yeah, I think the critical reaction was a major bum rap for this movie. Among the reviews which were particularly bad and misleading IMHO were those by Peter Travers in Rolling Stone, Mick LaSalle in the SF Chronicle (particularly amusing in that LaSalle says the movie is too secular, while Travers says it's too full of religious preaching - LOL!), Stephen Holden of the New York Times ("Violence is its calling card" - Geez, shaddup!), and Michael O'Sullivan of the Washington Post (another one who asserts that the film is too religious, and, like a couple of other critics, seems to pine for the homoerotic undertones of the Heston version which are missing in the new version).
In all, it's amazing that these critics (and others) either misunderstand, project some view of their own that's not even there, or nitpick at some non-essential element (e.g., Richard Roeper's unhappiness that all the actors' teeth were too perfect - geez, gimme a break!). You just can't make a movie these days without most critics projecting some kind of political or social deficiency on your effort. The fact that these deficiencies aren't there to begin with doesn't seem to mater.
It stunk.
LowIQ
Well, I admit there was one other very disappointing element to this movie: one of the characters actually speaks the line, "Are you having fun yet?". Writing like this is lazy and indefensible!
I cannot watch 3D movies. Did they show Jesus' face in this new version?
Bill
. . . in keeping with my observation that most of the characters are more fleshed out than they were in the old Ben-Hur. Even the lepers get more screen time in the new version.EDIT: BTW, if 3D bothers you, there are 2D showings going on too.
Edits: 08/24/16
My town has only 3D. Gives me a severe migraine.
Bill
I've seen some period-type movies with dialog phrases that just didn't fit.
Current slang, etc, creeping in.
Not a good thing, IMO!
Continuity....!!
There is slang even in the old Ten Commandments. The Egyptian rulers looked like old Judges from some Alabama court with southern accent.
Bill
...glad you liked it.Thanks for taking the time to write the review.
Now go see Hell or High Water.
Compare and contrast.
Edits: 08/22/16
I hope it isn't a No Country for Old men type of thing-
I tried to watch that one again years after seeing it in the theater, couldn't make it through 10 minutes.
The deputy being strangled sealed it for me.
Not what I'm looking for anymore...
...there is some humor to break it up.
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