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107.205.10.55
In Reply to: RE: Ben-Hur vs. Ben-Hur posted by Billy Wonka on August 22, 2016 at 15:56:05
...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: 08/22/16Follow Ups:
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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