It's great. It holds up for the most part. Worthy of it's rep.

Rating: Null/10 (2 September 2002)

I was quite impressed. You have all the typical Epic flick cliches there-3-4 hour length, guys like Jack Hawkins in supporting roles, big time historical battles(this time at sea), and of course some over-arching theme-Christ-running throughout. Quite good all in all.
Heston was Fine as Judah. Name me someone better from that time-Mitchum? Wayne? Hudson? Heck I saw a screen test of Cesare Danova (w/ LESLIE NIELSON!!) in the two lead roles tacked on at the end-it goes to show ya just how good and commanding a presence Heston had in '59. Those guys just didn't come close.
Sure some of this is dated-it's pacing does flag in the domestic moments, there is one too many trips to the leper colony, and just who was the silent bald guy, George the Animal Steele? He just kinda lurks around like 'Oddjob' in Goldfinger, darned if I know....
I was also surprised that the chariot race was Not the finale, instead you have Christ, the healings and etc at the end. But ya know what-that is Good. It follows the arc of the storyline-Christ gives Ben Hur water near the beginning, and when Christ needs it at the end, Ben Hur returns the favor. Somehow I found this if anything to be quite fitting indeed. Today's flix-ala Gladiator-woulda just finished with the Chariot Race. No bravery.
I saw this line in a prior review here-' Just like the Roman Empire: destroyed by Christianity'. That is Kookoo in the extreme, both in terms of the movie AND history. This movie works Because there is more to it than just a chariot race and a revenge plot. And as far's Rome falling due to Christianity-that is bad history put out by Enlightenment historians ala Gibbons who had an axe to grind with Christianity and didn't mind monkeying with the facts. If Christianity caused the fall of Rome-then please explain why the Byzantine Empire-it's Eastern Half-was still a grade A superpower in the 1000's. As Theocratic a state as you will ever see.
Right. You can't.
Anyways-Great epic, flick, very much worth yer time.
**** outta ****