Ben-Hur

Rating: 10/10 (4 May 2006)

This was the first film to do it, with Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, all three have won the record of 11 Oscars. From Oscar and Golden Globe winning director William Wyler, the story seems to be about both Jesus' life, as well as the main character, it may be almost four hours, but it is worth it. Judah Ben-Hur (Oscar and Golden Globe winning Charlton Heston) is the hero who disagrees that slavery should continue, Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) obviously thinks differently. Anyway, soon enough Judah is sentenced for attempted murder of the Govenor. When he is a slave rower it is quite a powerful scene watching him and all other made to row faster and faster, and he doesn't stop. But the best scene by far is the chariot race, no other scene of the film grips you as much as that. Although, it is really good when an unseen (by face) Jesus gives Judah water, and towards the end Judah tries to do the same before his crucifixion. Also starring Haya Harareet as Esther, Stephen Boyd as Messala, Oscar winning Hugh Griffith as Sheik Ilderim, Martha Scott as Miriam, Cathy O'Donnell as Tirzah, Sam Jaffe as Simonides, Finlay Currie as Balthasar/Narrator, George Relph as Tiberius Caesar, Robert Brown (M in James Bond) as Chief of Rowers and Dad's Army's John Le Mesurier as Doctor. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Special Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Music for Miklós Rózsa, Best Sound and Best Picture, and it was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it won the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source, and it won the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and a Special Award. It was number 21 on 100 Years of Film Scores, it was number 49 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 30 on The Ultimate Film, it was number 56 on 100 Years, 100 Cheers, and it was number 72 on 100 Years, 100 Movies. Outstanding!