Hollywood epic

Rating: 8/10 (24 December 2014)

The movie starts with the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. In 26AD, Jesus is in Nazareth. Messala (Stephen Boyd) returns to his childhood home Jerusalem as the commander of the Roman garrison. He intends to bring order back to the restive province. His old friend Judah Ben-Hur(Charlton Heston) is a prince and richest man whose family used to rule Judea. However, Judah refuses to be Messala's informer. Simonides (Sam Jaffe) is a loyal family slave. His daughter Esther (Haya Harareet) is in love with Judah but she is betroth to another. During the arrival of the new governor, loose tiles fall from Judah's house injuring the governor. Vindictive Messala sees an opportunity to make Judah an example. Judah is turned into a slave and his mother and sister imprisoned. Judah is assigned to row Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins)'s flagship. Their ship is sunk and Judah rescues Arrius. Arrius is given credit for a Roman victory and he adopts Judah as his son. Eventually he goes home in search for his family and seek revenge on Messala. Still he's willing to forgive Messala if his family is restored. However Messala finds them as lepers in their cell and sends them away. Esther keeps their secret and lies to Judah that they're dead.
This is an Hollywood epic for mostly good and a little bad. The bad is pretty minor. It's long and long-winded at times. It does get melodramatic and the acting can be very broad. For the subject matter, broad acting is somewhat appropriate. The movie always gets me when Jesus gives Judah water. It gets the epic arc of the story. The movie rises to the challenge. There are many amazing scenes but non grander than the epic chariot race. This is a movie where epic can't be used enough.