Beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2007)

What a powerful and engaging film is Ben Hur. No film has bettered this epic tale of Judah Ben Hur's encounter with Jesus Christ. Charlton Heston displays nothing but sheer brilliance, and it was only a matter of time when and not if he should win the Best Actor Oscar. Without a doubt, Ben Hur is simply the greatest Biblical-era epic ever made. It may be three-and-a-half hours long, but you cannot fail to be drawn into the magnificent visuals and wonderfully taut direction from William Wyler, which should no doubt capture the heart and soul of the very unlucky people not to have witnessed this ground-breaking tale of power and devotion.
Ben Hur wouldn't be Ben Hur with mentioning that now legendary Chariot race: what a superb piece of cinematic film history! It really could not be improved even 48 years later! Stunning, cunning, nail biting; just terrific! The winner of 11 Academy awards, including director Wyler's third Best Director trophy, Ben Hur was unequalled until the lame 1997 movie Titanic 'set sail'. A shame this 1959 classic still doesn't hold that record, but it is still one of the most ground-breaking and expertly made movies ever in the history of film, and will in no doubt carry on in that respect. 11 out of 10!