"How do you fight an idea, especially a new idea"

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2016)

It was finally time to see what all 11 of those Oscar's were for in 1959, 11 Oscars for a single film is certainly a feat; and I was excited to see what film earned so many statuettes. I could not have been any more pleased with Ben-Hur. It was a wonderful visual spectacle that still amazes nearly 60 years after its debut. William Wyler's epic starring Charleton Heston in the title role is a true treat for the audience that won't even mind the 3.5-hour commitment it will take to finish this classic. Strap into your chariot, Ben- Hur is a film that any true fan of cinema should see at least once.
Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is a wealthy Jewish prince living in Jerusalem. His old friend Messala (Stephen Boyd), who once saved his life, has just been named Commanding Officer of the Roman legion. Despite their religious and political differences, Judah and Messala have remained friends through their life. However, after Judah realizes his friend has become power hungry and arrogant, he seeks distance between them. Then, at the welcome parade for the Romans, Judah and his sister watch from the roof of the house of Hur. When a loose roof tile falls and injures the Governor, Judah is blamed for the incident. He tries to explain the misunderstanding, but it falls on deaf ears and Messala, even knowing that Judah and his family are innocent, sends Judah to the galleys as a slave and throws his mother and sister in prison. Through many instances of good fortune, Judah survives the galleys, holding onto his Jewish faith and the wish to reunite with his mother and sister. After managing to return to Jerusalem, Judah goes on a quest to find his family. Along the way, Judah decides to exact revenge on his one-time friend.
The colors, Duke, the colors! Maybe I'm the only one left that remembers that commercial; nonetheless, the colors in Ben-Hur were the most stand-out part of the film. The sets were remarkable, as well, especially given their grand scale. The screenplay and the storytelling was simply perfect. The story was paced so well, at the movie's credits you will hardly believe you sat through a nearly 4- hour spectacle. The costuming was phenomenal; true to life without being over the top. William Wyler made an excellent decision in the way he filmed scenes depicting Jesus. He never showed Jesus' face, which fit perfectly in the movie, as it was not about Jesus, but rather the plight of the Jews and the politics of the time. Wyler's decision was also a very reverent way to handle depicting a religious figure. The score and sound effects were exquisite and worked wonders to progress the film along. The special effects were divine, especially considering the film was made in 1959. What review of Ben-Hur could exist without mentioning that chariot scene? This scene alone cost $4 million dollars and lasted for 11 minutes. It was an incredible and well worth it scene for the movie. "The chariot race" is not only the scene most remembered from Ben- Hur, but it is a scene that has gone down in cinema history. Once you finish Ben-Hur, you will not wonder why it took home 11 Oscars, it's more than evident and wildly deserving of every statuette it took home.
An instant favorite, Ben-Hur is a visually pleasing work of art classic piece of cinema. Everything in this film comes together beautifully and will leave no one who invests their time in the picture disappointed. Even if you are not a fan of Charlton Heston's infamous overacting, give Ben-Hur a viewing and see for yourself how easy it is to overlook that one piece of this movie. It's easy to see why Ben-Hur has a place carved out in history that it will never be removed from.