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Ben-Hur
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Cast: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro
Release Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG-13
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Comments (3)
Leave a commentThe producers commit the same sins as most other movie-makers these days–the dialogue is so quiet that some words are inaudible, but when the " action" starts the sound volume goes straight off the charts, to the point I'm concerned about my hearing. I made earplugs out of kleenex but had to remove them for the dialogue, then re-insert them for the "action" I find this has been standard practice in hollywood for about thirty years, some films worse than others This practice is not necessary nor desireable.
Beyond that I agree with Medved's two stars–it's a nice movie but it will not be a classic in the future. The story is a classic, but this version is not.
I have mixed feelings about this film. I loved the 1959 classic, but comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges! The story was modified, the relationships have (frustratingly) little depth, and yes, Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus certainly DOES look like he suffers from charisma bypass surgery. That said, the other performances were surprisingly strong (not just Morgan Freeman's), the action scenes impressively shot and thrilling, and although the film did lack the emotion of the 1959 version in the climax, it was still powerful. Certainly no classic, will likely be soon forgotten. I would give it two, maybe two and a half stars.
Didn't see the original but have to disagree on most points mentioned. Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus did well in his role I believe, although he misspoke when said, "return to man's original nature of love." His eyes and words spoke sincerity, truth, empathy, compassion, and love. His impact on Esther and eventually Ben Hur as he stood at the cross was clear: forgive and redeem relationships. The scenery and high action scenes (ship battle and stadium chariot races) were amazingly portrayed and filmed, although I could not watch them in entirety. The film may not be a "classic" but it is worth seeing and taking away a message of hope and redemption.