Ben-Hur 4K review by Bobby Blakey
There are films that have become so iconic that they not only stand the test of time, but as examples of perfect filmmaking. In 1959 Funny Girl director William Wyler took on Ben-Hur a remake of the 1925 silent film and adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ,” starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell, and Sam Jaffe.
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Ben-Hur follows a member of the Jewish nobility living in Jerusalem, Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) lives a religious life and peacefully opposes the tyrannical occupation of Judea by Rome. When a boyhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), returns to the region as a Roman official, he and Judah become estranged due to Messala's fanatical loyalty to Rome and ruthless indifference to the fate of Judea. Casting friendship aside, Messala fabricates a charge of treason against Ben-Hur, his sister and mother, all of whom are arrested by Roman soldiers.
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​There is no denying that Ben-Hur is one of the best films to ever be made. Those seeing it for the first time now might not find the impressive nature as what it accomplished in the scope and scale of the time, but there is more to this film than just the epic nature of it all. Like many of the films I have been revisiting this is yet another that I was sure I had seen the whole thing, but I surely didn’t remember it completely so treating it like it was the first time.
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The film is not really a religious film despite its context and connection to Jesus and the resurrection that essentially bookends the film. Part of its perfection is that it walks the film of history, religion and fiction all at once
without really blurring any lines. I have heard many people that swear up and down that Ben-Hur is a true story despite it being well known work of fiction. It brings the scope of the period to epic life with so many layers of life, love, betrayal, faith and action without ever feeling like a marathon to get through its three and a half hour run time which these days isn’t all that long.
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This time period of film is so fun to watch with the over acting and mannerisms that no doubt comes from the idea of theater performing with Charlton Heston being the biggest over actor of all in pure brilliance. I don’t say anything about this as a slight it is just the nature of the time of this film being made and factual aspect of understanding filmmaking of the time. At the same time most films of this era couldn’t really pull off the scope and effects, but this one is flawless in every detail. It is still as impressive now as it was at the time of its release and a pure masterpiece.
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The hi-def transfers tend to highlight the flaws in film as much as they enhance, but here it all just looks fantastic and better than ever. My only complaint will always be the opening sequence discussing “Jesus” as he left his father’s wood shop to go out to the people without mentioning his name. I get it is there to set the tone of what’s to come and the historical time period, but his first interaction with Ben-Hur is more powerful and speaks for itself making this opening sequence feel out of place for me. The insanely well done and exciting chariot race makes up for it in spades making for a beautiful, violent and exciting final act to a story that is bigger than itself.
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I am so glad this iconic film is getting this new release in hi-def but more importantly to get it out to new audiences. It is not just a film it is a piece of cinema history and should be seen by everyone. This new release not only features the film on 4K for the first time ever, but bonus content includes commentary, featurettes, screen tests and so much more taking you behind bringing this classic to life.
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Grab your copy of Ben-Hur on 4K available now from Warner Bros Home Entertainment.