Plot: What’s it about?
Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) has a very comfortable lifestyle, as he is a Jewish price who makes a nice living as a merchant. In addition to his work, Judah loves to spend time with his mother and sister, whom he loves very much and is very close with. Soon, he is visited by an old friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), who has become a Roman commander. The two are pleased to meet once again, but since their lives have taken much different turns, they are more distant than before. This is never more evident than when a procession is led through the streets and a loose brick falls, almost hitting the governor. The brick came loose from Judah’s house and even though Messala knows it was an accident, he imprisons Judah’s family and sends Judah off to become a slave. Now away from his loved ones and previous life, Judah swears revenge at all costs and as time passes, his resolve grows by leaps and bounds. But as a simple slave, there is not power within reach and however he tries, any kind of action will be most difficult. Will Judah be able to attain his revenge and if so, will he be able to salvage any remnants of his prior life?
After an immense waiting period, one of the most epic films of all time has hit our beloved format, in the form of the classic, Ben-Hur. Although other massive scale pictures were done around the same time, I think Ben-Hur aces them all and emerges as the best epic in the business. From the cast of thousands to the breathtaking chariot race to the lavish production design, this movie has it all and then some. I mean, even the aspect ratio is larger than most films (2.76:1), so you know this is one huge movie and on all counts, it exceeds the praised reputation it has gained. Ben-Hur has drama, romance, action, and suspense, pretty much all the elements a movie can have, but it never seems loose or disconnected. The running time of well over three hours might ward off modern audiences, but they’d be missing one of all the all time greats. With eleven Oscars under its belt, this film is what Gladiator was supposed to be, but that movie just couldn’t measure up in the end. The wait was torture for this epic to reach DVD, but with a terrific presentation and some nice extras, it was well worth the effort. I am displeased that Warner didn’t include the original soundtrack, but even so, this disc is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever made, a must own for most and a must see for all film fans.
His acting hasn’t won over everyone, but I happen to like Charlton Heston’s work a lot, especially in this picture. Of course, he took home the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts, but even so, he isn’t usually regarded well for his performances. I know he goes over the top often, but his clenched jaw and line delivery just strike a chord with me, I can’t help but enjoy his work. I do think this is one of his best turns in terms of traditional acting, but I happen to prefer his work in lesser known films and cult classics. But I still have a lot of fun watching him in action here, as he proves he belongs among the bigger names in the business. Other films with Heston include The Ten Commandments, El Cid, Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, Touch of Evil, and The Omega Man. The rest of the cast includes Hugh Griffith (The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Oliver!), Andre Morell (The Message, Three Cases of Murder), Stephen Boyd (The Big Game, Fantastic Voyage), Martha Scott (Our Town, Strange Bargain), and Jack Howard (Zulu, Lawrence of Arabia). Ben-Hur was directed by William Wyler, who also helmed such pictures as The Big Country, Roman Holiday, The Best Years of Our Lives, Funny Girl, and The Westerner.
Video: How does it look?
Ben-Hur is presented in a 2.76:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I knew Warner would give this one a deluxe treatment, but man, I was blown away by this new edition. The source materials have been restored to very effective ends and although toward the end looks less impressive than the rest, I don’t think anyone will be let down here. The colors look bold and rich at all times, with accurate flesh tones and minimal signs of errors in this area. No issues I could see in terms of contrast either, as detail looks razor sharp and black levels seem dead on. I did see some instances of edge enhancement, but they’re infrequent and not much of a distraction. This is not a pristine, perfect looking transfer, but when it comes to films from 1959, it simply doesn’t get much better than this, kudos to Warner on this one.
Audio: How does it sound?
I have to admit, I am a little let down with the audio options included here, or more to the point, the lack thereof. While I know most modern viewers feel ripped off when their surround systems are unneeded, I don’t think uniform remixes should be the sole option included, as a lot of longtime film lovers prefer the original audio. Now the Dolby Digital 5.1 track here is very good, especially when you consider the age of the materials, but I would have liked the original mono included also, which would have been my viewing choice. But to the credit of this new mix, the surrounds are never forced much, which ensures a powerful, but natural sounding experience. I found it to be a well made update to be sure, although the mono should have been tacked on also. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track in French, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This one isn’t as loaded as I would like, but it does include some very cool supplements. The main attraction is The Making of an Epic, which runs about an hour and offers an in depth behind the scenes look at Ben-Hur. This is a very well made piece in all respects, with informative interviews, newsreel and television clips, and a wealth of still photos also. It seems most of these documentaries these days are little more than promotional reels, but this one is a true documentary is a must see for fans of this motion picture. The other substantial feature included on this disc is an audio commentary track with Charlton Heston, who doesn’t fill all the space, but has a lot to talk about. Whenever he remains silent for a while, the subtitle track will prompt you to skip ahead to Heston’s next batch of comments, very cool indeed. This release also houses a list of the film’s awards, two trailers for the film, a brief selection of still photos, and two rare screen tests, which are very cool and make a nice inclusion here.
