Posted on 08/21/2016 11:09:05 AM PDT by EveningStar
I heard Sean Hannity say "The New Ben Hur movie is my favorite movie of all time!" earlier this week, but didn't hear his explanation why. Why would Sean like such a supposedly horrible movie??
Although I haven't seen this new movie, I agree with other FReepers here that there was NO need to improve on the original Ben Hur.
There are so many teenager-targeted movies, or else they're just garbage. Admission has gotten expensive, relative to the value of the product.
But, most of all, people have grown to be incredibly rude in public settings. Cell phones, chatter, hooting-and-hollering. Not my thing.
I love lots of epic films, but for me EL CID is THE great epic film, even better than BEN-HUR. I wish they'd do a Blu-ray of EL CID from the original Technirama elements.
Testimony to the total lack of intelligence, creativity and imagination in Hollywood these days - trying to remake films that were classics the first (or second) time around - either that or some story about a slave - guaranteed to win an Oscar.....
Interesting... Thanks.
He was the deal breaker for me as well. It might be a decent movie but they will never see a cent from me.
Honest questions for fans (like me) of the 1959 version:
Am I the only one who thinks that Haya Harareet is one of the loveliest ladies ever to grace the silver screen? (Sadly, she didn’t do much more after Ben Hur. You can watch her first movie, Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer, on Youtube.)
Am I the only one who thinks that her acting was wonderful, and a nice counterpoint to Heston’s?
I have never understood why she seems to be forgotten when people discuss this film. She seems glaringly absent in the reminiscences featured on the anniversary edition DVD.
Actually, Roma Downey and her husband produced it because they wanted to emphasize Christ in it. In the original Christ is just a Magic Negro who pops up at opportune times to save the day.
The showing I attended was crowded. 7:40 PM on Saturday.
There were departures from the book. Happened in 1959 as well.
The role of Christ was expanded. I consider this a good thing. It was played straight, with the crucifixion taken straight out of the Bible.
The role and subplot involving Quintus Arrius was eliminated. I missed it, a bit. Didn’t really damage the story.
Tons on youtube as well.
What if we re-do "Gone With The Wind" with an All-Female Black cast? And anyone who questions it. Or says anything negative about it is simply branded a "bigoted racist"? < only semi-sarcasm>
Sony already jumped the shark with their re-make of "Ghost Busters".
I was a mere TV broadcast technical person for a long time and I’m too critical of movies now. Most I can pass.
The Rifftracks events with older movies are better anyway.
I guess I will stick to mindless stock footage and lame youtube productions.
I watched the teaser on TV and during the race one of the main characters looks over to, I guess it was his brother,and says “Are we having fun yet”?
Block Buster? I think not.
SNL had him in a scene that another actor did, one right after the other. My gosh, was Heston excellent; incomparible in the most mediocre scene.
After, I saw that I never took his immense talent for granted.
Is there anyone else out there living that has his gravitas and masculinity?
...which was a toss-back to an earlier time when they were friends.
Do you have the version with the commentary on the producer? Very interesting story. Francisco Franco supported the movie with the Spanish army because he saw himself as the Cid-—the “free agent” who doesn’t want to be king, who only is “protecting” the monarchy until it’s time to hand the reins of power over (which, of course, he actually did).
Bronstein made, I think two more movies after that then cratered. Neither “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” or “Circus World” were hits.
No, this is the Christian version done by Roma Downey. It is an extremely good movie and not at all PC. Watched it in 3D and would recommend watching that way. The sea battles and chariot races were phenomenal.
Pray America wakes
This is just a weekly report of box office earnings. It’s the same everywhere.
Funny you say that. Once of the criticisms of the remake is that it lacks the subtle homoeroticism that script doctor Gore Vidal snuck into the original.
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