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If you ever thought that an 11-time Academy Award-winning film needed a remake, but this this time with larger Christian overtones, the new BEN-HUR is the movie for you… otherwise I’d recommend skipping this box office debut. Despite Hollywood’s obsession with the self-marketing of movies that are remakes, I don’t hate the trend. Most still realize that a fresh spin needs to be put on the films to make them worthwhile which can lead to some great re-imaginings such as THE JUNGLE BOOK and GHOSTBUSTERS. Surprisingly, it seems director Timur Bekmambetov’s spin of choice wasn’t the excitement IMAX chariot races could bring, but rather the teachings of the message of Jesus Christ.
The story beats follow the same basic structure of the original, although thankfully moves much faster. The romance between the characters during the first act is smartly cut short, as the movie has trouble holding attention through this as it is. In total, the movie cuts a good hour and forty minutes from the original running time, shorting it to a more flick-friendly two hours. It still includes all the major points, as Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) and Messala (Toby Kebbell) are brothers living happily in Jerusalem until Messala decides he must pursue his true Roman heritage and fight for the empire. He comes back an officer and accuses Judah of working against Rome, condemning the man to slavery. After years working as a galley slave Ben-Hur finds freedom and seeks revenge against the man who betrayed his family.
The changes come with the shoe-horning of Christ’s character in the film, as he played simply a thematic role in the original. Here however, he has plenty to say in ample screen time. The fate of some main characters plays vastly different than they have been portrayed before to reinforce the one message the film wants to give, despite being laughably jarring.
This could all be forgiven (or rather overlooked) if the film was the fun flick it is marketed to be. Sadly, the 3D is awful-looking, as if we are back in the days after AVATAR where 3D was being added in post everywhere. I really thought at this point we were past 3D so unnoticeable and cash grabby that it doesn’t add to the film. The whole production is building to the climactic chariot sequence, which is very good, but it doesn’t carry the entire movie. Also, can we stop having pop songs that in no way fit the tone of a movie blasting as soon as the credits come on? Thank you.
