The story of Judah Ben Hur is one of betrayal, revenge, and redemption. The first remake, starring Charlton Heston in 1959 has become a classic. The question asked is how does this remake stand against the original or in this case how does the remake stand against the remake? The review I am about to pen will not focus on comparsions, for this Ben Hur is an entirely different retelling of Lew Wallace's novel. While the Ben Hur of 1959 may be called an epic (in every sense of the world, including Heston's epic voice), this Ben Hur of 2016 is more of evangelistic epic that really could claim the substitle of Wallace's book, "The Tale of Christ."
Ben Hur is about a wealthy Jew named Judah Ben Hur in the time of 33 A.D. Hur's best friend, and in this version, step brother, is a Roman named Massala. The two despite their different beliefs and grooming are brothers, and the axis for the story really shapes when the verse, "brother will turn against brother," (Matthew 10:21, Luke 12:53) is fulfilled on screen. Unlike the Heston 1959 Ben Hur, Judah and Massala are flushed out as characters, developed carefully first as family members and then into foes. Judah comes from privilege and wealth, while Massala is an orphan and adopted into the family of Hur. Judah and Massala become estranged as Massala seeks to become an ambitious Roman and fights in the wars against the Germans, Africans, and other Barbarians around the world. When Massala returns, he has his own measure of pride and accolades, but despite the warmth and bond between Ben Hur and Massala, their relationship becomes stained when Massala wants Ben to reveal the names of dissident neighbors supporting the Zealots, a radical group of Jewish warriors trying to subvert and destroy Roman tyranny. An incident during Pontius Pilate's arrival puts Ben Hur and his family in trouble, Hur is sentenced in the misunderstanding to life as galley slave. Upon surviving a dreadful naval battle, Hur washes up on the shores to meet Sheik Ilderim (Morgan Freeman), who promises not to turn Ben in to Roman authorities if he nurses his prized white stallion to health. Ilderim and Judah Ben Hur become fast friends, and a mentor and protégé relationship develops.
Ben Hur swears to seek retribution against Massala for his betrayal, and this culminates in the great Chariot Race sequence, that Charlton Heston made famous. This version of Ben Hur focuses on relationships and the story of redemption. Ben Hur encounters Jesus Christ, first as Carpenter advocating "love your enemy," then when Hur is being beaten and lead out of Jerusalem in similar path and style as Via Del Rosa in which Jesus gives Hur some water, and finally Hur gives water to Jesus during the Way of Cross (The Passion, Via Del Rosa walk), and finally Ben Hur is broken emotionally as he beholds Christ on cross proclaiming, "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24). Ben then remembers his life with Massala and how he was injured and carried away after Chariot Race. Hur seeks out his one time brother, who vows with a Gladius sword to avenge himself (having lost a leg in Chariot race), and Ben Hur proclaims, "I am tired of fighting, I don't want to this anymore," the two old friends embrace in a hug and beg one another for forgiveness. We then see the Hur family complete and together with Sheik Ilderim (Morgan Freeman), Ben and Massala racing as brothers again into the sunset as Morgan Freeman narrates, "Fight the good fight, run the race, keep the faith," which are exact words of St. Paul (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
This Ben Hur has all cinematics of Ridley Scott film but with the faith of a Roma Downey film (see executive produced this film). There are striking scenes, when the Roman legions come into Jerusalem and Pontius Pilate makes his way through the city, we see from Ben Hur's perspective on third or fourth level story part of his home the sheer amount of Roman soldiers and as they sign a chilling song in Latin (like the Nazi's) you can feel for first time on screen the sheer oppression and terror of this colossus. Another scene in the galley when Ben Hur and his fellow slaves must ram enemy ships and survive, we get Ben Hur's perspective as a hole is made in haul of the ship and the link of chain and slaves go sliding out, and from first person perspective we see hands and legs of Ben Hur sliding out about to plunge into the sea, we see ships colliding, catapults flying, arrows soaring, fires on ships, sounds of battle, and finally debris in water as Ben Hur (audience's view) crashes into the ocean. The Chariot sequence is epic, but shaky camera makes it difficult to see what happens at pivotal moments.
This Ben Hur is better than the 1959 version because it emphasizes the redemptive story of Ben Hur, and tells the true Redemptive account of Jesus Christ that we Christians believe in. The character development is great, Ben Hur marries the love of his life, a slave, Esther, who becomes an early Jesus follower and tells him to let go of revenge, and to love and forgive. Ben and Massala's relationship is flushed out (developed more) and is more believable; we come to know them as brothers who love one another before the rift begins that is Rome. Massala is less dogmatic, he questions war-mongering officers, and even is not quick to sentence Ben Hur's family to death, but because of evidence (a Zealot's bow in their house) and pressure of his fellow officers and soldiers, Massala makes the decision to feed his family and friends to the Roman hounds. What is evident is that pride and mistrust, and unforgiveness feed the rift between brothers; it is only when they lay down their pride and pursuit of payback, forgiving one another and showing love again that the two are restored to their earlier innocence and compassion. I have heard from another reviewer that there are parallels between Christ and Ben Hur's lives, including their sufferings; however it is hearing Christ's dying breaths of forgiveness that makes Ben Hur collapses at the cross and weep (a moving moment), broken Ben Hur realizes his cycle of vengeance is futile, and that he must Imitate Christ (as Thomas A Kempis would say). The story ends happily ever after, two brothers reunited and Morgan Freeman even getting a new family, the Hur Family, paying homage to the Bible verse, "God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." (Psalm 68:6).
Ben Hur is steeped in a powerful message of salvation. This combines with a timeless story based on the True events of the Bible, and characters you care about. Before in Ben Hur 1959, I did not care about Ben or Massala (despite the length of film, the chemistry between characters was bad), but this time you care about them and periphery and tertiary characters like Esther. The only downfall of this film is the way it was filmed. The opening race, the Chariot Race, and the Galley Slave Naval Battle use shaky camera, causing some scenes to be disorienting and difficult to discern what is happening. I wish that we could have seen the Naval Battle in more detail, the glimpses were breathtaking and immersing, and I would have enjoyed a longer glimpse of Massala campaigns against the barbarians in Europe and Africa. But Ben Hur 2016 delivers on so many levels, it inspires through a message of faith, family, and forgiveness. I recommend everyone see this remake, I believe it to be better in every way than the 1959 classic, it never is dull, too long, or lacking in character development. It is perfect balance of sharing the Gospel, good character development, great cinematography, gripping storytelling, and grand acting. I cared so much about these characters, wanting Ben and Esther to be together, Massala to survive (and thankfully he did this time!) and more. This is a masterpiece that sadly isn't getting much praise from critics. See this epic, the Chariot Race is not the part to focus on, the Christ message of these verses is played out in the film: "love one another as I have loved you," (John 15:12), "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," (Luke 23:34), "love your neighbor as yourself," (Mark 12:31), "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," (Matthew 6:14), and especially, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44).
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