Film Review on the movie Ben Hur

Movie Review : Benhur

Introduction

Ben-Hur (1959 ) is a 1959 film directed by William Wyler , and is the most popular live-action film version of Lew Wallace 's novel , Ben-Hur : A Tale of the Christ (1880 . Its a Biblical tale , subtitled A Tale of the Christ . It is one of the greatest movies released forty years ago and continues to remain as one of the classics of cinema , as well as a witness for the redeeming power of Jesus Christ (Sciabarra , 2000 . The film revolves around the story of Judah Ben-Hur a wealthy Jewish

prince who was living during the time of Christ . Prince Judah Ben-Hur is enslaved by a Roman tribunal friend , but then returned years later to seek revenge in the film 's climax scene , a chariot race . Ultimately , he finds redemption and forgiveness in the inspiring and enlightening finale . Overall , the film 's message of peace through salvation in Christ makes this a wonderful film and a testimony to non-believers

Synopsis

Judah Ben-Hur is a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century . When Judah Ben-Hur 's childhood friend Messala arrives as military commanding officer of the Roman legions they realize that they have politically different views . Messala believes in the glory of Rome and worldly power , while Judah is devoted to his faith and Jewish nationalism . During the welcome parade for the governor , a roofing tile falls down from Judah 's house and startles the governor 's horse , nearly killing him . As a result , Messale sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison . Judah swears to come back and take revenge . En route to the sea , Judah is denied water when his slave gang arrives at Nazareth . He collapses having lost the will to live , when an as-yet unknown Jesus Christ gives him water and a motivation to survive . After three years as a galley slave the ship to which Judah is assigned becomes the flagship of Quintus Arrius . During the course of travesls , Judah manages to save the life of Arrius , who subsequently adopts Judah as his son . Thus regaining his freedom and wealth , and having learned Roman ways , he eventually returns to Judea . There he borrows horses from the Arab sheik Ilderin and defeats Messala in a chariot race before the governor of Judea Pontius Pilate . Messala , who attempts to cheat his way to victory , is mortally wounded in the race , but tells Judah where he can find his mother and sister : In the "valley of the lepers " as they had contracted leprosy while in prison . Although he has accomplished his goal of revenge on Messala , Judah 's soul remains tormented (Dirks , 2006

While the film mostly centers on Judah and his relationship with Messala , Jesus appears in the film several times at key points including the aforementioned incident when he gives water to Judah at Nazareth .The film begins with the Magi visiting the infant Jesus , and ends with the empty crosses of Calvary...