Ben-Hur
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
- action
- history
- adventure
- drama
The story
A falsely accused nobleman survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him.
What it’s like
Warm, dusty daylight gives way to hard sun and chalky shadow in this glossy, digitally polished retelling of an ancient Roman epic. Expect sweeping crane shots over Jerusalem and the arena, a desaturated palette of sand, bronze and bruised blue, and frequent handheld, close-in camerawork during the battles and the chariot race, which is staged as a churning, dirt-spraying spectacle. Between those set pieces the pace settles into quieter scenes of faith, family and a slow-burning friendship turned sour, with a score that swells with brass and choral chant and drops into near silence at emotional beats. The register is earnest and melodramatic, with a steady undercurrent of grief and resentment that gives way to a late turn toward forgiveness. Violence is significant and physical: bloody combat, a sea battle with splintered hulls and drowning, leprosy and crucifixion depicted with some grit, though little gore beyond the wounds. It suits a long weekend afternoon or a big-screen night for viewers who enjoy old-fashioned Biblical-era adventure and vengeance drama with a faith-centred heart.
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