I saw Ben Hur for the very first time in my life and it is by far the best film I have ever seen, and as a matter of fact the best directed picture I have ever seen. Heston’s performance was so beautiful, this film is the pinnacle of great filmmaking and Wyler is truly a pioneer of cinema. I’m truly lost for words, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The movie was almost four hours long and when you’re through watching, you want more of it – that’s unheard of!
The films made today are unbearable and they only run for 90 to 100 minutes on average. Ben Hur is as good as it can get.
[quote=“Lt. BioBasterd”]
I saw Ben Hur for the very first time in my life and it is by far the best film I have ever seen, and as a matter of fact the best directed picture I have ever seen. Heston’s performance was so beautiful, this film is the pinnacle of great filmmaking and Wyler is truly a pioneer of cinema. I’m truly lost for words, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The movie was almost four hours long and when you’re through watching, you want more of it – that’s unheard of!
The films made today are unbearable and they only run for 90 to 100 minutes on average. Ben Hur is as good as it can get.
[/quote]
Better’n QT?
[quote=“Lt. BioBasterd”]
I saw Ben Hur for the very first time in my life and it is by far the best film I have ever seen, and as a matter of fact the best directed picture I have ever seen. Heston’s performance was so beautiful, this film is the pinnacle of great filmmaking and Wyler is truly a pioneer of cinema. I’m truly lost for words, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The movie was almost four hours long and when you’re through watching, you want more of it – that’s unheard of!
The films made today are unbearable and they only run for 90 to 100 minutes on average. Ben Hur is as good as it can get.
[/quote]
You really need to see more movies.
I have to agree that most of the films today are unbearable…
[quote=“Ordell Rodriguez”]
Better’n QT?
[/quote]
I’d hate to say it, but yes! I love the films of QT, but Ben Hur is a master’s work that I’ve not seen since - ever! Oh, and the way he shows Jesus - we never see his face. He presents him like Ben Hur sees him, he is such a mystery in these holy lands. And Charlton Heston was just so magnificent from beginning to end, and his journey is one that is both emotional and intriguing, and the whole story revolves around this tiny incident of the roof tiles landing on the new Governor by accident. It’s such a gorgeous film in many ways and so rich of life.
[quote=“F.W.”]
You really need to see more movies.
[/quote]
Oh, but how can you say that to a prestigious film like Ben Hur, honest to god, it did to me what Kill Bill first did to me when I saw it at the age of 16! I have been born again and my eyes are wide open! I’m getting every single William Wyler movie, except most of the silent films since they were never restored or released on DVD. You know he started at the young age of 21, he was a talent but it took a while for him to develop it.
And by the way there are some great discussions on William Wyler and The Letter on the TCM forums. Man, these people really love these films, it’s a great place to let it all out.
I’ve never seen this Judy Garland film, but I’m watching it! 8)
POST YOUR TCM TRIVIA SCORES, HERE: I DID PRETTY GOOD!
I first saw Ben-Hur in the 80’s when my mom rented it on VHS. And even though it’s been long discussed how sacrilegious it is to watch that movie in fullscreen or pan/scan, the power of that film was still able to shine through to me in that massively cropped frame.
I still get alarmed by hearing how so many critics perfer the original '27 version to this remake. They’re probably saying that just because it’s got boobs in it. 
[quote=“Laydback”]
I first saw Ben-Hur in the 80’s when my mom rented it on VHS. And even though it’s been long discussed how sacrilegious it is to watch that movie in fullscreen or pan/scan, the power of that film was still able to shine through to me in that massively cropped frame.
I still get alarmed by hearing how so many criticis perfer the original '27 version to this remake. They’re probably saying that just because it’s got boobs in it.
[/quote]
I bought the DVD at Bestbuy, it was only 8 bucks. I don’t think there is a definite special edition of it, which is really a shame. A lot of filmmakers were influenced by this film - I can tell. It’s shown in films like Star Wars episode 1 with the pod racers, in Gladiator, Kingdom Of Heaven, etc. I tend to ignonre most critics, I think they’re just envious people who wish they could do what most filmmakers can, but either way the critics are still a very important part of cinema, just like the Addison DeWitt character in All About Eve says in the opening voice over.
[quote=“Lt. BioBasterd”]
Oh, but how can you say that to a prestigious film like Ben Hur
[/quote]
Because I’ve seen better films.
Name one that you would consider to be better than Ben Hur.
Idiocracy.
Never heard of it.
Really? It was based on you.
[quote=“Cyd Novak”]
Idiocracy.
[/quote]
HAHA!
[quote=“Cyd Novak”]
Really? It was based on you.
[/quote]
HAHAHA!
[quote=“Lt. BioBasterd”]
Name one that you would consider to be better than Ben Hur.
[/quote]
Magnolia
I can’t believe that idiot had the cheek to ask someone to name a film better than Ben Hur, I could be here all night naming films better than that. It’s a matter of personal taste.
I love Magnolia, but I think you really have to see Ben Hur in order to undeerstand how good it is. I know the title sounds quite tedious and boring, but the film itself is captivating in every aspect imaginable: acting, writing, spfx, etc… I mean you look at the failed epics like “Alexander” or even “Troy” – you can’t help but to wonder how William Wyler pulled it off in 1959. If Wyler had the technology that is used today at his disposal, there is no telling what he could have done. Even a brilliant guy like Joseph Mankiewicz who directed Liz Taylor in Cleopatra for 20th Century Fox went crazy. Yes he had script issues and was doing many rewrites as it was being shot, but still. Making a film of this magnitude is not an easy task at all. PT Anderson can only hope to reach this level of greatness over time, and he will.
[quote=“Cyd Novak”]
I can’t believe that idiot had the cheek to ask someone to name a film better than Ben Hur, I could be here all night naming films better than that. It’s a matter of personal taste.
[/quote]
You’ve never even seen it, doll. And if you have tell me what scene you liked and why.
His name was William Wyler. Look him up.
[quote=“Lt. BioBasterd”]
I love Magnolia, but I think you really have to see Ben Hur in order to undeerstand how good it is. I know the title sounds quite tedious and boring, but the film itself is captivating in every aspect imaginable: acting, writing, spfx, etc… I mean you look at the failed epics like “Alexander” or even “Troy” – you can’t help but to wonder how William Wyler pulled it off in 1959. If Wyler had the technology that is used today at his disposal, there is no telling what he could have done. Even a brilliant guy like Joseph Mankiewicz who directed Liz Taylor in Cleopatra for 20th Century Fox went crazy. Yes he had script issues and was doing many rewrites as it was being shot, but still. Making a film of this magnitude is not an easy task at all. PT Anderson can only hope to reach this level of greatness over time, and he will.
[/quote]
Actually I have seen it, it’s one of those you have to watch if your a film geek. I do like it, a great film, just like Cyd said it’s a matter of personnel taste. I find the work PTA does to be the kind of epic I like more. And come on, Magnolia is an epic.
P.S. Dig William Wyler. My favorite is The Desperate Hours. Love that flick.