Plot
The epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption.
Release Year: 2016
Rating: 5.2/10 (334 voted)
Critic's Score: /100
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Stars: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro
Storyline
The epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption.
Writers: Lew Wallace, Keith R. Clarke
Cast: Jack Huston -
Judah Ben-Hur
Toby Kebbell -
Messala Severus
Rodrigo Santoro -
Jesus
Nazanin Boniadi -
Esther
Ayelet Zurer -
Naomi Ben-Hur
Pilou Asbæk -
Pontius Pilate
Sofia Black-D'Elia -
Tirzah Ben-Hur
Morgan Freeman -
Ilderim
Marwan Kenzari -
Druses
Moises Arias -
Dismas
James Cosmo -
Quintus
Haluk Bilginer -
Simonides
David Walmsley -
Marcus Decimus
Yasen Atour -
Jacob
Francesco Scianna -
Kadeem
Trivia: Sofia Boutella, Moran Atias and Natalia Warner were considered for the role of Esther before Nazanin Boniadi was cast. See more »
Quotes:
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User Review
Author:
Rating: 9/10
The famous story of Ben-Hur has been done in film multiple times
throughout the years, but none has reached this level of excitement and
beautiful special effects. And none has ever been this action packed
and intense.
Ben-Hur will certainly appeal to action genre fans, but it has so much
more to offer. Along with multiple dangerous adventures comes strong
love story, drama and history, which keeps you excited but surprised by
events that unfold in front of your eyes.
The film starts when Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) is accused of
attempting to assassinate a Roman Leader. His adopted brother convinces
him and his family about the worst punishments available. His family
meets a mysterious fate that leaves him guessing about them for years.
Judah is sentenced to life as a galley slave (a person that rows Roman
ships). He barely survives this terrible punishment for six years
before escaping. Back on land, he trains to take revenge on his brother
in a place with no law - the dangerous, yet exciting sport of chariot
racing!
Although the plot seems confusing, it actually is easy to follow.
Towards the beginning it may be a bit confusing, but by ten minutes
into the film pieces snap into place. This film not only packs a lot of
action, but it is also very historical and truly makes it look as if we
are watching these scenes take place in ancient Rome and Jerusalem from
the boats, to warfare, to their attire. Throughout the film, I felt
transported back 2000 years to the large Roman Empire. Most of the
special effects portray the chariot racing and the outcome is nothing
short of spectacular, detailed and very realistic. It is exciting and
intense, but also easy to follow. The acting in this film exceeded my
expectations with many known actors such as Jack Huston and Morgan
Freeman (Ilderim), but the entire cast delivers spectacular
performances and really make their characters come to life and shine,
as well as make the viewer think they actually are seeing life 2000
years ago.
My favorite scene is the galley slave scenes. In a way, these are also
my least favorite scenes because it shows how terrible Romans treated
these slaves. In one scene, you see Judah changing over the six years
from a handsome and healthy prince to a depressed, skinny and beaten
slave. Another factor of these scenes that impressed me were the visual
effects. Judah escapes when the ship sinks in a battle. The scene is
very dramatic, scary and intense. It is full of action and everything
from soundtrack to acting makes it a heart- thumping moment.
Ben-Hur is intense with many adult references, but the mature aspect
that concerns me most is the gore. Since this takes place in Ancient
Rome, there are many violent acts that are unsuitable for young
children. I recommend it for ages 14 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5
stars. The acting, special effects and soundtrack are all fantastic but
the story is slightly confusing at the beginning which makes it a bit
annoying for the viewer.
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