Review of Ben-Hur (2016) by Juanita C — 16 Dec 2018

There is an inherent danger in trying to readapt a very popular work. Ben-Hur(1959) is a legendary movie and any reboot/remake was treading unholy waters. The motivation for remaking Ben-Hur appears to have been financial, an attempt to develop an epic motion picture with strong appeal to Christian movie-goers.

But having a worthy story is a far different thing than telling it in a compelling, involving fashion. Bekmambetov has argued that the 1959 version is outdated but, comparing this new version to that one, it's hard to believe anyone would choose Jack Huston's forgettable interpretation to Heston's iconic one.

Skip the new theatrical adaptation and rent the classic instead. It's a bigger picture even when seen on a smaller screen. An amateurish effort that boasts direct-to-video characteristics, the latest version disappoints in almost every production aspect.

The acting, primarily by Jack Huston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as Messala Severus), is wooden. The screenplay features dialogue that sounds like it was scripted for inclusion in a parody. And Bekmambetov's direction proves incapable of pulling us into the story.

3/10 (An abomination by any standards; watch the classic instead).There is an inherent danger in trying to readapt a very popular work. Ben-Hur(1959) is a legendary movie and any reboot/remake was treading unholy waters.

The motivation for remaking Ben-Hur appears to have been financial, an attempt to develop an epic motion picture with strong appeal to Christian movie-goers. But having a worthy story is a far different thing than telling it in a compelling, involving fashion.

Bekmambetov has argued that the 1959 version is outdated but, comparing this new version to that one, it's hard to believe anyone would choose Jack Huston's forgettable interpretation to Heston's iconic one.

Skip the new theatrical adaptation and rent the classic instead. It's a bigger picture even when seen on a smaller screen. An amateurish effort that boasts direct-to-video characteristics, the latest version disappoints in almost every production aspect.

The acting, primarily by Jack Huston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as Messala Severus), is wooden. The screenplay features dialogue that sounds like it was scripted for inclusion in a parody. And Bekmambetov's direction proves incapable of pulling us into the story.

3/10 (An abomination by any standards; watch the classic instead).There is an inherent danger in trying to readapt a very popular work. Ben-Hur(1959) is a legendary movie and any reboot/remake was treading unholy waters.

The motivation for remaking Ben-Hur appears to have been financial, an attempt to develop an epic motion picture with strong appeal to Christian movie-goers. But having a worthy story is a far different thing than telling it in a compelling, involving fashion.

Bekmambetov has argued that the 1959 version is outdated but, comparing this new version to that one, it's hard to believe anyone would choose Jack Huston's forgettable interpretation to Heston's iconic one.

Skip the new theatrical adaptation and rent the classic instead. It's a bigger picture even when seen on a smaller screen. An amateurish effort that boasts direct-to-video characteristics, the latest version disappoints in almost every production aspect.

The acting, primarily by Jack Huston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as Messala Severus), is wooden. The screenplay features dialogue that sounds like it was scripted for inclusion in a parody. And Bekmambetov's direction proves incapable of pulling us into the story.

3/10 (An abomination by any standards; watch the classic instead).There is an inherent danger in trying to readapt a very popular work. Ben-Hur(1959) is a legendary movie and any reboot/remake was treading unholy waters.

The motivation for remaking Ben-Hur appears to have been financial, an attempt to develop an epic motion picture with strong appeal to Christian movie-goers. But having a worthy story is a far different thing than telling it in a compelling, involving fashion.

Bekmambetov has argued that the 1959 version is outdated but, comparing this new version to that one, it's hard to believe anyone would choose Jack Huston's forgettable interpretation to Heston's iconic one.

Skip the new theatrical adaptation and rent the classic instead. It's a bigger picture even when seen on a smaller screen. An amateurish effort that boasts direct-to-video characteristics, the latest version disappoints in almost every production aspect.

The acting, primarily by Jack Huston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as Messala Severus), is wooden. The screenplay features dialogue that sounds like it was scripted for inclusion in a parody. And Bekmambetov's direction proves incapable of pulling us into the story.

3/10 (An abomination by any standards; watch the classic instead).There is an inherent danger in trying to readapt a very popular work. Ben-Hur(1959) is a legendary movie and any reboot/remake was treading unholy waters.

The motivation for remaking Ben-Hur appears to have been financial, an attempt to develop an epic motion picture with strong appeal to Christian movie-goers. But having a worthy story is a far different thing than telling it in a compelling, involving fashion.

Bekmambetov has argued that the 1959 version is outdated but, comparing this new version to that one, it's hard to believe anyone would choose Jack Huston's forgettable interpretation to Heston's iconic one.

Skip the new theatrical adaptation and rent the classic instead. It's a bigger picture even when seen on a smaller screen. An amateurish effort that boasts direct-to-video characteristics, the latest version disappoints in almost every production aspect.

The acting, primarily by Jack Huston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as Messala Severus), is wooden. The screenplay features dialogue that sounds like it was scripted for inclusion in a parody. And Bekmambetov's direction proves incapable of pulling us into the story.

(An abomination by any standards; watch the classic instead).