Comments (30)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Whistler Public Library.
What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 30 items
Feb 02, 2024
Not really stellar compared to 1959 or 2010 film /story...only good acting and valiant effort from Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro...
Nov 23, 2023jimg2000 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Feb 19, 2017 Near impossible for good ratings when it has to face comparison to the iconic version in 1959 that had a bottomless budget and honored with 11 Oscars. How can it go wrong with a movie scripted after the 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A…
Jun 30, 202210000mefest rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A great update of this classic. Some plot lines were a little stronger than others. But I enjoyed this film.
Aug 16, 2021amary1978 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed it immensely without comparison of other versions. Shows the reality of the time, same as today loyalties can be broken due to pride, selfness or just ignorance.
Jun 27, 2021hammer59 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Depicts the Romans as the brutal oppressive beasts that they were. Engaging and the chariot race was incredible.
Apr 29, 2018ScorchingSun rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The 1959 version is still the bench mark. To give a fair review, try to ignore comparisons. That said, Jack Huston is no Charleton Heston and this film has not nearly the same level of drama. Also, Heston's chariot race, without doubt,…
Apr 08, 2018aleenstone rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
For a first time look at Ben Hur I think it was worthwhile. I had to use the captions because some of the actors were hard for me to understand due to background music This was a shortened version of the Charleton Heston version. …
Mar 14, 2018Paul_Zukowski rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I remember the original being better then this new adaptation. I liked a few of the scenes in this one and the environment/music/setting was pretty well done throughout the movie. Sadly the characters aren't that great with Judah Ben-Hur…
Dec 26, 2017duane767 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Not bad but don't watch it and even try to compare it to the original on any scope.
Sep 02, 2017Blue_Bird_2187 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I thought this movie was pretty good. The movie was very fast paced and the chariot scene was done well, the acting also was good
Jul 31, 2017MICHAEL TAGGART MALONEY rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Not quite a dud, but borderline. The chariot scenes in the circus are good, as is the battle scene on the slave-powered ship. The screenplay attempts to tap into larger themes of forgiveness and redemption, but the pacing of the film is so…
Jul 15, 2017kaybea rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Why compare it to the 1958 version? Enjoy it for the entertainment value. Not a great movie but I gave it 3 stars.
Jun 26, 2017Tonsure rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
What a piece of garbage. The main character generates no sympathy whatsoever. He gets what he deserves. The "bad" guy is actually far more likable. Special effects are pathetic. Don't even try to compare to the far superior 1958…
Jun 06, 2017MargieMargie rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
I suggest you watch the original film starring Charlton Heston. This new film version barely resembles the original book.
Jun 03, 2017dontbugmeimreading rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I liked it. The story was a little different from the Charlton Heston version but the good parts were there (except, "we keep you alive to serve this ship!" - I missed that part :( ).
May 11, 2017BlueHippo rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Given all the negative comments,I was prepared to really dislike this movie, however, I actually enjoyed it! It is interesting to see how a different filmmaker years after the orginal book and movie, takes a different approach to putting…
May 09, 2017lisaejones rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I knew this was a 'remake' but I doubt if the first movie was this bad. The plot was simple but came off as jumbled. The movie made little sense and the story of Ben-Hur wasn't told very well. They threw in a chariot race and with a couple…
May 02, 2017stse88 rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
Just skip right to near the end and watch the chariot race, and then return the DVD. At least, that part was somewhat exciting. Everything else were just drivel. Acting was bad. Script was terrible. Instead of identifying or liking…
Apr 07, 2017Britty346 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I was looking forward to watching this new version of Ben-Hur but when I watched it I was disappointed. It had it's moments of making a great film but I was confused at moments too because so much was changed or cut out. One of the things…
Apr 06, 2017Ron@Ottawa rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
The story line was changed compared to the original version, which tops this remake by a long mile. There are some visually impressive settings and images, but that's all I got out of this film. Go with the original for sure.
Mar 15, 2017patch666 rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
This movie BOMBED in theater's ~420
Mar 07, 2017nadinecotner rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Very well done movie! Follows book fairly closely. Highly entertaining.
Mar 07, 2017OrangeBlue11 rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
A complete change from the original and an hour shorter, I guess that time was saved by not going to Rome. In the original the tragic events all started because of a true accident of his sister accidently nocking some tiles off the…
Mar 02, 2017
Appalling CGI abortion of a movie and the source material which is a 19th century travelogue of the Roman mid-East. What Willy Wyler, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry did with that material in 1959 is a Hollywood miracle: a bit down scale…
Mar 01, 2017SchroederJD rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A timeless tale of how hate enslaves and love is stronger. The plot is excellent and keeps you watching to the very end. I'm not sure how it compares to the original, but this version is well done. An epic story with insights into the true…