BEN-HUR (2016)

Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Cast: Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, Tory Kebbell, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zorer, Sofia Black-D'Elia
Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: http://www.benhurmovie.com

Opening Day: 18 August 2016

Synopsis: BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but an encounter with Jesus (Rodrigo Santoro) leads him to the Crucifixion, where he discovers forgiveness and finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Movie Review:

The issue with doing a remake of a beloved classic is that comparison with the original classic will be inevitable and more often than not, that stacks you up against high odds that generally see you ending up on the losing end. While there are exceptions to this general rule, the 2016 version of Ben Hur is not one of these exceptions.

Unlike the 1959 classic which shares a record with Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for the most number of Academy Awards won by a motion picture, no one will be calling this 2016 remake (even if you frame it as a retelling of the same story, it is still a remake) an epic anytime soon.

It is clear that director Timur Bekmambetov’s forte is not in drama. Tension and emotions don’t build up in a scene to create a sense of suspension or anticipation and the political undertone that bubbles simply fizzles out. Layers to characters are not drawn out and what we end up with are bland cardboard characters and meh scenes. Bekmambetov’s lack of direction is not helped by a music score that, while powerful, comes across more like passable elevator music than a resounding grand symphony next to the 1959 score. 

The acting is not terrible but it fails to lift you. You don’t find yourself rooting for the protagonist Judah Ben-Hur, sympathising or even come close to understanding the motivations of his adoptive brother turned enemy Messala. The director’s attempt to lend some gravitas to the movie by having Morgan Freeman serve as narrator with his majestic voice backfires and is somewhat jarring when you see the Morgan Freeman on screen, playing a character yet speaking with the narrator’s voice. 

Bekmambetov does bring to the table a few interesting visuals, particularly during the chaotic slave galley sequence. In the dimly lit galley which Judah is sentenced to, we are confined to his point of view and see only what he can glimpse of the outside world through tiny holes as he rows his life away. The small details which we do not see but can hear create tension, striking viewers as we hear the war drum repeatedly being banged upon and feel the impending clash yet are limited to the incomplete view that Ben-Hur is subjected to.

Unfortunately, Bekmambetov’s visual chops are not applied evenly throughout the movie. The climatic chariot race came across as one shot on a tight budget with sloppily framing and uneven editing. While close-ups and tight shots worked for the galley sequence, here, they are overused and viewers are unable to follow the action thanks to the lack of wide shots. The computer-generated special effects of gravel and dirt flying into your face thanks to 3D magic are unnatural and look like they require another few rounds of rendering or editing to make them more natural. Instead of 10 minutes of epic action where you watch racers outwit and outmanoeuvre each other for the race of their lives, you end up going through a sequence where half the time dirt is flying in your face and you have no idea what exactly is happening. 

Unfortunately beyond the galley sequence, the rest of the movie can sometimes leave you feeling like you have no idea what happened except you felt like dirt was simply thrown in your face. 

Movie Rating:

(While not absolutely terrible, this remake is much better packaged as a direct-to-TV movie or two part miniseries)

Review by Katrina Tee