A Classic story of redemption. Review on Ben Hur Movie

Many years ago, in quiz event my team was asked a question. It was a rapid fire round; we didn’t even understand the question. The answer was Ben-Hur. My team didn’t know the answer. Eventually we lost the quiz, and I blamed the question. Years later I had my revenge on the movie – I saw it. And I liked the movie very much. Like many of the historical or biblical epics this one was also well made with good artwork, great dialogues and not to mention classic acting by the characters. Also the movie won many an Oscars in its time.

The movie tells the story of Ben-Hur a contemporary of jesus. In fact the story occurs between birth and death of jesus. Ben-Hur is a wealthy jew who has great friendship with a roman messala. They are childhood friends and once messala had saved Ben-Hur. The are almost same, sporty, young, except that Ben-Hur is jewish.

Now messala as a ruler of Judea hopes Ben-Hur will reveal to him names of jews who are militants. Ben-Hur wont, and on this count their friendship is damaged. Had Ben-Hur agreed he wud have been a partner in the roman administration.

Soon a new governor is entering the city with messala. Like the whole city, Ben-Hur and his sister Tirzah are watching the entry from their roofs. Accidentally tirzah leans on some loose tiles and they fall on the governor. Ben-Hur takes the blame but Messala takes this as a conspiracy and orders arrest of Ben-Hur, his mother and tirzah. Messala hopes this will be a lesson to jewish militants.

As a punishment Ben-Hur is sentenced to slavery in the galleys of roman fleet. His mother and sister are put to prison. Also separated from Ben-Hur is esther, daughter of his steward, the girl he wanted to marry. And Ben-Hur vows revenge for all this.

on way to the galleys, in the desert Ben-Hur almost dies of thrist. That’s when someone gives him water. The soldier who tries to stop that person from giving water melts down from the anger he came. Though neither face nor person is shown, the water giver was jesus. Ben-Hur is renewed. In the galleys he is now prisoner number 41. there he meets quintus, a roman commander who tells the galley slaves that they are all condemned men who will die chained to their oars: ''We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well and live.''. the slaves are asked to row faster and faster, one by one collapse but not Ben-Hur.

Soon a naval battle with Macedonia ensues, and quintus unchains Ben-Hur giving him a chance to surivive. In the battle on ship qunitus is thrown in sea and Ben-Hur saves him. thinking the war as lost quintus wishes he were dead. But Ben-Hur tells him “row well and live” as a gratitude quinuts on return to roman emperor Tiberius keeps Ben-Hur as his slave and later adopts Ben-Hur as son. Ben-Hur learns to run chariots in roman games and qunitus’ chariots are victorius.

Soon Ben-Hur returns as the young qunitus he orders messla to find his mother and sister or pay the consequences. Some four years after their imprisonment, they are now thought dead. But they are now lepers. They once stop at their old house, now in darkness and disarray, beg Esther not to tell Ben-Hur of their plight; she swears on her love for him to respect their wishes and to tell him that they are dead.

Devastated by this news, driven by desires for revenge, Ben-Hur confronts Messala. The ensuing chariot race is done great. Ben-Hur emerges victorious. But with his dying breath, Messala tells Ben-Hur that his mother and sister are alive, and that he can find them in the Valley of the Lepers: ''if you can recognize them.'' Broken, sobbing, and helpless, Ben-Hur becomes self-pitying, full of hate. He rethinks over having taken a sip of the stranger's water in the desert. ''I should have done better if I'd poured it into the sand. I'm thirsty still.''

Soon events turn so that Ben-Hur renounces his roman ties. This is bcos pilate is apprehensive abt Ben-Hurs growing influence. Ben-Hur yearns for peace even as he contemplates death. But relief comes in the form of esther who tells Ben-Hur that ''death generates death.'' She tells him to listen to the words of peace being spoken by the Rabbi from Nazareth. When Ben-Hur, refuses, she declares: ''It was Judah Ben-Hur I loved. What has become of him? You seem to be now the very thing you set out to destroy, giving evil for evil. Hatred is turning you to stone. It's as if you had become Messala.''

Stunned by the comparison, Ben-Hur does a self examination. He then travels to the Valley of the Lepers, and, with Esther, finds his sick mother and dying sister. They begin a search for the Nazarene. The search is stillborn. Condemned by Pilate, Christ walks to his death on cross. Ben-Hur recognizes the man-he is the man who had given him water in the desert, and the will to live. He attempts to return that gift, struggling with Roman guards to give Christ a sip of water. But the water barely touches Christ's lips before it is kicked to the ground.

A witness to Christ's execution, and of Christ's courageous ability to rise above suffering, Ben-Hur begins to reassert his own will to live. As Christ is crucified his bllod mixed with rainwater flows thru the lepers area and Ben-Hurs mother and sister are healed. Ben-Hur tells Esther that he felt Christ's voice, Christ's call for forgiveness, telling him to leave the sword. he celebrates upon seeing his mother and sister alive and well, at last Ben-Hur reclaims his values, and his life with those he loves.

And so the films end on a happy note. Great acting and superb setting make this movie a gripping one. For those who are interested in seeing historical and biblical epics this a good watch. Also since there is no vulgarity or obscenity it can be viewed alone or in family.