1925
1959
2016
There have been many reincarnations of Ben-Hur since the 1907 short to 2010 TV mini-series, from animation to live action. But the two best-known ones are the 1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ that starred a Latino in the lead, Ramon Novarro, and many future Hollywood stars as extras (Janet Gaynor, John Gilbert, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy, John, Lionel Barrymore, and many more) in the background. The second film is the better-known 1959 Ben-Hur starring Charlton Heston. I’ve seen both of them and I do have to say, I enjoyed this new Ben-Hur more than the 1959 version.
Clockwise: Jack Huston, Nazanin Boniadi, Rodrigo Santoro,
Pilou Asbæk, Toby Kebbell, Roma Downey, Mark Burnett
and Morgan Freeman. ©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.
This version is based more on author Lew Wallace’s original 1880 novel, “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ” and this film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted).
This Ben-Hur has a nostalgic feel for people of a certain age, who grew up watching big spectacular films that had nothing to do with CGI or green screens. And it’s also a film that you can take what you want from, an adventurous story about, love, deceit and redemption or for some, a religious calling for others.
Jack Huston
Boniadi & Santoro
For those of you not familiar with the story, here’s a bit of the 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 finds redemption. Also starring Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, and Pilou Asbæk.
Morgan Freeman
Asbæk & Kebbell
Downey & Burnett
We got to sit down with the above cast and producers, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. They all talked about their approaches to the roles they had to play, Morgan Freeman had us laughing from the beginning to the end. And now you can listen in, too.
