Jewish Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is betrayed by Roman 'friend'. He gets sent into slavery but ingratiates himself with a powerful officer. He comes back looking for revenge...

"Sadly lacking in song and berry fruits."

"Oh, joy, he wins in the end, but, my, what a slow coach! Surely he could have done it in under 2 hours if he was really trying?"

"Three and a half hours? This is simply not long enough! I am awaiting, with much anticipation, for the fully restored directors cut with all the deleted scenes!"

"A Roman epic peppered with dimpled chins throughout. The demand for upper body male nudity is well served, however calf muscles seem to have been forgotten about entirely, was this an oversight, or was the screen just not tall enough?"

Judas Ben-Hur saves his enslaver, Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), and is adopted as his son, giving him considerable wealth and influence, albeit temporarily.

However, Ben-Hur does not have a job - Pontius Pilot is about to take over as head of security, a job Ben-Hur wanted.

Judas goes in search of his relatives who have been banished to work the land as lepers. He finds them. He finds comfort in the teachings of Christ and is ultimately a witness to Christ's execution - he gives Christ water as he stumbles with his cross in the same way Christ gave him water.

A very long movie, one that successfully deals with man's inhumanity to man.

An intriguing cameo from Jesus who is on hand throughout to help our hero in his darkest hours.

June 23, 2003.