Review – Ben-Hur

If someone went through and cut out all the closeted gay stuff and all the Jesus wheezing, this would be a much shorter movie. Of course, that shorter product would also be a much more action-packed movie. When the film focuses on spectacular galleon battles or the famous chariot race scene, it’s a pretty good production. Even the parts of the drama that set up the big scenes are worth watching. But then (especially after the race) the plot devolves into a lot of preachiness about how our angry protagonist (played with usual scenery-chewing aplomb by Charlton Heston) finds peace in his heart through a personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior. Fans of the movie will probably respond that the Jesus stuff is the real point of the movie and I just don’t get it. No, I get it. I just don’t want it. When I’m in need of spirituality, Hollywood and Heston aren’t my sources of choice. I’d rather they focused on what they do best: simple entertainment. Mildly amusing