Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

If you've never heard of Ben-Hur, get out of the rock you're hiding under. This review covers the 1925 silent version of this tale. The movie starred Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson and was directed by Fred Niblo.

The advanced nature of the cinematography for what you would normally expect in 1925 is phenomenal. There were forty-eight cameras used to film the epic sea battle, which was a record for number of cameras used for a single scene. 42 cameras were used in the chariot race. Few films today could pull that off, and none would have had thousands of extras, they'd mostly be CGI today. Almost all the religious scenes, specifically when Jesus is present during the film, were shot in two-strip Technicolor so you'll actually get some color in this film! Had the Academy Awards been around in 1925, this film would have surely been nominated across the board and would have likely won a slew of those awards.

William Wyler, one of the assistant directors filming the chariot race of this movie, went on to be the director of the 1959 version of Ben-Hur. This was the version that starred Charlton Heston as Ben-Hur.

Sure it's silent, sure it's mostly black and white, but does that make it less enjoyable? Not on your life.

**** and a half out of *****

The Black Adder

The Black Adder is a 1983 British comedy series that was the starting point of the Black Adder saga (as I like to call it).

This series stars Rowan Atkinson as Prince Edmund, Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy Percy, Brian Blessed as King Richard IV of England, Elspet Gray as Gertrude of Flanders, and Robert East as Harry, Prince of Wales.

This iteration of the series takes place in the 15th century during the War of the Roses. The story is an alternate take on history. Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) is the son of Richard IV. Richard IV is based on the real Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York who was the brother of King Edward V of England. Both Richard and Edward disappeared after being sent to the Tower of London in their early teens after Richard III seized power. History has put the blame for this on Richard III directly or indirectly (someone in his court may have done it).

So yes, this takes place in an alternate history as anyone with a single iota of English history in their brains would know that this isn't close to what really happened. It's a pretty clever way of doing a show set in the past. Turns out that Henry Tudor 'made it all up.' Richard III dies in the Battle of Bosworth Field as he does in real life, but then Richard of Shrewsbury is crowned Richard IV (which obviously doesn't really happen). Edmund's goal is to one day become king though since he's such a bumbling fool, his plans are upset in each episode.

The best episodes of the series were "The Queen of Spain's Beard," where Edmund is arranged to be married to an unfortunate princess and "The Black Seal" journeys out to find the most cruel men in all of England to take part in a coup.

The show becomes more refined in later seasons, with Edmund's character receiving a huge face lift. For newcomers, it may be better to start off with "Black Adder II." More to come...

*** 1/2 out of *****

Apollo 13

This 1995 film is the story of the the Apollo 13 mission directed by Ron Howard.

The film stars Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell, Bill Paxton as Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, Kevin Bacon as Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, Gary Sinise as original Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly, and Ed Harris as NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz.

This was a well cast, well filmed, and well written film. The cast, while looking little like their real counterparts, is fantastic. Tom Hanks does a wonderful job as Jim Lovell. The supporting cast of Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kevin Bacon are wonderful and hit every mark thrown at them. One degree of Kevin Bacon! With my brother “in the Biz” now, I can’t wait to figure out where he falls in that game. But it’s time to get back to the movie. Being a Ron Howard film, it’s only fitting that you play the game of “who is a Howard” while watching the film. His father is cast as well as his brother – who my friend Chad charmingly calls, “the little squirrely guy who is in every one of his films.”

It is an exciting and enthralling film, and it doesn’t even have any real action pieces (though it does have at least one ‘splosion).

The best part of this film is how true to history it stayed. Of course, there is some dramatic license taken. But hey, “historians” came out of the woodwork to bash films like 300 for not being 100% historic. Sure thing “professors”.

This is Ron Howard’s best project he’s been involved in. Sorry Matt, Arrested Development comes a close second.

**** out of *****

Shakespeare Series: Henry V - 1989

Staring: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, Paul Scofield, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Christian Bale
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh

This is it. One of, if not, the best Shakespeare adaptations ever made. Sure Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet is great (there’s no doubting that as I already stated) but compared to this it barely holds a candle to this.

Another Kenneth Branagh directed/staring film, instead of the way Hamlet is created as an entirely new world, he keeps this story almost as a historically accurate film (as far as a Shakespeare play can actually be historically accurate). You could almost imagine that the cameras were *at* the battle of Battle of Agincourt. The cast, like Hamlet, is not wasted.

This story might actually be unknown to many of you out there so you’re forgiven (I kid…). It’d be more interesting to just read it, see a production of it at a theater, or just see the darn movie. Just for those who might think it’s “boring” there’s a fantastic battle towards the end. And for some of you more jingoistic people – the French don’t do so good.

According to Wikipedia, the English soldier who begins singing Non Nobis Domine at the end of the Battle of Agincourt is the film's composer, Patrick Doyle. The music that Patrick Doyle created for this film was utterly amazing. It is unfortunate that this man is not as well known as many other composers. Many who remember trailers from 15-20 years ago might recognize that some portions of this score were used in many of them.

Henry V won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. The film was also nominated Branagh for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Director.

Verdict: *****/*****

Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur
1959

Staring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd
Director: William Wyler

Charlton Heston plays the title role of Judah Ben-Hur in this wonderful remake of the 1925 version (and to a lesser extent 1907 version) of the film.

Ben-Hur’s old friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) has returned back to Jerusalem. They’re happy to see each other, and all goes well until an unfortunate occurrence which ticks off the governor. The fall guy ends up being Ben-Hur’s household, and his mother and sister are thrown in prison and Ben-Hur is sent off to the galleys. He swears revenge on his former friend.

A wonderful segment which takes place in the sea comes next. I’d love to continue the plot summary but this film is almost too great to just write about.

Almost every single aspect of this film is perfect, and the Oscars it won are quite deserved. I’d write more, but come on, it’s Ben-Hur. If you’re a movie buff and you haven’t seen the film, what’s wrong with you?

Verdict: *****/*****

Passion of the Christ

2004
Staring: James Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito, Monica Bellucci
Director: Mel Gibson

With it being Good Friday, I’ve decided to review a fitting film. If I have time look forward to two more fitting films this weekend.

So this little film from 2004 stroked up a lot of controversy. Personally a lot of it was undue, especially after finally seeing it months after it was initially released.

People decried it for being “anti-Semitic”, and that it would bring on a rash of anti-Jewish hate across the country. Not surprisingly, it didn’t happen. I think it’s because people underestimated the intelligence of the people viewing this film. An unintelligent “point” that I kept hearing after the film was release was “Well the Jews did kill Jesus”, which is simplistic at best, and dangerously stupid at worst. One first must know at least a little about the history about what went on. The Jewish leaders, who were afraid of Jesus’ perceived “power” were fearful of who he was, and who he could become. They were instrumental in having him arrested and getting the mob to free Barabbas instead. The arrogance of many of these people also wash over that ALL of Jesus’ followers were Jewish, along with Jesus as well. Christianity was a sect of Judaism until people like Paul the Apostle began to convert people outside Judaism. Anyway, back away from that tangent, the only people who would be “conned” into inciting hatred towards the Jewish people would have been people who already had an axe to grind with them in the first place. Seeing this film would not have changed someone’s mind either way.

If people weren’t using excuse one (above), they were using the “violence” excuse. It was brutal in it’s portrayal. Some movie reviewers claimed it was the “most violent” film they had ever seen. Highly unlikely, unless their entire library of films they’ve reviewed were all Disney animated films. As I said, it was brutal, but within that it was honest, and wasn’t over the top for over the top’s sake, which is pretty much what you get with people like Quentin Tarantino or schlock-horror “directors” like Eli Roth.

Say what you will about it, but there’s little doubt that the cinematography and editing of this film is near brilliant. And was entirely filmed using only Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew. A feat of modern filmmaking.

Verdict: ****/*****

Rome

2005-2007

Staring: Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus), Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo), James Purefoy (Mark Antony), Polly Walker (Atia of the Julii), Ciarán Hinds (Julius Caesar), Lyndsey Marshal (Cleopatra).

What a ride. With the series finale just coming by this past Sunday evening, I must admit that in the time period that this aired, no show even came close to matching it in quality.

Much of the story of Rome centers around two characters, Vorenus and Pullo, who follow the historical events from the last days of the Roman Republic to the eventual rise of the Roman Empire.

After finishing the series, I have to say that Purefoy was brilliant as Mark Antony. The actor has been around for some time, but I think was his huge break into “mainstream” media. Out of almost all the characters his struck me as the most solid, and there were many solid performances.

Tobias Menzies was wonderful as the traitor Brutus. It was a shame his role (and the entire plot of their escape and chase across the Republic) was reduced so much in the first episodes of the second season. The scheming Atia (Walker), was gorgeous and brutal at the same time, and was a delight to watch week after week. The ever wonderful Ian McNeice as the over the top Newsreader, telling the top “headlines” of the day to the masses as a way to transition between scenes. I have to admit that I don’t think there was a single actor or actress that was out of place in this series.

One thing that bothers many is the transition of Tobias Menzies as the young Octavian to the older Simon Woods. I don’t fault the switch, while Woods might be more “wooden” in the character than Menzies ever was, he sure does bring a better air of maturity and age to the character, where he should be if this was in fact the current time that the story is taking place in the second season. If only they had aged the other younger characters appropriately as well.

The one truly disappointing thing I have with the entire series is that they only had two seasons. Season two should have been the events that occurred between the assassination of Julius and the death of Brutus and the fall of his army, with the third season covering the entirety of events from then to Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s fall. If I’ve spoiled something by saying that, I probably shouldn’t tell you that the boat sinks in Titanic.

As I’ve heard someone else say when referencing this show: When in Rome, don’t do as the Romans do. Few words that are more truthful have been spoken in a long time.

Verdict: *****/*****