If there is already a perfectly entertaining, well-crafted movie version of a story, don't do another version of it! Besides that point, making Peplum films seems to be a lost art by now.
I totally agree - cheap looking CGI. Why did they even bother? The 1959 film may be heading for 60 years old but it is still totally terrific (I saw the 1925 silent one recently too, it may have been amazing for its time but characters and script are woeful compared to Wyler's complex and involving classic). In fact I will be looking in on the 1959 version again this afternoon as it unspools on Good Friday afternoon. Stephen Boyd should really have been Best Supporting Actor for his Messala, the unrepentant black heart of the film - and he must have trained for the chariot race as hard as Heston, yet he was not even nominated. Hugh Griffith who did win is basically a comic turn with just a few scenes, to lighten the mood. Surprised to see Morgan Freeman playing him in this new version - did black men occupy positions of power in Roman times? A television version a few years back was not too bad actually, within its limitations, and Ray Winstone had the required presence for Arrius.
I will bypass this movie. This weekend on Easter Sunday evening I will sit down and watch my favorite movie BEN HUR. Why would Hollywood do this to a classic??? The special effects look really bad, and then in 3D of all things. The acting looks awful wooden to me from the preview alone. This looks like an insane mess.
Well, I totally agree with Michael O"Sullivan. The TV Series is very good and shows the childhood of Judah Ben-Hur and the beggining of his friendship with Messala. And to orsh549, I must say: remmember the remakes of "Clash of Titans", and the worst thing ever: "Gods and Kings" (poor Sigourney Weaver...)...
Richard, I agree that they don't know how to make PEPLUM films anymore.
Michael, the Morgan Freeman thing is terribly anachronistic but Freeman worked with the director in WANTED. Can you imagine that the director of WANTED and ABRAHAM LINCOLN : VAMPIRE HUNTER directing this?
Agree it looks absolutely terrible.
ReplyDeleteIf there is already a perfectly entertaining, well-crafted movie version of a story, don't do another version of it! Besides that point, making Peplum films seems to be a lost art by now.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - cheap looking CGI. Why did they even bother? The 1959 film may be heading for 60 years old but it is still totally terrific (I saw the 1925 silent one recently too, it may have been amazing for its time but characters and script are woeful compared to Wyler's complex and involving classic). In fact I will be looking in on the 1959 version again this afternoon as it unspools on Good Friday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteStephen Boyd should really have been Best Supporting Actor for his Messala, the unrepentant black heart of the film - and he must have trained for the chariot race as hard as Heston, yet he was not even nominated. Hugh Griffith who did win is basically a comic turn with just a few scenes, to lighten the mood. Surprised to see Morgan Freeman playing him in this new version - did black men occupy positions of power in Roman times?
A television version a few years back was not too bad actually, within its limitations, and Ray Winstone had the required presence for Arrius.
I will bypass this movie. This weekend on Easter Sunday evening I will sit down and watch my favorite movie BEN HUR. Why would Hollywood do this to a classic??? The special effects look really bad, and then in 3D of all things. The acting looks awful wooden to me from the preview alone. This looks like an insane mess.
ReplyDeleteWell, I totally agree with Michael O"Sullivan. The TV Series is very good and shows the childhood of Judah Ben-Hur and the beggining of his friendship with Messala.
ReplyDeleteAnd to orsh549, I must say: remmember the remakes of "Clash of Titans", and the worst thing ever: "Gods and Kings" (poor Sigourney Weaver...)...
Richard, I agree that they don't know how to make PEPLUM films anymore.
ReplyDeleteMichael, the Morgan Freeman thing is terribly anachronistic but Freeman worked with the director in WANTED. Can you imagine that the director of WANTED and ABRAHAM LINCOLN : VAMPIRE HUNTER directing this?
Orsh, it does look like an insane mess.