Hollywood Remake 3:16... "Ben-Hur"

Ben Hur (2016)  

Rated PG-13

Starring Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro,

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov

The Story:

Judah Ben-Hur (Huston) a Jewish prince has been accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Kebbell) and exiled from his homeland to serve aboard a Roman naval vessel as a slave rower. When good fortune strikes, Judah is freed and washes ashore where Ilderim (Freeman) teaches him to be the best chariot rider so that he can return home and get revenge against his brother.

Naturally, this is a remake of the classic Charleston Heston movie of the same name. I don't think I've ever seen that one at all, or at least more than a few parts, so I have no basis to compare the two.

I have seen plenty of other movies in my time though, and this one seems strikingly familiar to Gladiator, sometimes too much so.

Also a touch of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but that may just simply be because of the wise Morgan Freeman character teaching the young hero how to be better to overcome his enemy.

Alas, both of those movies have left enough impression on my mind to make me realize that this story is their inferior.

The naval battle is pretty impressive, but otherwise this story is a bit long.

Plus, while it's an effective storytelling device to start the story in the middle of things and then flashback to what had happened before, in this case, I believe it weakened the overall story.

There is no question that Judah and Messala are going to have a showdown at the chariot race at the end of the movie.

So there is little suspense when the brother turns, or when Judah is trapped aboard the slave ship.

Start at the beginning and go from there, it would have created the stronger narrative and made the movie more gripping of an experience.

Then of course there is the minor story about this guy named Jesus (Santoro) which is almost a throwaway subplot that seems almost tacked on because they felt they had to.

Sometimes it feels forced, and I can't help but wonder if they shouldn't have either left it out entirely, or beefed it up so there was more to it than the compassion coming full circle with the drink of water.

Watchable, but there's plenty of other sand & sandal epics that you could watch instead.

Even the really cheesy Gods of Egypt.

:)

Final Grade: C-

The Man...The Myth..."The Legend Of Hercules"

The Legend of Hercules (2014)

Rated PG-13 for violence

Starring Kellan Lutz, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee

Directed by Renny Harlin

The Story:

The Queen (McKee) doesn't care much for the bloodthirsty King (Adkins) anymore, so she prays that she could have a child that could bring peace to the world.  Enter Zeus... pun fully intended.  As the young prince grows, he is hated by his father, and sent to die in a foreign land.  But when asked his name, he gives them the name that his mother said he was to be called: Hercules (Lutz)  Hercules works his way back to his homeland to save himself, and his people from the tyranny of his father.

Eh... it wasn't too bad.

Hercules: Year One.

Not a whole lot of Herculean Tasks or feats are performed.  Heck, the big guy doesn't even get his power until the movie is nearing the conclusion.

Think of it as Gladiator, with superpowers.

Again, it's not a horrible film by any stretch of the imagination.

Renny Harlin is at the helm, and Renny Harlin does know how to direct a competent action flick, which he once again proves here.

My hope... the one coming out this summer with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, will be much, much better.

Final Grade: C... maybe even a C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Wouldn't own it, wouldn't have a problem watching it again.