"How do you fight an idea?"

Said by Sextus to Messala in one of the first scenes in the movie Ben Hur. This is one of the most important lines in the movie because one of the main themes is the power of an idea. The idea of what a true friend is. The idea of how to run a culture. The idea of religion. The idea of sacrifice. There are many more themes running through out its entirety, including fate, love, hope, minority, racism, betrayal, revenge, expansion, and power.


There are particular moments through out the movie that were composed very well. The scene when the slaves are running barefoot over the rocks really delivers the pain and suffering to the audience. The scene as the prison guards walk down to the lower levels to find Judah's mother and sister. The moment when they are opening the door and the guard struggles to open it. That was so devastating to watch because you knew that door hadn't been opened in 3 years. The scene when the commander on the ship is testing out the oarsman and keeps pushing them to go faster. I am noticing all of these scenes are about suffering...hmmm....

What was most impressive to me was the set design and the music. Both gave the movie an extra push. The music was very dramatic through out the movie except for the chariot race; which made that scene ever more intense with just the faraway cries of the audience and the clickety clack of the horses hooves. I am certain I am not alone when I say that is my favorite scene. Just to think of the amount of work that went into just that scene alone is mind boggling. So many horses, so many people. Every shot was clearly planned and thought out; at least it felt that way. The combination of the closeups and the full scenes, then to the gentle focus on the horses faces was in such great rhythm with the intensity of the moment.

In all honesty, the movie could have ended after that scene. It went downhill from there. I know that every movie needs closure, but I don't think it needed to take so long.

I do feel like I should probably watch the movie again, but I don't think I want to. It is not a movie on my list of movies I could watch 100 times. But, it is a movie that is worth watching. There are many thought provoking questions that come up. One of my favorite ideas about life is the idea that every moment matters. That life is sometimes in the details. When Tirzah accidentally leans too far over the roof and the tiles fall or when Judah collapses and needs water and there is only one person that will give it to him. Those are the little things that make the rest of the movie possible. They are moments when the movie changes course.

Overall I enjoyed the movie, but wouldn't call it a favorite. I can certainly see why it grabbed so much attention in 1959. It was a huge undertaking and definitely a success.