In the Name of Ben Hur

One of the worst movies i have ever seen. Well not even sure you can call it a movie it is so bad. Everything about this film is bad. The story is unbelievable, to think a few untrained farmers could defeat trained Roman soldiers and ex-Gladiators is ridiculous. None of the characters looked like they could fight their way out of a paper bag. Could the Romans really only muster half a dozen soldiers in badly fitted Armour, that were so easily defeated by a man with a staff?

The direction is awful and the costumes a joke, (Peter Ormond looked like he was in badly fitted fancy dress.) Jonno Davies ran around like a little boy so out of his depth and really badly cast. It is hard to find any good acting in this movie, but Alan Calton stood out as better than the film itself.

I watched it to the end in the hope that it might get better but it gets worse the more it progresses to the final silly ending.

At times I thought maybe this was a spoof comedy, but on reading the DVD cover discovered it was suppose to be an action film.

Easy viewing. A good film to have on when you want to enjoy and switch off from heavier daily troubles. Although not perfect, worth supporting from an all British cast, production value perspective.

It's hardly the budget of a Gladiator or a Kingdom of Heaven. But it aims to show an interesting array of characters and in some instances the uniqueness of an all British cast and a new Ben Hur story comes through. I thought Lucia plays a good role as the sister of the hero. Cassius is also an interesting character, albeit a little expected.

The idea of a washed up, reclusive Ben-Hur is an interesting concept and is an ambitious concept to take on. As mentioned, it is a well-intentioned different take on an existing story. It's definitely worth knowing when going into this film to manage expectations.

The film is inevitably held back by lack of budget but it does aim to deliver a good show, and the final action sequence along the beach definitely delivers some a beautiful backdrop to the final climax. I thought the music was good -- probably the part most reminiscent of a larger movie

It's a film you should go into with expectations clear -- definitely a B movies, with a small budget and is good for a Sunday afternoon viewing. worth keeping an open mind, there are some nuggets in there.

It is that I want to save 1 star for later but this is a good candidate. what is worse I ask my self, the acting the lower then low scenery I can not choose. Where the money for this film went. Not in the Cast not in the casting not in the pure film quality and it goes on and on even the fake blood looks fake. I can not think of any reason why this film was made with this name it is an insult to the real Ben Hur movie with John Charles Carter aka Charlton Heston. And then for last really the beginning looks very bad and it gets worse and worse, bad acting by nobody's. So do not spent any time on this movie. Just a tip: So many others movies to enjoy even in this genre, like The Eagle or similar movies.

I enjoyed watching this movie. It's a decent option for when you need to switch off. It is easy to watch and nice scenic shots.

It's not a remake of the original 'In the name of Ben-Hur'. It's more a continuation of the story.

It's a story worth telling and this film takes a different approach than the original at telling it. It is a budget movie so bear that in mind when watching it. The production quality obviously cannot be compared to the big budget version, but is good for a low budget film.

Lucia (played by Lara Heller) and Cassius (played by Michael Bott) were well-delivered characters.

We might call In the name of Ben-Hur, Judah Ben-Hur the later years and since he was doing his thing back in Judea around the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, he's had an interesting life. In the years of Nero's reign time and circumstance have brought him to Lusitania which we now call Portugal. One day Ben-Hur retired and wandering saves the life of young Jonno Davies who is protecting his sister from the depravities of some legionnaires.

But that's for openers. The governor has hit upon a brilliant scheme to keep Nero happy send him some women from the province. Had it been Caligula they were trying to please it would have been young twinks. Of course the locals including Davies aren't real happy about this.

In fact Davies importunes Adrian Bouchet playing the middle aged Ben-Hur to train his posse as gladiators, the better to fight the Romans. Therein lies the tale.

Although there are references to the two classic films and Lew Wallace's novel including one big one in the end which if you haven't seen either the film or read the novel you won't understand the climax, there's one big glaring error. Judah Ben-Hur was NOT a gladiator in the original story, he made his bones as a chariot racer as we well know. He's asked to train the kids in gladiatorial combat which wasn't his thing.

Bouchet, Davies, and the rest look like folks whose paychecks have cleared knowing they're in a scavenger of a movie made to take advantage of a third remake of Ben-Hur coming out.

Lew Wallace, Charlton Heston, and Ramon Novarro would not be pleased.