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Ben-Hur (2016)
Beautiful interpretation of an epic story
It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of one of the most venerated films of all time - a film blessed by the pope, but this film is a worthy interpretation of the epic. It varies in a few significant ways from the orignal film (and both vary dramatically from the book ). It's important to note upfront that this version is much more concise.
This version focuses on the relationship between Judah and Messala from beginning to end. It gives the film focus the whole way through. It even skips Judah's entire stint in Rome, making the story concise and directed. The main theme is the struggle between revenge and forgiveness. Jesus' role is poetically streamlined as a catalyst in Judah's arc.
The famous chariot scene is intense and climactic. You can feel the excitement, stress, and chaos in the circus. In the book (and original film), the race occurs much earlier in the story: book 5 of 8. In the 2016 version, the race is the climax leading to the beautiful end that follows.
Don't be deterred by some of the hateful reviews I've seen online. This modern interpretation is focused and powerful. It is now my favorite version. It's well worth the watch.
The Pale Horse (2020)
Great overall feel to it (as usual), but confusing and unsatisfying end
This short series has the same overall feeling to it that the other recent series have (specifically And Then There None and Ordeal by Innocence). I loved it until the very end, which felt rushed, confusing, and overall unsatisfying. The villain's overall method of operation was confusing - as was the protagonist's ending and more.
I haven't read the book, so I make no direct comparisons to it. Nonetheless, I found myself looking up plot summaries for the book bc I couldn't find any good ones for the series. It's extremely rare that I even attempt to look up a plot summary / explanation. In this case, I thought I must have missed something.
I liked the first ~90%; it definitely satisfies the craving for this sort of series. I look forward to whatever comes next and simply hope it has a better ending.