The base of the mountain, number 100 on AFI’s Top 100 list, is 1959’s Ben-Hur. Prior to this viewing experience, I was not aware it held the record for most Oscars until Titanic came along, nor was I aware it was a remake of a 1925 silent film, nor did I realize the movie is four hours long, so there were a few surprises. What did not surprise me after watching, however, was this film’s presence on the list. Generally, I am skeptical I will be able to enjoy any movie made prior to 1970 given the assumed potential for tame action, dry stories, and ridiculous over-acting. There are exceptions I will encounter higher on the list, but sitting down to watch Charlton Heston exude manliness all over massive set pieces, I realized I only knew this movie from its famous chariot race sequence.  Seeing how uninformed I was, there was some additional surprise to learn the birth and death of Jesus Christ was a central component to the story. Ben-Hur is as much a biblical tale as it is a revenge and redemption odyssey.

So, how is the movie? It is epic, absolutely grand in scale. The movie opens with a near-seven minute overture that highlighted both a strong orchestral score and how much time I waste on the computer as I sat browsing away, not realizing the same overture screen and music had been displayed for five-plus minutes. Any movie that opens with that long an overture immediately makes me feel as though I am in for an experience, and that is what Ben-Hur provides. You can absolutely tell this is an old movie made when Hollywood was in a different place. There are seemingly different expectations for actors and actresses today compared to the 1950’s. No Meryl Streep-esque acting qualities were coming from this film, nor did Heston particularly feel gravitational as you would expect from a lead. Ben-Hur also had, by today’s standards, questionable casting and make-up choices to fit actors into different racial roles. Despite those perceived shortcomings, everything felt appropriate and kept me engaged. The acting, sets, story, and sound fit together to create an enjoyable viewing experience. If the movie had not provided an intermission, I would not have felt it was nearly a four-hour movie. Some movies feel as long or longer than advertised (I’m looking at you Gods and Generals); this one did not. Ben-Hur gave me exactly what I expected and heaped on some classic film appreciation. Going forward, I have to understand these films cannot be compared with movies of today on a 1-to-1 basis. The world continued evolving after 1959, and prior generations, whether existing in film or society, serve to forge paths that must be picked up by successors. Many on this list helped shape modern cinema and the epic experiences residing on the silver screen, and they should be revered for contribution, not simply existence. If films 99-1 are truly better than Ben-Hur, then watching my way through AFI’s list should be an enriching experience.

Next, I get to spend time with Woody and Buzz at number 99.

Return to the List Thus Far