Why Ben Hur is the best religious film of all time

The first time I watched Ben-Hur was at my favorite movie theater, Cinerama - a gorgeous mid-century theater in downtown Seattle. The presentation was a 70mm format, which basically means an even crisper movie-going experience. For a movie that came out in 1959, the quality was amazing, making the showing that much more memorable.

My expectations were pretty low because to the chagrin of some, I'm not someone who loves old movies (with a few exceptions). Even though I'm a movie buff, I'm not enamored with old Hollywood like many cinephiles. I went to see the film with my husband and in-laws. My husband and I had never seen it, but we tagged along because it's a classic and they wanted to share it with us. I'm so glad they did.

I really enjoy The Passion of the Christ. I was thirteen years old when it came out and I remember being very moved by it. As much as a young girl seeing her first R rated movie with her church friends can be I suppose. I think it's a fine film to watch around this time of year. It invites contemplation and reflection. I know many people enjoy watching it, especially on Good Friday when as Christians, we have an opportunity to remember Christ's death on the cross and its importance to our faith.

I'd argue Ben-Hur is a better choice if you're looking for a religious movie to watch this Easter weekend. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's the best religious film made to date. The Passion is an accurate portrayal of the life of Christ and it's very well done. I think there was a lot of heart and conviction that went into making it, but that's just it. It's a portrayal. A portrayal of the most perfect man who ever lived, and so by default it falls short. 

At the end of the day an interpretation of the last days of man who actually lived and died in one of the most horrific ways possible is a tall order. An artistic representation of a man who claimed to be God and died for the sins of the world is a very dim shadow of the reality of that event over 2,000 years ago.

Ben-Hur is fiction. It follows a wealthy, Jewish man set in the days of Christ who suffers betrayal at the hands of a friend, enslavement, starvation, poverty, a thirst for revenge, and eventually victory and vindication (via an epic chariot race/battle). The truth is, Charleston Heston's character, Judah Ben-Hur, faces much of the same suffering as Jesus himself, but unlike Jesus, he's not perfect. In fact, his sins are presented very honestly through much of the movie. Even though he's a man who has been deeply wronged, we don't get the impression he is justified in his actions. Judah Ben-Hur is a character we can identify with. 

And yet, in one of the most beautiful pictures of redemption in any one piece of art, Judah has an encounter with Jesus. Several encounters actually. Judah's life parallels Jesus' life and he hears of this Messiah, but it isn't until the end of the film when he comes to the end of himself and has lost everything that he has that he recognizes his need for a savior. And that's when Jesus shows up. Like he always does. I've never seen this beautiful reality portrayed so well. And that's why, in my opinion, this is the best religious film of all time. I know there was a remake this last year. I wouldn't waste your time. It's pales in comparison to the original.

I'm not alone in my admiration. This film won 11 Academy Awards making it one of the most awarded films of all time. This is a long film with a running time of over three and a half hours, so it's a commitment, but well worth it.