One thing about this story that kinda shoots it in the foot before it really begins is how much of an unfathomable prick Messala is. OK, I get it. You want to show the Jewish rabble you mean business by arresting your boyhood best friend. But the mother and daughter too? First of all, that isn't going to command respect or fear, that will command rage and possibly cause people to revolt when given the chance. But on it's face, who could be such a monster? I tell you, it made me do a double take and took me right out of the movie as I said to myself there is no way someone could be this much of an asshole. It just made the antagonist/villain feel cartoonish.

But besides that flaw, I highly recommend this film. It still holds up today and is quite moving. Definitely makes my top 10 of best revenge flicks of all time.

Ben-Hur (1959) - 8 outta 10 stars