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Once We Were Slaves (2014)
Amazing
I recommend this unique perspective of Christ's sacrifice to anyone looking for a heartwarming story. It was nice watching a movie about the two thieves as this story isn't told enough. A fascinating story of irony, almost like a parallel of the parable of the pharisee(Benyamin) and the tax collector(Demas). While I personally feel that it should've been the other way around since this cliché has been overdone with the pharisees vs sinners in really every movie about Jesus, this is still one of the best movies I've ever seen. I just wish it was longer.
The Towering Inferno (1974)
The Towering Masterpiece!
This was my favorite movie as a kid and will always be one of my all time favorites. Burning elevators, tall building, fire fighting. As entertaining as the movie is, the ending is always somber every time. The only thing I would've done different was have that greedy irresponsible Duncan die instead of conflicted scapegoat Roger Simmons. If he had to die it should've been during his attempt to climb the stairs, at least he wouldn't have been punched and almost thrown off 135 stories. I agree that a giant watertower on top was very unrealistic. That final explosion didn't collapse or even knock the roof off of the skyscraper.
Day of Triumph (1954)
Good, anythings better than gardening.
An amazing movie that conveys a lot of Bible truth. Robert Wilson was the Bruce Marchiano of the 50s. This is a movie about perspective that follows how different characters viewed Jesus and how He impacted their lives. The Virginian's Lee J Cobb gave this movie a wild West feel more or less. The introduction is amazing, you know Jesus is talking to you staring with "Listen" and ending with "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." I also love how this movie fleshes out Dismas, the thief on the cross. The first two scenes with Dismas are funny, the third is a powerful portrayal of God's grace. Judas is portrayed as a schemer trying to manipulate Jesus. All the main and supporting characters really stand out.
Ben-Hur (2016)
Ben-Hur don't that: nope, actually it's a different interpretation and very unpredictable.
This version portrays Jesus as living in Jerusalem and has Judah Ben-Hur kill Quintus Arrius. The movie has great redeeming value. In this version,Messala is an orphan adopted into the Hur household. The beginning scene loosely based off a story told in the 1959 version, instead of hunting, they are horse racing. Messala carries an injured Judah back to his house. The version takes a sympathetic portrayal to Messala's character, even though he is raised in a loving Jewish house, he still clings to his Roman roots and doesn't feel at home, he feels unwelcome and leaves to join the army. He wants to be worthy of Tirzah. Judah is laid back at the beginning. As he and Messala grew up together they respect each others cultures. Judah is a pacifist, always wanting to help. There are two redemption stories in this movie that tie in greatly together even though Judah and Dismas only interact once. Dismas wants justice for his family. Judah's advise to Dismas probably went with him the rest of his life, telling him not to blame all Romans for what a few men did as well as asking him how many Romans he has talked to. Later Messala returns to Jerusalem and they talk about how their lives have been since Messala left and joined the army. Judah and Messala were criticized for defending each other's people. Judah has talked to fellow Jews about peace, a few people didn't agree with him. Judah protects their identity, the rift comes when he won't name names for Messala to crucify. Dismas gets the Hur house in trouble by killing a soldier. Judah takes the blame hoping to save the other people in the household. This encounter with Judah impacted Dismas who remembers Judah 5 years later at the chariot race, even leading the cheering. Sheik Ilderim replaces the roles of Quintus Arrius and Balthazar, acting as a wise father figure who pays for the freedom of Judah's mother and sister. Esther's father Simonedes is killed when the soldiers break into the Hur home, so the role he played in the 1959 version as well as Malluch are left out. In this version, Judah stops Esther's engagement and married her(opposed to the 1959 version where she broke off an engagement to care for her father) before Messala returns. Messala's friend Druses plays a notable role in this version. Druses gets Naomi(the mother's name in this version) and Tirzah commuted to life because Messala cherished Tirzah and keeps Messala from making that mistake. Even though Druses did what he could, he still feels guilty. Judah thought leprosy was worse than death, especially when they tried to protect his health by shooing him away. Like Arrius in the 1959 version, Sheik Ilderim also lost his only son. The role of the goofy character goes to Simonedes in this version while Sheik Ilderim was the goof in the 1959 version. This movie has a good message. Jesus gives Judah water on the way to the galley, Judah tries to give Jesus water on the way to the crucifixion. Judah's pacifist nature is seen on the galley where he reminds himself not to get involved in other slaves' abuse. The flashbacks define how even though he lost everything, Jesus's act of kindness gave him hope as evidenced by his statement to a fellow slave about outliving the masters. In 1959, Quintus Arrius says "we keep you alive to serve this ship, roll well and live." In this version he gruffly says "This ship is your body and this drum is your heartbeat". He's a tyrant. Judah grabs the sail of one of a ship that freed him, he's freed and kept alive only by a cross. Messala said right before dying in the 1959 version, "the race is not over, it goes on." The zealots fight the Romans at the arena after Judah's victory, leading to the arrest of Dismas. Shortly after Jesus's triumphal entry, Judah has his triumphal entry at the chariot race. Dismas may have remembered Judah's words and realized he was wrong to take the law into his own hands. There are multiple redemption stories as not only did Jesus speak into Judah's life, but Messala hears Jesus's kind words after saving a leper from being stoned. At the crucifixion, Judah finally finds peace. Jesus keeps true to his teachings by not letting Judah stone a Roman. Judah remembers Dismas as he hears him screaming "We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong", then asks Jesus to remember him and Jesus promises, "Today you will be with me in paradise." After Jesus says "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do", Judah remembers the good times with Messala and to the last time he saw him, he drops the stone Jesus wouldn't let him throw. The man who got Judah in trouble, whom Judah helped at the beginning, was now helping Judah find peace and witness the love and mercy of Jesus. Judah saw Jesus's impact on this man and how he is a changed man. A perfect example of Jesus as well as the contrite attitude of Dismas help Judah finish his path to peace and redemption. The difference is the way they handled the wrongs done to them let to different fates yet the same destination. Both men were bitter, but found peace in Jesus. I recommend this story of forgiveness and healing. 10/10