Ben-Hur (1959) (Ultimate Collector's Edition)

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by JVB2

This certainly looks awesome!

YouTube - ‪BEN-HUR 50th ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION Blu-ray trailer‬‏

Wow. Now that is an awesome restoration.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Socko

Can someone convince me to blindbuy this
I've only seen a few minutes of the chariot race when I was a child.

I've often suspected it's sort of a template for Anakin and Obi-Wan's complicated relationship in the SW prequels. We know for a fact that Lucas used Ben Hur to inspire the pod race, but I suspect he also used the disintegrating friendship between Judah and Masallah as inspiration for Anakin and Obi-Wan, even having Anakin repeat Masallah's line, "If you're not with me, you're against me". If you have a very negative reaction to Christian imagery and themes, I'd avoid it, but otherwise, it's a strong piece of work, one of Hollywood's most iconic, and in my opinion, the gold standard in sword-and-sandal epics. You could always just rent the DVD and check it out before you make up your mind on a BR purchase.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

I've often suspected it's sort of a template for Anakin and Obi-Wan's complicated relationship in the SW prequels. We know for a fact that Lucas used Ben Hur to inspire the pod race, but I suspect he also used the disintegrating friendship between Judah and Masallah as inspiration for Anakin and Obi-Wan, even having Anakin repeat Masallah's line, "If you're not with me, you're against me". If you have a very negative reaction to Christian imagery and themes, I'd avoid it, but otherwise, it's a strong piece of work, one of Hollywood's most iconic, and in my opinion, the gold standard in sword-and-sandal epics. You could always just rent the DVD and check it out before you make up your mind on a BR purchase.

I only saw this on TV as a kid and also pretty much only remember the chariot races as well. It's not a religious themed as The 10 Commandments is it? I bought that, even though I do have a very negative reaction to Christian imagery. I really enjoy the first 1/2 - 2/3rds of 10 Commandments where it's set in Egypt, but for me it all goes downhill starting with the parting of the red sea; the burning bush and on Mt. Sinai where he gets the commandments from God are downright laughable.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by The Duke

I only saw this on TV as a kid and also pretty much only remember the chariot races as well. It's not a religious themed as The 10 Commandments is it? I bought that, even though I do have a very negative reaction to Christian imagery. I really enjoy the first 1/2 - 2/3rds of 10 Commandments where it's set in Egypt, but for me it all goes downhill starting with the parting of the red sea; the burning bush and on Mt. Sinai where he gets the commandments from God are downright laughable.

Perhaps you have knowledge as to how events really transpired?

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The 1959 version of Ben Hur will be downconverted from 8K to 1080P quality (technically a little less than 1080P due to the black bars taken up scan lines to maintain the original ratio). Disc 1 and Disc 2 will contain the HD version of Ben Hur.

Disc 3 contains the 1925 version of Ben Hur with some of the extras in HD. The silent version of Ben Hur might not have received an 8K or 4K restoration with a 1080P transfer. There is a possibility that only the SD 480I version of the Ben Hur 1925 film is on the third disc. The 1925 version of Ben Hur is 143 minutes long which means it would need to get its own dedicated disc most likely, but there is only 3 discs instead of 4. If the 1925 Ben Hur did get a HD transfer it might be a lower bit rate VC-1 encode so that it can be fit on the third disc with all the extras. I am hoping for a HD transfer of the 1925 version but right now it is unclear. On the positive side at least they are including the 1925 version of Ben Hur that at the very minimum will match the quality of the 480i DVD version.

Bill Hunt's last announcement specifically said the 1925 version was from the same Turner-supervised Thames Television restoration as past editions, including Carl Davis' stereo orchestral score. As that restoration was originally made for pre-HD British TV, it may not exist at any resolution greater than PAL (which WB would convert to NTSC per its usual BD mastering practices, even for PAL countries).

I wish it were in HD also, but IMO it's almost certain to be in SD. In addition to space constraints on Disc 3, any HD restoration of the 1925 film would likely be cost-prohibitive if not impossible, especially since (a) the 1959 restoration is already two years overdue and (b) the only known two-strip Technicolor copy was discovered in a Czech film archive in the 1980s, and its current condition is likely unknown. (That discovery led to the Turner-Thames restoration.)

[Jacksmyname]

Originally Posted by lkmg

i had pre-ordered this too. it would be a nice collection beside my Gone With the Wind, Wizard of Oz, The Ten Commandments & Sound of Music UCE.

Ditto.
I'm a a big fan of the UCE's and buy them. The prices are, IMHO, are a bargain for what they contain.
Some films just deserve a special presentation.
The one's you've listed, along with Ben-Hur (and others) are just such films.

BTW, hi all from a new member.

Jack

[aherron]

Originally Posted by Jacksmyname

Ditto.
I'm a a big fan of the UCE's and buy them. The prices are, IMHO, are a bargain for what they contain.
Some films just deserve a special presentation.
The one's you've listed, along with Ben-Hur (and others) are just such films.

BTW, hi all from a new member.

Jack

Welcome! Nice to have you aboard. Enjoy the site.

[Jacksmyname]

Originally Posted by aherron

Welcome! Nice to have you aboard. Enjoy the site.

Thanks aherron.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Perhaps you have knowledge as to how events really transpired?

I don't believe the events ever occurred. But I was referring to how silly the imagery looked, and how poorly the special effects look by today's standards, and looked especially corny and phoney in HD.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by The Duke

I don't believe the events ever occurred. But I was referring to how silly the imagery looked, and how poorly the special effects look by today's standards, and looked especially corny and phoney in HD.

That's the good thing about everyone having their own opinion!

[Vincent89]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Warner did a one million dollar restoration which included a 8K scan of the original frame negative.

The scan is 8k, the restoration is 6k

[Pirate King]

I will certainly purchase this movie. IMHO, Ben-Hur is the best movie ever made. I know that the special effects are not up to todays standards. Neither is the TV I was watching as a ten year old in 1959, nor was the phone I was talking on. Ben-Hur did win the acadamy award for best visual effects, which were exceptional at the time the movie was made. The movie is great entertainment and I am very excited about this release!

[DaViD Boulet]

Just can't wait. One of the greatest movies of all time... it was the "LOTR" of it's day, and still looks and sounds phenomenal without a drop of CGI.

[ole geezer]

Originally Posted by The Duke

I don't believe the events ever occurred. But I was referring to how silly the imagery looked, and how poorly the special effects look by today's standards, and looked especially corny and phoney in HD.

Hmmmmmm, Perhaps this title might have sold more units if the special effects were redone using today's technology. Just a thought.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by ole geezer

Hmmmmmm, Perhaps this title might have sold more units if the special effects were redone using today's technology. Just a thought.

Anyone interested in the 1950's 10 commandments would want the original version. The special effects were impressive for the day and part of what makes the film what it is.

changing the special effects, dated as they are, would be like re-recording new vocals for the Sound of Music.

[ole geezer]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Anyone interested in the 1950's 10 commandments would want the original version. The special effects were impressive for the day and part of what makes the film what it is.

Is that written in stone.

If one day the studio can seamlessly entergrate more life like special effects during certain scenes of the 10 Commandments as part of a new edition, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Might even make it more interesting. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing this title converted someday to 3D.

changing the special effects, dated as they are, would be like re-recording new vocals for the Sound of Music.

...actually it would be more like re-recording the current sound track to perhaps 7.2 DD. Now THAT would be interesting.

[Z0MBIELANDS]

mad:
The UK release looks like it's just a transfer of the DVD!! And no sign of the US boxset which is region encoded !!!
Why are we so short changed by the US????

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Z0MBIELANDS

mad:
The UK release looks like it's just a transfer of the DVD!! And no sign of the US boxset which is region encoded !!!
Why are we so short changed by the US????

Actually, this Yank has pre-ordered the UK Blu-ray release, it's movie only (I don't want the big box of fluff) and it releases 3 weeks before the US release:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ben-Hur-Blu-ray/9453

Yes, Warner doesn't release Collector's Edition boxsets in the UK, and even all the US digibook releases have been released in standard plastic cases in the UK. They must not feel there's a market for them. But if you really want that big box of stuff you can order it from Amazon.com, international shipping is $12. ANd it's not region coded, it's region free.

[mwilli]

i just saw the blu ray trailer of ben hur on you tube..iam now so psyched right now cant wait to get this collectors edition i already have the dvd edition(4 disc set)but this on blu ray?....dammmmmm(u can tell im amped..lol)
how am i gonna react when i see the star wars complete set on blu ray...there gonna have to call a conarary.......this will come in very handy if we get another bad winter in nyc.......

[Swissangel4616]

I guess it was worth to wait two years longer. So far I know and have seen before at "gone with the wind" on blu-Ray... Ben Hur will looking great now.

More than 1 Million Dollar has costs this restoration: frame by frame for a movie lengt of almost 4 hours.

The Set alreay looks great with booklets and contains also new documentary.