Third Coming of 'Ben-Hur' Brings a Powerful Message to Theaters

ALASKA DISPATCH NEWS
By Cal Thomas

Movie poster for Ben Hur, which opened in theaters nationwide on August 19, 2016

HOLLYWOOD---Since Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" grossed more than $600 million worldwide, Hollywood has slowly begun to look at faith-based movies as a way to fatten their bottom lines and reach a demographic they have mostly ignored for decades. Perhaps the boldest move in this genre is the remake of a classic, "Ben-Hur." The 1959 film starring Charlton Heston won 11 Oscars, including best picture, best director (William Wyler) and best actor (Heston). It too was a remake of a 1925 silent film version adapted from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel "Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ." This remake has the golden touch of the husband-wife team of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey (producers of the highly rated "The Bible" series for the History Channel). [link]