1905 movie network news It is the most influential Christian work in the 19th century. It was published on November 12th, 1880 by Lou Wallace. "Ben Xu" ranked first in the bestseller list from its publication until Gone with the Wind came out in 1936. Since the birth of film technology, Ben Xu has been put on the big screen four times in 1907, 1925, 1959 and 2003, and was adapted into a mini-TV series in 2010, which is a big darling of Hollywood remake.
The 1959 version of Ben Xu cost as much as $15 million, which was the most epic at that time, with a length of three hours and 32 minutes, and it was a good film with no urine spots. In early 1960, Ben Xu won 11 Oscars, including best film, best director, best actor and supporting actor. This record was tied by The Tenica and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, but it has not been surpassed so far.
This year, "Ben Xu" was moved to the big screen for the fifth time, using IMAX 3D, and the cost was as high as 100 million US dollars. Although the original work is a religious work that preaches how Christian love influences Jews, its core is a story about how Judas became a slave from the "rich second generation" and finally achieved revenge.
In ancient Rome, Ben Xu, a wealthy family living in Jerusalem, lived a prosperous life. His eldest son Judas and his adopted son Misala were inseparable brothers. However, due to the opposition of Ben Xu’s mother, Misala could not fall in love with Judas’ sister, so he left Jerusalem in a rage and joined the army of Julius Caesar in Rome. Misala, a successful man, returned to his hometown after many years, hoping that Judas could help him, complete the Roman emperor’s rule over the city and sweep away the rebels. But Judas refused to betray his nation, which led to the breakup of his brothers. When the Roman army entered the city, a rebel sheltered by Judas tried to assassinate the Roman emperor on the roof of Ben Xu’s house, and failed, which implicated Ben Xu’s family. Judas was sold to a warship as a slave for boating, and he also lost the information of his family until the warship was attacked. Judas drifted to the island and returned to Jerusalem with the help of African businessmen to start his own revenge. Finally, influenced by Jesus, Judas realized the importance of great love and forgave Misala.
Why is this revenge of the Jewish nobility so popular with Hollywood studios? From the 59-year edition to the present, what has Ben Xu surpassed in technology and art? Before the film was released, Xiao Bian sat down with the film’s creator at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and chatted about their experience and behind-the-scenes story of filming the latest Ben Xu.
Remake? Please use the new word "new idea"
Although "Ben Xu" is obviously a remake of Paramount and MGM, during the publicity process, the castors said in unison: "This is not a remake! It is a new imagination of the original work. " Well, the city will play. Let’s take a look at some contrast pictures, and how the "non-remake" Ben Xu re-imagined the original.
1905: Please talk about what do you think is the difference between the new version and the 59-year version?
Jack huston: Funnily enough, I am friends with Charlton Hester’s grandson in private. Our names are both Jack (laughs). So, when I heard that Hollywood was going to remake Ben Hur, I was very excited. After reading the script, I was even more excited, because I realized that this was not a remake, but a new director re-imagined this epic story with brand-new actors in the new era. I think the biggest difference is the role of Misala. When I went to the audition, I wanted to apply for Misala. I told Timo, the director, that I thought this character was full of tragedy, and I could feel his pain and helplessness. The’ 59 version made him a bad guy, but I didn’t think he was a villain. Teemo later gave me the role of Judas. He said that the reason why I was suitable to play Judas was my profound understanding of Misala. He felt that the core of the film was the complicated brotherhood between Misala and Judas, and the director wanted to reshape a different role of Misala, and my love for Misala was the key to make me play Judas well. So, he persuaded me to take over the role, and then we went into the hard shooting like the devil’s training (laughs).
1905: The film really reflects the brotherhood with great colors. What do you understand from this brotherhood?
Jack huston: The story of Ben Xu happened more than two thousand years ago, and the love and hatred in it will last forever. We are still experiencing all kinds of wars and attacks caused by religion and politics. No matter how advanced human civilization is, hatred still exists in people’s hearts. The 59-year-old edition of Ben Hur focuses on the revenge of Judah, but I think the society needs more kindness and love now, not hatred. Therefore, I think this film is all about the brotherhood between Judas and Misala, and I have learned a lot. When Judas returned to Jerusalem after suffering, he only had hatred in his heart, but in the end he realized that this hatred came from his love for his brother. Letting go of hate is the ultimate liberation, which is what I learned from movies. I am grateful that the director can explore the good nature of human beings with such relief, instead of simply telling a story of revenge.
Jack huston, like Judas, was born in a prominent family. His grandfather john huston was a great director, who was nominated for the Oscar for nine times and won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The role of Misala is a Roman orphan adopted by a Jewish family. Actor Toby Kebbell grew up in England. He is a child of an ordinary family and has not been influenced by any art since childhood. He is a self-taught actor.
1905: Toby, please talk about your birth background. Do you have anything in common with Misala?
Toby Kebbell: I have three elder brothers and one younger sister. I like to compete with my brothers since I was a child. In fact, this competitive spirit is the only similarity between Misala and me. I also like to compete with my brothers at home and often get into trouble, but they love me as always. My three brothers’ doting on me also made me a little arrogant and bent on getting ahead, which caused my personality defect. Also, I liked lying when I was a child, and later it became a habit. This may be the reason why I can be an actor. Actors are just a professional lying skill. When I was young, I wanted the whole world to see my talent and ability, so I became particularly competitive. I can fully understand Misala’s feelings when he left his family in Judah and went out to fight in Rome.
Ancient carriage race shot by modern GoPro
The 1959 version of Ben Xu spent one million dollars and one year to build the Roman carriage stadium, making it the largest film studio at that time.
The carriage race between Judas and Misala has always been a classic competition on the big screen. The speed of the carriage is amazing, and the contest between technology and wisdom between them is also very exciting. In the carriage race, Messala, who repeatedly killed Ben-Hur, was finally killed because of the collision of wheels. These scenes are well reflected in the latest version of Ben-Hur, with sound effects and soundtrack in place, which makes people feel the pleasure of watching nascar racing in one go. It is definitely the biggest highlight of the film.
1905: In addition to the different characters, I found that the classic carriage race scene in the movie was also shot with many latest film technologies. Please talk about your feelings about shooting green screen.
Jack huston: Many people thought that the play was made by computer special effects. In fact, you were cheated (laughs). Except for the scenes where the horses fell to the ground or were injured, they were all shot word for word according to the script. The whole Roman stadium was built from scratch, and the construction process was also filmed in the movie, so the audience saw the real studio construction site. Toby and I trained in carriage for three months, and then it took the crew six weeks to film the whole carriage race. Although director Teemo is a famous computer special effects director, this time, he was naughty to avoid using post-special effects. He wanted to surprise the audience. Therefore, the scenes where I was dragged by a horse on the ground and I was driving a carriage were all real. I have to say that on the first day of filming, I was always swept by a ponytail behind the horse, which was so hairy!
Toby Kebbell: Jack and I have installed GroPro cameras on our bodies and heads, so that the audience can see the subjective picture of our horse racing, and with the wide-angle lens, people have a completely immersive feeling. Due to the technical limitations of the previous films, it is necessary to film the scenes of the carriage race in slow motion, and then speed up the play in the later stage. But our film doesn’t need to do this at all. GroPro is light and easy to operate, and it can capture the highlights of the whole competition. The audience in this era is watching YouTube, and they are all a generation who like streaming POV. I think they will like the epic film made by GroPro and experience the feeling of being pulled by four horses.
1905: Aren’t those horses afraid?
Jack huston: Not at all. They are cute! Sometimes, the directors shout cut, and they are still playing (laughing). When I first got on that carriage, I was the only one, because the director trusted these horses, haha. Then they began to run wildly. I wanted to step on the device to stop them with my feet, but the horses ran so happily that I had to step on it very hard that I came across at the corner. It was really exciting! Judas is a The Horse Whisperer in the script. He has the ability to communicate with horses, so my relationship with horses must be very close. In one scene, a horse is ill and Judas needs to cure her. We are also worried about how to make a healthy white horse act ill. As a result, as soon as I performed a worried look, the mare named Leah immediately understood my meaning and gently fell on her side in my arms. At that moment, the winner of Ma Jie was born! The horse trainer cried and said that he was completely moved by this scene.
Jack is a Sagittarius. He thinks he is half man and half horse, which is especially suitable for the role of Judas.
Jesus can have many versions, but God has only one.Morgan FreemanTalent acting
In the film, Rodrigue Santoro, a Brazilian-born actor, plays Jesus, which Xiao Bian thinks is the most valuable image of Jesus in film history.
Throughout the history of movies, according to Wikipedia, there are more than 45 actors who have played Jesus, among which the famous actors include ewan mcgregor, Christian Bale and willem dafoe.
In the new edition of Ben Xu, the image of Jesus does not appear much, which weakens the Christian color in the 59-year edition. Morgan Freeman plays a lot of African businessmen, and he is the instructor of Ben Xu’s carriage race. He also has an amazing "mop" hairstyle.
Morgan Freeman once played God in a comedy film, and Jesus was the son of God. When Xiao Bian asked santoro what communication he had with the "God" actor, he said, "I tried to chat with Morgan Freeman several times, but in the end I didn’t have the courage. He really exists like a god."
Morgan Freeman will be 80 years old next year. Although the old man’s answer is very concise, he is full of energy and has legs.
1905: The story center of the new edition of Ben Xu is about the great love between people. What is the craziest thing you have done for love?
Morgan Freeman: I can’t tell you. What I can tell you is that I had a girlfriend when I was 20 years old. She visited me from Los Angeles to San Diego. I didn’t want to leave after I put her on the train, but I didn’t have a ticket. I decided to hide and see if I could mix in the car. As a result, the conductor found me, and he persuaded me that people should not make trouble for themselves like this all their lives. I remembered later that I never got into trouble for love in my life.
In the 1905-1959 version, your role was played by hugh griffith, who won the Oscar for Best Actor for this role. What do you think is the difference between your interpretation and his?
Morgan Freeman: His version is more comic, but not as big as my role. I can say responsibly that our interpretations are totally different. I don’t think the audience will associate me with Greaves after watching it.
1905: You have been acting all your life. Why did you choose this role?
Morgan Freeman: In 1967, I got my first official salary as an actor. Before that, I struggled for eight years and walked around the United States as a walk-on. I couldn’t fill my stomach at all. Therefore, every day I wonder if I have something to do when I wake up. Shooting is what I like to do. My role in Ben Hur is very interesting. He is very powerful and has wonderful dialogue. I know I will like this experience.
1905: The new version of Ben Xu will be presented to the audience in 3D. As an old actor, do you feel that the new technology has provided you with any different filming experience?
Morgan Freeman: I think the audience can benefit more from this new technology. As an actor, I still go to the set every day, remember my lines and step on my walking mark. The performance process is the same as in the past. But I like IMAX 3D, and the audience will get a different experience from Ben Hur.
1905: You are almost 80 years old … …
Morgan Freeman: Who said that? ! (Laughter)
1905: Looking back, what do you think is your most cherished life quality?
Morgan Freeman: Desire, this is the most important quality (laughs). Then, it takes courage to be a man, and I firmly believe that. Then, we should see our own talent. I am lucky to be endowed with the talent of performing.
Xiaobian finally wants to mention that the 2016 edition of "Ben Xu" pays tribute to the old edition, not on the screen, but carefully builds the scene of Judas being a rowing slave in the famous Cinecitta studio in Italy. Cinecitta means movie city in Italian, and Cleopatra was filmed here.