Anatomy of Remaking a Chariot Race: Why the MGM ‘Ben-Hur’ Remake Should Avoid CGI

Now that we’re past the worry of the Mayans being right about 2012, the movies can now remind audiences that biblical stories are as real and raw as anything the Mayans could conjure. It’s possible MGM thought the most compelling path toward joining the fray of upcoming cinematic biblical epics is to include a tangential story of Jesus rather than have to face the monumental and superfluous task of doing a complete story of Christ. “Ben-Hur” must have looked just right to the now back in black studio, even if they didn’t stop and re-screen a certain chariot race done in the original 1959 film.

Let’s be thankful that at least in the era of letterboxing on TV, the original chariot race scene in “Ben-Hur” can be seen in all its widescreen glory. Had it still been the 1980s, new generations catching a cable screening would have seen the chariot race as one giant wheel while Charlton Heston’s posterior enters screen right. Yes, so much for the retired panning and scanning of one of the most thrilling race scenes in movie history.

But this isn’t to say everybody still loves the rest of the original “Ben-Hur”, which could prove soporific if you’re not into assimilating details of biblical facts. I’m one of those who places it in the annals of the greatest biblical epics, if also recognizing that the chariot race sequence would be impossible to recreate without CGI. Or is the age of being real in a biblical epic upon us again thanks to Darren Aronofky’s upcoming movie on the story of Noah?

If you were paying attention to movie news last year, you know Aronofsky built a scale-size ark for his upcoming Noah movie as an analogical thumbing of nose at CGI. When I noted soon after that going real could set a cinematic precedent, little did we know MGM would make such a brazen announcement of remaking “Ben-Hur.” It places MGM into a challenging position: Can they (or any studio) make a biblical epic without turning to a computer for help?

A studio suit may think a “Ben-Hur” remake can’t be done without re-creating the legendary chariot race. The question is whether the studio would spend a year to perfect a new chariot scene when the original took just as long to plan. In fact, there were so many obsessive details into perfecting the original racing sequence that it’s beyond legend and commands not even attempting it again.

However, in the age of forgetfulness about the blood, sweat, and tears former filmmakers put into making epics, bet on seeing a CGI fiesta in the “Ben-Hur” remake. Despite some aggressive stunt work being done on films today, MGM would be playing risk again to film the chariot scene with real stunt people and complicated camera work. Any deaths on the set would place MGM back into the red again with litigation up to the roaring lion’s eyes.

Let’s persuade MGM to create a whole new classic sequence that doesn’t have to compare to the 1959 chariot race. Considering reams of unused film footage was shot for the original sequence, a documentary just on the filming of that one sequence alone would be a greater gift. We’d be reminded of how making a great film or sequence was once at the threat of death and filmmaker madness.