Theory Thursday: "Ben-Hur" (1959) is Overrated

Scene from Ben-Hur

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

R.I.P. Ken Adam (1921-2016)

Ken Adam

On March 10, 2016, production designer Ken Adam died at the age of 95 in London, England. Over the course of his career, and specifically between the 1960's and 1980's, he was known for designing some of the most iconic set pieces for the early James Bond films as well as additional work for Stanley Kubrick on the films Dr. Strangelove and Barry Lyndon, the latter of which he won his first of two Oscars for. He leaves behind an impressive, inimitable body of work that lasted for over 40 years and continues to serve as some of the most iconic imagery in sci-fi and action film history.

Ranking Oscar-Nominated Films With More Than 10 Wins

Ladies and gentleman, the time is upon us. In only a short 10 days, this year's Academy Awards ceremony will be held and we'll know for sure who is this year's Best Picture. Will it be The Revevenant? The Big Short? Spotlight? Who knows for sure. With that said, it's time to countdown to the big day by highlighting the final moments of double digits for Oscar prognosticators. Kicking things off will be films that won 10 or more Oscars. Which of the few is better than them all? You'll have to read on to find out.

Nothing But the Best: "Ben-Hur" (1959)

Scene from Ben-Hur

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.