Many serious collectors complain about a marketing ploy utilized by almost every film studio and DVD distributor; the special edition. People that have already purchased a film on disc are seduced repurchasing the same film. The marketing strategy is actually brilliant from a fiscal perspective since the studios are certain there is a proven market ready, willing and able to buy a movie they already own. This is not to say the studios are cheating the public, they most certainly are not. These special editions typically do contain material not provided in previous releases that do give the fans something more to enjoy about their favorite films. Sometimes in addition to the added content they wrap the discs in a nice fancy package. Now personally I’m not usually impressed by the packaging. Due to the size of my collection I tend to remove the discs from their packages and keep then in books for easy location and storage. It takes an awful lot for me to commit precious shelf space on a fancy package. In the case of the edition considered here there was no hesitation; a place of honor was quickly provided. ‘The Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition is the perfect treatment of one of the most significant films in cinematic history. Not only is there a ton of added material but the sturdy box is filled with objects that do have an intrinsic value both as collectables but in the way they can enhance your understanding and subsequently your appreciation of this classic film. When you start with a top listed movie, place it in a beautifully crafted container and surround it with notebook, bonus discs and photographs that bring you back to the filming of this monumental movie. Now, as they say in the late night infomercials, if that is still not sufficient, the movie has been entirely remastered in high definition video and lossless audio. Considering Warner Brothers kept the list price to $65 this is an amazing deal. Most collector’s editions or special releases can not remotely approach the care and thought that went into this box set or the respect for the collector it represents.

When you receive this set the first thing you are going to notice is the satisfactory heft of the box. It simply has the feel of quality that will only be reaffirmed as you open the numbered edition box. The inner box that contains the actual three disc set is surrounded by goodies that heighten your anticipation. The largest of these is a never before seen personal journal kept by the star, Charlton Heston. It is full of details and recollections from the time the movie was in principle photography and is a fascinating read for anyone interested in Hollywood history. Next to it is a book featuring the artwork used in the production to create the elaborate sets and costumes.

The extras are great but the real reason to get something you already have on your shelf is an improvement in the presentation of the film. This Blu-ray edition reportedly cost Warner Brothers $1 million to digitally remaster the entire 222 minute film. From the first frame it is obvious that it was money well spent. The source material was a vaulted original 65mm negative that was caringly scanned at 8k resolution, a staggering eight times the resolution of a current production high definition video. The scanned negatives were then subjected to meticulous color correction to return the film to the brilliance and depth it had during its premiere over half a century ago. The resulting video is presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer retaining the original aspect ratio of 2.76:1. This is exceptionally important for such a visually intensive film as this. The colors pop as never before with the deep red hues of the Roman cloaks in sharp contrast to the azure blue skies and the lush, verdant country side. You can readily discern the slightest details from the grain of the wooden galley ship to the sweat on the men and horses during the famous chariot race. The video is not the only element of this film that was treated to the high definition make over. The audio is in a pounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround. Not only does the race take on epic proportions visually this sound stage is so remarkably expansive that you will feel as if the horses are careening around you. The thunderous hoofs and the roar of the bloodthirsty crowd pull you into one of the most iconic sequences ever preserved on film. This is a must have for any collection. Few films can match the excitement and emotional impact as does this one. Now you can experience in the way such a piece of our cultural legacy deserves.

Disc 1&2:
Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher and Charlton Heston
Music-Only Track Showcasing Miklos Rozsa's Award-Winning Score
Theatrical Trailers

Disc 3:
New Feature-Length Documentary Charlton Heston & Ben-Hur: A Personal Journey
1925 Silent Version - Thames Television Restoration with Stereophonic Orchestral Score by Carl Davis
2005 Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
1994 Documentary Ben-Hur: The Making Of An Epic
Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures - Audiovisual Re-creation via Stills, Storyboards, Sketches, Music and Dialogue
Screen Tests
Highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Telecast
Newsreels