Barabbas is a good film as Biblical (or fictional Biblical) Epics go. It has spectacle, good direction, great acting, eye popping sets and costumes, and a good, if slow moving story line. I have seen a number of such movies, such as Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, Quo Vadis, etc. And wondered why this one, somehow did not seem to compare favorably with them, even with all the right elements. Then as I watched, it dawned on me. It did not have the magic of an outstanding score. The triumphal music found in the other great epics, actually was epic. The composer for this one gave us little excitement and sound is a major element. There is more excitement in the opening credits of Ben Hur than in all of this movie. Sad, that it could be one of the great ones but misses the mark.
Review of Barabbas
