When the movie was made British actors were chosen to play the Roman occupying forces, and Americans to play the oppressed Jews - considering their roots, that would of course appeal to Americans. But things have changed from a time when Americans would see themselves as "good guys" in the Cold War. Being the one Rome-like superpower, it's the United States' turn to impose an empire's glory upon the world whether those countries with unhealthy climates want it or not. When I watched the movie the other day parallels with the current situation in Iraq were so obvious that I found the movie quite subversive and amusing - not what you would expect from "Ben Hur".
