Watch Ben For Free

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Simply A Masterpiece

Load of rubbish!!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Ben is, apparently, the sequel to Daniel Mann's Willard, from the previous year.It picks up where the previous story left of.With a young boy, named Daniel- stricken to his home from illness- having befriended Ben, the leader of the pack of rats- trained by Willard Stiles in the previous film.The rats are running havoc through town- having already killed 3 people.And the police and city workers are having no luck tracking the pests down...they are just too intelligent.Seems they have taken to the sewers, to get around the city more efficiently.So the authorities pull out all the stops...flamethrowers and all...to rid the city of this menace, once and for all.Unless Daniel has any say in the matter, that is...While among the better films that qualify for the animal attack canon. It's still only moderately entertaining. And is probably most notable for it's theme song. Sung by Daniel (J. Lee Montgomery) in the film. But recorded by Michael Jackson for the credits- and released on his album of the same name the same year- for which it received a Golden Globe and Academy Awards Nomination.The acting from the kid was pretty good though...and it really makes you wonder where the hell they got all those rats from?! Cause there are loads!!! Worth a watch if you are into rats...or hate them and like to be scared...otherwise, it's passable.5 out of 10.

Dumbed-down retread of 1971's sleeper hit "Willard", which begins with that film's anti-hero, Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison), getting killed by his former rodent friends while nose-twitching leader Ben supervises. Two blocks away, a precocious little boy with a heart condition befriends Ben and conceals him from the cops and neighborhood denizens. It is absolutely astounding that Gilbert A. Ralston's juvenile script passed muster with the producers (unless it was diluted by the filmmakers during production). This thriller is so silly--at one point with leotard and towel-clad ladies at a health spa taking to the hills when Ben's army invades their exercise lair--that the picture could only work as a black comedy (and it's too corny to fill even that bill). The sickly tyke (Lee Harcourt Montgomery) is far too studied a child actor to make his role convincing--and he's forced to carry this thing for over 90 minutes. The townspeople react to the rat-damage caused to a grocery store and to a terrified trucker as if they were extras in a German Expressionist drama, while frustrated cop Joseph Campanella is forced to interrogate the little brat while he plays Moonlight Sonata on the harmonica! * from ****

Ben (1972)* 1/2 (out of 4)As the tagline promised, "Where WILLARD ended... BEN begins." This sequel to the 1971 film takes place moments after the original film ended as the police arrive at the home of Willard and realize the damage done by the rats. Before long the rats, being led by Ben, befriend a young boy (Lee Montgomery) but at the same time they're terrorizing the city as the police try to figure out what to do.BEN is the perfect example of a film making money and a sequel being rushed into production to try and make some more money. Whereas WILLARD was a rather interesting character study, BEN falls into a rather cheap, money-maker that has very little story, although if you're a fan of rats then there are plenty of them here as well as a lot more attacks.For me personally, BEN was a major disappointment but I guess you had to go into the film somewhat expecting that. After all, WILLARD featured some great performances, an interesting story and it worked on most levels. Sadly what made that film work is pretty much missing here as we're given a rather generic story and it's one that you the viewer really can't connect with. I'm not even sure kids could connect with the young child here or any of his family members.Director Phil Karlson at least keeps the film moving at a good pace and for the most part the performances are good. There are several more rat attacks here and for the most part they are mildly entertaining but there's no question that the climax lacks any real suspense and it drags on for way too long. By the time the end credits start we finally get to hear Michael Jackson singing his love song.

Last time I saw this movie I was 10 years old, that is 35 years ago. I loved this movie and that is why I am ordering it. It was made in the 70's, so of course it isn't up to todays movie standards. Even though, I'm sure that kids will still love it. I can't believe what that wet-paint watcher said about it. It is a cult classic and the song "Ben" sung by Wacky Jacko at the end is great. I cried and probably will again. His/her comment isn't worth diddly squat. I still reckon it to be a great movie. I think people should judge the movie for themselves, taking into consideration that it is a 70's movie. That way you won't be expecting to see the kind of movie you would see in the cinema today. Nevertheless, this is a great movie for its time.