Seeing this movie initially led me to believe it was created in the late seventies because the special effects appear almost hand-painted; however, discovering that its production date was 1996 significantly diminished my enjoyment. The first thing that strikes you is the presence of Ben Hur himself as the narrator – but the reason for this isn't clear. Was he in need of money? The plot, which doesn’t ultimately hold great importance, resembles a combination of "Conan" and "Red Sonja," centering on Rennick (played by Patrick Cassidy) and his loyal companions embarking on a quest to confront ultimate evil in a struggle for the planet’s existence. Surprisingly, the over-the-top acting, the expansive sets constructed from cardboard, and the upbeat musical score might be more acceptable if the script hadn't been crafted as if by an eight-year-old learning English as their fifth language. The sword and sandal combat sequences are excessively theatrical in their presentation, and the visual effects bear a resemblance to those found in "Asteroids." It’s not terrible, but it’s easily visible from where I was sitting.

Source on TMDB