Rating: 
Summary: Reel Good Arabs
Review: "If we defeated the Bedouin, why are we still hanging them? Why do I have to pour troops into a victory I have already won?" So the movie begins as the Italian leader questions events, questions which sound eerily familiar as the guerilla war now escalates in Iraq today. This movie is valuable on two fronts. It is one of those rare movies giving a positive view of Arabs, one of maybe 50 movies in cinematic history (out of 900 presenting Arabs). It is indeed strange, to see Arabs as the good guys, and Europeans as the bad ones- but a very positive strange. And they are not just the good guys, but the very heroic, deep, philosophical, and loving good guys. Produced by Lybia's Qaddafi, there certainly is a bias in this film; but it's pleasant to see a bias on the other side for once. There are many very Arab nuances- how they naturally show honor and hospitality to their neighbors, things the Italians lack. Children learning the Qur'an by rote, as well as the wisdom of the Qur'an. Women coming together around the well. Men and women working in the fields of Lybia. These are not just the blind enemy followers of America, but a real people, in all their wondrous uniqueness. One can learn more about this movie, and the other 850 anti-Semitic portrayals of Arabs, in Shaheen's Reel Bad Arabs. The other extremely valuable aspect of this movie is the ammunition it provides against the myth of redemptive violence. The movie itself is too violent and has too much gore at times- though it is history, it is not necessary to portray it so realistically. But it also argues persuasively against imperialism, and violence itself. "The Lion" tells his people to not shoot prisoners, for "We will not let our enemy be our teachers." Omar here is certainly a heroic figure. And it is truly so hard to do this, to not be taught by our enemies, for we so naturally become that which we hate. Lion has moving portrayals by Quinn, and the cinematographic ploy of interspersing real black-and-white footage from the Italian ethnic cleansing is very effective, for feeling the pain of what the Lybians went through under Italian oppression. But it is also helpful for showing us a generally unknown freedom fighter, and that when we forget history, we repeat it. The Italians become bogged down in guerilla warfare in the mountains, as the Arabs hide in caves. A great and powerful nation tried to control a Middle Eastern people, and stayed too long. And so Omar tells a French soldier to return to his headquarters, with the remains of his flag, saying "It does not belong here." It's not that it's a bad flag. It's just that it's in the wrong place.
Rating:
Summary: Reel Good Arabs
Review: "If we defeated the Bedouin, why are we still hanging them? Why do I have to pour troops into a victory I have already won?" So the movie begins as the Italian leader questions events, questions which sound eerily familiar as the guerilla war now escalates in Iraq today. This movie is valuable on two fronts. It is one of those rare movies giving a positive view of Arabs, one of maybe 50 movies in cinematic history (out of 900 presenting Arabs). It is indeed strange, to see Arabs as the good guys, and Europeans as the bad ones- but a very positive strange. And they are not just the good guys, but the very heroic, deep, philosophical, and loving good guys. Produced by Lybia's Qaddafi, there certainly is a bias in this film; but it's pleasant to see a bias on the other side for once. There are many very Arab nuances- how they naturally show honor and hospitality to their neighbors, things the Italians lack. Children learning the Qur'an by rote, as well as the wisdom of the Qur'an. Women coming together around the well. Men and women working in the fields of Lybia. These are not just the blind enemy followers of America, but a real people, in all their wondrous uniqueness. One can learn more about this movie, and the other 850 anti-Semitic portrayals of Arabs, in Shaheen's Reel Bad Arabs. The other extremely valuable aspect of this movie is the ammunition it provides against the myth of redemptive violence. The movie itself is too violent and has too much gore at times- though it is history, it is not necessary to portray it so realistically. But it also argues persuasively against imperialism, and violence itself. "The Lion" tells his people to not shoot prisoners, for "We will not let our enemy be our teachers." Omar here is certainly a heroic figure. And it is truly so hard to do this, to not be taught by our enemies, for we so naturally become that which we hate. Lion has moving portrayals by Quinn, and the cinematographic ploy of interspersing real black-and-white footage from the Italian ethnic cleansing is very effective, for feeling the pain of what the Lybians went through under Italian oppression. But it is also helpful for showing us a generally unknown freedom fighter, and that when we forget history, we repeat it. The Italians become bogged down in guerilla warfare in the mountains, as the Arabs hide in caves. A great and powerful nation tried to control a Middle Eastern people, and stayed too long. And so Omar tells a French soldier to return to his headquarters, with the remains of his flag, saying "It does not belong here." It's not that it's a bad flag. It's just that it's in the wrong place.
Rating: 
Summary: An Epic Masterpiece!!
Review: "Lion of the Desert" tells the story of a school-teacher turned guerrilla fighter, trying to put a stop to Italian invasion and colonization of his country, Libya. This movie is excellently filmed, and the scenery and action are spell-binding. Most critics in America disliked this movie simply because it's about Libya, and an important episode of its history. But if you view this movie with an open mind, you'll see that not only is it well made, but it's also inspirational. The characters and conflicts portrayed are real, and I find the movie a fine tribute to the courage and tenacity of the Libyan patriots who fought and died against Fascist Italy, long-before Mussolini's forays into Abyssinia, Civil War Spain, and the Second World War. These people were fighting for their freedom and independence, and their heroic example should inspire all of us.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Masterpiece!!
Review: "Lion of the Desert" tells the story of a school-teacher turned guerrilla fighter, trying to put a stop to Italian invasion and colonization of his country, Libya. This movie is excellently filmed, and the scenery and action are spell-binding. Most critics in America disliked this movie simply because it's about Libya, and an important episode of its history. But if you view this movie with an open mind, you'll see that not only is it well made, but it's also inspirational. The characters and conflicts portrayed are real, and I find the movie a fine tribute to the courage and tenacity of the Libyan patriots who fought and died against Fascist Italy, long-before Mussolini's forays into Abyssinia, Civil War Spain, and the Second World War. These people were fighting for their freedom and independence, and their heroic example should inspire all of us.
Rating:
Summary: essential viewing - a masterpiece with riveting performances
Review: ''Destined to remain a dubious footnote in books of movie trivia'' ?? Reviewer Jeff Shannon, who I would bet would not warrant a footnote in any directory of influential film critics (thank God for that!) sounds like he would do well as a Bush policy advisor. This movie is amazing, with riveting performances from the entire caste. It is not only extremely well made with very convincing battlefield scenes and clinically dispassionate portrayals of brutality, and with a simple but telling script, it is also an all too rare look at the world from a different but necessary perspective. Omar Mukhtar was a real person, not a Hollywood hero. He was and remains an Arab nationalist hero. It is almost eerie how the film, even after more than 12 years, mirrors the logic of what is going on in Palestine and Iraq today. The more people see a film like this and are touched by it, the better they would understand the nuances of nationalism, spirituality, culture and geopolitics.
Rating:
Summary: essential viewing - a masterpiece with riveting performances
Review: ''Destined to remain a dubious footnote in books of movie trivia'' ?? Reviewer Jeff Shannon, who I would bet would not warrant a footnote in any directory of influential film critics (thank God for that!) sounds like he would do well as a Bush policy advisor. This movie is amazing, with riveting performances from the entire caste. It is not only extremely well made with very convincing battlefield scenes and clinically dispassionate portrayals of brutality, and with a simple but telling script, it is also an all too rare look at the world from a different but necessary perspective. Omar Mukhtar was a real person, not a Hollywood hero. He was and remains an Arab nationalist hero. It is almost eerie how the film, even after more than 12 years, mirrors the logic of what is going on in Palestine and Iraq today. The more people see a film like this and are touched by it, the better they would understand the nuances of nationalism, spirituality, culture and geopolitics.
Rating:
Summary: A trully wonderful morden legend comes to life
Review: A movie based on a true story is rare but when the story becomes a legand the movie becomes an epic. watch it
Rating:
Summary: motion picture excellence
Review: A realistic look of history in an eye opening drama...
Rating:
Summary: The greatest war epic of the 20th century. A MUST see movie!
Review: A Sahara warrior against an Italian general seeking glory...a spectacular adventure of arch enemies in battle. A true story portrayed beautifully. The images are stunning and the acting is first-rate. The video is very good but the DVD is excellent!
Rating:
Summary: A breath-taking epic in the Sahara.
Review: A true story beautifully filmed. It portrays the struggle of a Saharan warrior to liberate his country of a brutal colonial occupation: Mussolini's Military Forces. The imagery is stunning, and the acting is first rate especially that of Anthony Quinn. A master-piece. The VHS version is good; the DVD version is superb.
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