Rating: 
Summary: "Appreciate the situation": It is the best film ever!
Review: What more can I say that I have not said in my heading? This film surpasses all other films, mainly in part for its superior screenplay and dialogue. The movie is loaded with various motiffs and symbols. The overall theme of the movie is the psychological transformation of T.E.Lawrence. The switch of personalities between Lawrence and Ali is all too apparent. Lawrence after all, suffers an identity crisis throughout the film. Lawrence first starts off as a humble soldier. Once he undergoes his mission to "appreciate the situation" he states that he will accomplish a "miracle" which he eventually does. From there he compares himself to Moses as he crosses Sinai. He eventually goes so far as to compare himself to Christ as he walks in splendor and transfigured white on top of the train. He shortly thereafter states that he will "walk on water". He however not only comes back down to earth, but he sinks to the bottom, covered with mud and filth after his rape by the Turks. He even goes so far as to cover himself with a filthy cloak. He however cannot cover the bloody scars on his back (this is about as close to Christ as he gets), which are a result of the Turks' torture. I will not proceed to describe the rest of the deep elements of the movie. Just bare in mind that the movie begins with a motorcycle and ends with one. The more you see the film the more you will love understand it. It is this quality which sets movies apart. Those who claim the movie is boring are those who do not "appreciate the situation". They need to read more literature.
Rating:
Summary: It takes you to the desert
Review: David Lean's masterpiece. There has never been another movie more beautifully filmed. The director took great chances with this film. There isn't a woman in the cast. Much of the action is on the desert. It is quite talkative. It is long. But with all this said, it still dazzles the eye and mind. The DVD edition is an excellent package, although a commentary track would have been welcome. But Lean's films stand on their own quite well. Forget the criticisms that the filmmakers fiddled with history and that Peter O'Toole isn't physically suited to play the role. He is excellent, and the supporting cast, several of whom were Lean favorites over the course of his career (Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif) show how the best actors can assume different roles without making the viewer feel he has seen the same character too many times. This is an absolute MUST for motion picture fans. And thanks to DVD, it is now preserved for generations to come in a format that does it justice.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest movie in history
Review: THE milestone in film history, comparable in glory only with "Gone with the wind", "Doctor Jhivago", "Titanic" or "The English Patient". Peter O'Toole gives here his live time performance (together with "Becket" and the "Night of the Generals".
Rating:
Summary: Not the best film ever, but damn close!
Review: Lawrence isn't the best movie ever made, but that really isn't a fault of its own. To be honest, the storyline line is limited and relies on the sheer magnitisim of the protagonist (Peter O'Toole, as Lawrence). This does not imply that Mr. O'Toole fails, for he is believably captivating as the desert hero Lawrence, and more than once transports the viewer to not only a different time and place, but a different mentality of valor and glory. However, any lags in the storyline, are more than compensated and overshadowed by the brillant cinematography of the film. This is by far, the greatest shot film of all time! Forget about the others, they are no comparison. In widescreen formate, the viewer is transported to a gorgeous Arabia, full of scintillating scenes that look almost too good to be real. The power of the film, lies within the viewer. I did not know much of Lawrence before viewing this film, but immediately after, I sought out to read his "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." Lawrence, really isn't simply a film, but an experience. If you have but an inkling of adventure in your heart, this movie will never leave you. If on the other hand, you are a little more jaded, then the cinematography should at least please the gallery. It may not be the best film ever, but it may be the most beautifull, and the one the stirs the heart toward far away things. No matter your connection, you can't go wrong with the small guy from England.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic For The Ages
Review: A masterpiece.The performances are remarkable,the cinematography is the best you will ever see,the gorgeous scenery and costumes,and that amazing musical score by Maurice Jarre.Then there is David Lean the genius behind this masterpiece, He has made many great epics, but Lawrence will always be the jewel in his crown.I own both regular & widescreen versions Please, to really appreciate this film buy widescreen it makes a major difference.Of course to really appreciate Lawrence, see it in a theatre.Whichever way you choose any true lover of great film's should not miss what is truly, the greatest epic ever.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever Made
Review: Well, this is a film that I really don't think will ever be duplicated in greatness, epic quality, cinematography, and directing. It won 7 Oscars and should have won more, notably Anthony Quinn for actor in a supporting role. This really, really is an extraordinary piece of quality cinema, and don't let the near four-hour running time turn you off. It's well worth the 3 hours 50 minutes and is never really boring. Even though it's a tad bit difficult to get into in the first 10 minutes or so, I would say by the end many viewers would be wanting more. The whole thing is gorgeous, the acting top notch, the scenery breathtaking, and should only be viewed in its 2.35:1 widescreen format. Hats off to the cast and David Lean for giving us the ultimate epic and unparalleled film experience in the 20th century. If you are one of the unfortuante people who has missed this movie, take an afternoon ASAP and experience it!
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: "Lawrence of Arabia," one of the most compelling character studies ever captured on film, is the story of T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the bedouin tribes of Arabia against the Turks in World War I. The story unfolds in the haunting beauty of the vast, harsh, and unforgiving deserts of the Middle East. Maurice Jarre, through eloquent musical composition, gives voice to both the man and the desert. Lawrence was a man conflicted by personal ambition and a romantic image of the Arab cause. Jarre's crisp, syncopated musical rhythms vividly portray the exotic Arabian culture that so appealed to Lawrence. The majestic moments of the score, however, are reserved for the desert. Jarre's sweeping orchestrations blend with David Lean's expansive visual images to evoke the raw, physical power of the desert. This unforgettable synergy of sight and sound is perhaps the finest ever recorded on film. The music on this CD is not presented in the exact sequence in which it appeared in the movie. It is of small consequence. I have collected soundtracks from numerous motion pictures over the past 40 years. This is one of the finest musical scores in my collection.
Rating:
Summary: What moviemaking ought to be all about
Review: I will see this movie any time, any place. It simply has all the elements of GREAT moviemaking - a superb cast, especially Anthony Quinn as the indomitable Aouda; all the visuals you could ever dream of; a story worth telling; top-drawer scriptwriting and dialogue (many of the lines are part of my vocabulary, e.g. "My name is for my friends" or "Lawrence, you must eat" and on and on); characters that come alive on the screen as people you can and want to care about. And all the elements are "cooked" like a sumptous meal into a utterly brilliant film. The viewer is transported to the time and place of WWI Arabia completely. To me, a great movie must make me want to wish that I was there, not in the movie, but in the time and place of the movie. And "Lawrence of Arabia" succeeds like very, very few others. "Lawrence of Arabia" is the very definition of "Epic", with the feel of life, not mustiness.
Rating: 
Summary: hmmmmmmmmm
Review: Okay now I admire this movie's cinematography, the acting, the directing and the grand desert scenes. But doesn't anyone else find it...well....a tad boring? I mean, it's very slow and the plot drags along. A bit of a bore, I'd say. Sorry to all the devotees.
Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Character Study
Review: David Lean and Peter O'Toole combined to produce one of the greatest character studies in cinema history. O'Toole captures the tortured mind of T.E. Lawrence, a man conflicted by personal ambition and a romantic image of the Arab cause. While the historical accuracy of English involvement in Arabian politics may be questioned, the depiction of one of history's most complex characters is beyond reproach. Lawrence is at once a reflective scholar, a reluctant warrior, and driven messiah. He is a man consumed by personal drive, ego, and arrogance in the vortex of war. The production values of the movie are impeccable. The acting and direction are outstanding; yet they pale before the cinematography and musical score. The music and visual images blend together to portray the haunting beauty of a vast, harsh, and unforgiving desert upon which this epic unfolds. This movie is without peer, a masterpiece for the ages!
|
