Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Rank 5 Reviews

filmcritic.com hails Lawrence of Arabia

Being the self-proclaimed professional film critic that I am, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had not seen Lawrence of Arabia (just out in a special DVD edition) until only recently. After all, itâ��s considered by just about everyone to be the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at filmcritic.com hails Lawrence of Arabia

Hy-Pocket's Pyramid of Movies

Lawrence, along with Sharif Ali, led the group by camel across the desert. Lawrence and Ali at this point are mutual nemesis, and continually play a game of one-upmanship throughout the journey. â��Lawrence of Arabiaâ��, may be the first film to use the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Hy-Pocket's Pyramid of Movies

IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

When I stop to ponder David Lean's Oscar-winning epic "Lawrence of Arabia," I find myself at a point of speechlessness. There have never been adequate words for me to describe how I experience Lean's masterpiece. I can't find a way to express my ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

Raging Bull (Matt White)

There are great performances all around in this film. Of course, Peter O'Toole is first to come to mind, but there is also Lean regular, Alec Guiness as Prince Feisal, Egyptian star, Omar Shariff as the idealistic Sherif Ali, and Anthony Quinn (no ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Raging Bull (Matt White)

Mark R. Leeper

While it is an old film, and a well-known one, I probably should say something about the restored version of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA since its release is one of the big events of the year. ("What? More words?" as Jack Hawkins asks early in the film.) And ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Mark R. Leeper

Raging Bull Movie Reviews

There are great performances all around in this film. Of course, Peter O'Toole is first to come to mind, but there is also Lean regular, Alec Guiness as Prince Feisal, Egyptian star, Omar Shariff as the idealistic Sherif Ali, and Anthony Quinn (no ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Raging Bull Movie Reviews

Moviegnome.com

T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is an odd yet gifted WWI British officer who is assigned to observe the Arabian army. This turns out to be something of a joke, as it seems the bickering tribes can't form an efficient army and are close to succumbing to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Moviegnome.com

TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

David Lean's splendid biography of the enigmatic T.E. Lawrence paints a complex portrait of the desert-loving Englishman who united Arab tribes in battle against the Ottoman Turks during WWI. At the center of Lean's superbly sun-drenched, 70mm ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

At-A-Glance Film Reviews

This great screen epic, starring an amazing Peter O'Toole (in his first major role) as T. E. Lawrence, is a masterpiece of cinema, and director David Lean's best work (which says a lot). The story concerns Lawrence's revolt against Turkey during World ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at At-A-Glance Film Reviews

MovieWeb (Steve Gibbs)

The supporting cast are all excellent, from the pompous, blustering British officers to the desert-hardened Arab fighters. And it was a joy to see a robed Alec Guinness roving the wastelands as Prince Fisal, knowing that fifteen years later he would be ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at MovieWeb (Steve Gibbs)

DVDnett.no

Selv om filmen er snart 40 Ã¥r gammel, holder den seg usedvanlig godt, og har pÃ¥ mange mÃ¥ter like mye slagkraft idag som den hadde da den kom. Ikke minst er dette en teknisk overveldende produksjon, der detaljer i iscenesetting og fotografi ligger ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVDnett.no

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

s for ''Lawrence,'' after its glorious re-release in 70mm in 1989, it has returned again to video, where it crouches inside its box like a tall man in a low room. You can view it on video and get an idea of its story and a hint of its majesty, but to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics

Still looks awesome and packs a tremendous ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics

The City Review (Carter B. Horsley)

Great acting, spectacular scenery and cinematography, and the unraveling of historical and political dramas combined with a memorable score by Maurice Jarre, a literate script by Robert Bolt and the directorial genius of David Lean make "Lawrence of ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The City Review (Carter B. Horsley)

ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

Riveting from beginning to end, featuring stellar performances, amazing cinematography, and a story without a trace of fat, the film does everything an epic is supposed to do -- and more. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)

Approach it from whatever angle you like, performances, script, cinematography, score; David Lean's sweeping biography of T.E. Lawrence is unarguably magnificent. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)

Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)

Most Hollywood epics tend toward the big and boring side, but Lawrence of Arabia is different. Instead of concentrating solely on hugeness, director David Lean focuses on a single character, casting him as myth and man at the same time. The clever ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)

DVD Verdict

Lieutenant Lawrence, confined to menial tasks for the British Army in Cairo, is summoned to headquarters. Due to his interest in the desert and Arabian affairs, he finds himself assigned to act as an emissary to Prince Feisal. At issue is some way to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Verdict

Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)

Film-geek superlatives aside, Lawrence of Arabia is one hell of a ripping yarn. Based on the wartime exploits of World War I's greatest hero, T.E. Lawrence, the film could've been just another jingoistic tale of the British Empire's glory. Instead ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)

Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)

Considered one of the greatest films ever made, certainly one of the biggest epics of all time, the tale of the controversial T.E. Lawrence came to life on the screen in 1962 and now, almost forty years later it still holds up extremely well. This DVD ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)

Time Out

Lean's 1962 epic dwarfed most of the contemporary competition, including Spartacus and El Cid, and the passage of time has only proved how difficult it is to run ideas, history, characterisation and landscape in harness on this sort of scale. In the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Time Out

Dragan Antulov

Most of "larger than life" films of 1950s and early 1960s - Hollywood's brave, and expensive and, in the end near-suicidal attempt to fight emerging power of television with cinemascope, colour and spectacle - are today seen as nothing more than ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Dragan Antulov

Daily-Reviews.com (Mike Pinsky)

Of course, this is how Columbia wants it, stripping down the film for a single disc release for people who still think DVD is just videotape on a shiny, flat surface. When I look at things like this and the overhyped Superbit (dare I even mention David ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Daily-Reviews.com (Mike Pinsky)

Boxoffice Magazine

Whether or not "Lawrence of Arabia" is the greatest film ever made or simply one of the greatest films ever made is irrelevant. It is, as of this writing, the greatest DVD ever released. Period. While discs like "Gladiator" may have spiffier sound ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Boxoffice Magazine

Boxoffice Magazine

Lawrence" must be noted first because this isn't just a Superbit-enhanced disc but a "corrected" disc. The initial release of "Lawrence," which is still sold, has egregious mistakes in it -- some scenes are incorrectly timed and others, such as ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Boxoffice Magazine

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

He did so first as a diplomatic liaison sent by the British Army into the desert to find Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness) and later as a fearless leader and champion of the Arabs against the Turks and against the British Empire he set out representing. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

n telling the story of the fabulous Lawrence, the young British officer who led the Arab desert tribes in successful revolt against the Turks in World War I, director David Lean has captured some awesome vistas of vast stretches of sand, and barren and ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at St. Louis Post-Dispatch

filmcritic.com hails Lawrence of Arabia

Being the self-proclaimed professional film critic that I am, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had not seen Lawrence of Arabia (just out in a special DVD edition) until only recently. After all, itâ��s considered by just about everyone to be the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at filmcritic.com hails Lawrence of Arabia

CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)

I was only a young teen when I first saw Lawrence of Arabia on its initial releaseâ��far too young to understand much of the history or plot. However, I did gain an appreciation for the vastness and brutality of the Arabian Desert, and was primed to see ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)

DVD Journal

It's May 25, 1961, and the audience in the Criterion Theatre in Manhattan is sitting in eager anticipation, waiting to see David Lean's long-awaited film Revolt in the Desert. His first work since 1957's The Bridge on the River Kwai, the new epic ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Journal

Chris Jarmick

Lawrence of Arabia is a film that must be seen on the big screen to fully appreciate or even assess. Although I believed I could fairly judge the film without seeing it on the big screen, my appreciation of the film grew considerably after being ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Chris Jarmick

Chris Jarmick

ince most reviews of Lawrence appear with the older edition of Lawrence of Arabia my long and un-edited review can be found there and I hope you will take the time to review that one. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Chris Jarmick

The Digital Bits

The first (and, until recently, last) time I saw Lawrence of Arabia was in 1989. The film had just been restored to a stunning, then-state-of-the-art 70MM, Dolby Stereo print. I stayed in my seat as the Exit Music played, thrilled by the spectacle I'd ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The Digital Bits

culturevulture.net (Paul De Angelis)

It seems strange to call Lawrence of Arabia concise, considering itâ��s one of Hollywoodâ��s longest films at over three and three-quarters hours. But director David Lean made some unconventional decisions for an epic: he cut out all extraneous ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at culturevulture.net (Paul De Angelis)

digitallyOBSESSED.com (David Krauss)

Nobody makes epic films like director David Lean. Massive in scope, yet photographed with an artist's eye for detail and beauty, Lean's movies take viewers on unforgettable journeys, immersing us in exotic, mystical settings and delving deep into ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (David Krauss)

filmcritic.com (Robert Marley)

Being the self-proclaimed professional film critic that I am, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had not seen Lawrence of Arabia (just out in a special DVD edition) until only recently. After all, it’s considered by just about everyone to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at filmcritic.com (Robert Marley)

Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)

There are great action scenes, and the photography by Lean regular Freddie Young is, I believe, is the best ever put on film. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)

Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

aving been fortunate enough to see director David Lean's epic LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ($40) in New York's Ziegfield Theater after it's restoration, I know that the film historians and critics are absolutely right about this amazing motion picture. LAWRENCE ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is truly one of the greatest, if not the greatest motion pictures of all time. The Superbit DVD is as close as anyone will get to seeing a restored print of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA this side of high definition. If seeing and hearing the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)

...the best epic the screen has ever seen. In terms of sheer sweep, intelligence, and star power, nothing much comes close. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)

Netflix (James Rocchi)

Stirring historical biography is epic, intimate and awe-inspiring. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Netflix (James Rocchi)

ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

Don�t expect another similar film ever to be made, considering the way the film industry works. They couldn�t afford to make this type of film today, nor do they need to. We can enjoy its restoration. The really good thing is that your ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

CineScene.com (Catherine Lucy)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest pictures ever made, the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia is director David Leanâ��s epic film about the real-life historical figure T. E. Lawrence. Peter Oâ��Toole plays Lawrence, an officer in the British army who ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at CineScene.com (Catherine Lucy)

Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

[It] remains one of the most intelligent, handsome, and influential of all war epics. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

Entertainment Today (Brent Simon)

A movie with scope, tremendous clarity of vision and purpose; simply put, it is a film for the ages, an epic in every sense. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Entertainment Today (Brent Simon)

Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)

A shining example of a vanished breed of epic filmmaking. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)

Urban Cinefile (Urban Cinefile Critics)

If one can continue to see a work such as this 35 years later and still remain entranced by its spectacle and its drama, then surely, that is a classic indeed. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Urban Cinefile (Urban Cinefile Critics)

TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

At the center of Lean's superbly sun-drenched, 70mm canvas is Peter O'Toole's eccentric but magnificent portrayal of the erudite, Oxford-educated lieutenant. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

MovieJustice (Pablo Hernandez)

...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at MovieJustice (Pablo Hernandez)

eFilmCritic.com (--)

Let me tell you the first time that I fully and completely saw legendary David Leanâ��s masterwork Lawrence of Arabia. I was overwhelmed, completely overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and intensity of it, so much that I didnâ��t have the words how to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at eFilmCritic.com (--)

Boxoffice Magazine

In any list of the great adventure films of all time, the Sam Spiegel-David Lean production of "Lawrence of Arabia" must stand near the top. In the power, sweep and realism of its story dealing with the legendary war hero, the picture has rarely been ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Boxoffice Magazine

PopMatters (Marco Lanzagorta)

From its spectacular Super Panavision widescreen cinematography, to Maurice Jarre's gorgeous soundtrack and compelling performances by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif, Lawrence of Arabia is a stunning "classic." Originally released in 1962, the film ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at PopMatters (Marco Lanzagorta)

MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)

"Lawrence of Arabia" has everything going against it. It is a slowly-paced picture runs three-and-a-half hours long. There are no female characters, so any kind of romance is out of the question. Most of the film takes place in the arid wastelands of ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)

BBC Films

During the First World War, a British officer succeeds in uniting the Arab tribes and goes to war against the occupying Turkish army. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at BBC Films

BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

Accompanying this release is a brand new one hour documentary, stuffed with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Art director John Box provides often the most interesting anecdotes as he talks us through producing moments like the train derailment ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

Nick's Flick Picks (Nick Davis)

Lawrence of Arabia makes the point, like Nanook of the North before it and The Piano later on, that the fact of where a person is can have everything to do with how he acts, whom he trusts, and what he thinks. Perhaps T.E. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Nick's Flick Picks (Nick Davis)

EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)

Lean's epic biography of the enigmatic and complex British hero is always visually mesmerizing even if it omits crucial aspects of Lawrence's life (such as his homosexuality), boasting a radical, even subversive performance of the young Peter O'Toole. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)

Orbital Reviews

Twenty-nine year old T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), working at the British headquarters drawing maps during World War I in January 1917, yearns for adventure and excitement. He has the opportunity to leave his desk job when Mr. Dryden (Claude Rains), ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Orbital Reviews

Max Scheinin

Once in a very great while a truly special movie comes along. These movies are like fairy tales; you don't just watch them you actually experience them. A handful come to mind at once: Battleship Potemkin, Modern Times, The Wizard Of Oz, Citizen Kane, ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Max Scheinin

digitallyOBSESSED.com (Dan Lopez)

Lawrence Of Arabia is a film about many different things. While focusing on events in the life of T.E. Lawrence, it spreads wide enough to include the events of his time: Arabs fighting with Turks during World War I and the tenuous relationship between ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (Dan Lopez)

Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

For all the stunning shots of windswept dunes and battle sequences featuring a cast of hundreds, this is the study of a man in deep conflict. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

Movie Habit (Matt Anderson)

Lawrence of Arabia is the very definition of a “cinematic triumph” and it is now majestically presented for the first time on DVD in a deluxe two-disc set. This epic account of Thomas Edward Lawrence has just about everything cinema can offer. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Movie Habit (Matt Anderson)

San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)

A cracking good adventure yarn, as well as a disturbing psychological profile of a man destined to become a great leader but an even greater dupe. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)

Christian Spotlight on the Movies

This classic film took over two years to complete, and is a monument of excellent cinematography and acting. Peter O'Toole stars as Lawrence, and he is joined by a cast that either were already great stars or would soon become stars: Sir Alec Guinness, ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies

Movie Reviews UK

The utterly spell-binding biography of a WWI hero, Lawrence of Arabia comes close to perfection in the realms of cinematography, score, script and performances. During World War I, in the Middle East, the prime British interest was to keep the Turks ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Movie Reviews UK

Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)

A gorgeous epic with an outstanding performance from Peter O'Toole. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)

Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Despite powerful performances in films that post-date "Lawrence of Arabia" â�� such as "Becket," "The Lion in Winter," "The Ruling Class," "The Stunt Man," "My Favorite Year" and "The Last Emperor" â�� Peter O'Toole is seldom named in the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Boston Globe (Janice Page)

An epic achievement in filmmaking. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Boston Globe (Janice Page)

The DVD Report (Britt Gillette)

Based on the writings of T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence Of Arabia is widely considered one of the greatest films of the twentieth century. All-star director David Lean works with an extremely talented cast that includes Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The DVD Report (Britt Gillette)

Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)

One of the cinemaâ��s grandest spectacles, Lawrence of Arabia is at turns exhilarating, devastating, and puzzling as it ponders the mystery of a man who was a mystery to himself. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)

Gone Movie review

Lawrence of Arabia is set during World War 1 when the British were trying to stop the Turks from gaining control of the Suez control. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), a lowly British office on assignment in Arabia, receives appointment as a "military ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Gone Movie review

DVD Movie Central

British Colonel T. E. Lawrence was a legend in his own time, and in David Leanâ��s epic masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia, we are introduced to this man by looking first at his death in a motorcycle crash in England. It was not even known at first that the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Movie Central

BFI Screen Online

Over the years, several attempts to film the story of the extraordinary life of T. E. Lawrence, most notably by Rex Ingram in the 1920s and Alexander Korda in the 1930s, had come to nothing. After the huge success of The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at BFI Screen Online

Entertainment Insiders

T.E. Lawrence, the legendary British officer who eventually united warring Arab factions in order to defeat the Turkish Empire, is a compelling and deeply woven character, and hero. Lawrence starts out as a clever young man, searching for a challenge ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Entertainment Insiders

DVD Times

David Lean is probably seen by most film enthusiasts as the great epic film director, with such classics as Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge on the River Kwai being regularly cited as influences for films as diverse as Braveheart, Gladiator and even, God ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Times

The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

During the First World War, British officer T.E. Lawrence accomplished what many would have considered impossible: he brought embattled Arab tribes together in a "united front" against the Germans. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

Washington Diplomat (Ky N. Nguyen)

I still have vivid memories of the first time I saw Ã¬Lawrence of ArabiaÃ® on the big screenÃ³a defining moment in my cinematic experiences. During my sophomore year in college, I had a sprained ankle that required me to hobble on crutches to the campus ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Washington Diplomat (Ky N. Nguyen)

UTK Daily Beacon (Charles Booth)

Lawrence of Arabia is exactly the type of film that critics are referring to when they say that Hollywood doesn't make movies like it used to. Director David Lean's 1963 account of T. E. Lawrence's life, which is ranked No. 5 on the AFI top 100 ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at UTK Daily Beacon (Charles Booth)

The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)

The beautiful masterpiece (accompanied by a superb score from Maurice Jarre) is thought by many to be director David Lean's best (even topping The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)), with its Super Panavision 70 mm scope, magnificent color cinematography ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)

Edinburgh U Film Society (Alicia Forsyth)

However Lawrence of Arabia is not just a sandy visual feast. The performances are also superb. Claude Rains is suitably suave as the diplomat and Jack Hawkins appropriately brusque as General Allenby. Alec Guiness is almost unrecognisible in his amazing ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Edinburgh U Film Society (Alicia Forsyth)

DVD Verdict (Barrie Maxwell)

The idea of filming the story of T.E. Lawrence had been around for many years (British producer Herbert Wilcox claimed Lawrence himself had approached him about it in 1926, and there were subsequent British and American announcements), but nothing had ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Verdict (Barrie Maxwell)

Washington Post (Desson Thomson)

At close to four hours, it's also as long as ever -- though still shy of its original 227 minutes. You may need to pack a canteen for the more long-winded second half of "Lawrence." But this trip into T.E.'s enigmatic, sexually ambivalent soul via ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)

DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)

Well, I finally sat down and watched a film that is regarded by many to be one of the greatest films ever made. Yes I know! It's about time I did right? I have no idea why I haven't seen this before either. Well, I could sum it up in one word, epic. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)

MediaScreen.com

David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" ranks among a handful of truly outstanding, thoroughly deserving Academy Award winning classics. The film has an epic sweep that is both grand and brilliantly conceived, if fictional in its account of the life of T.E. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at MediaScreen.com

DVDBeaver

There are missing frames on a handful of occasions - it is possible that this was a result of the original filming in extremely challenging conditions although it seems more likely that these were individual frames which were too badly damaged to be ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVDBeaver

DVD MovieGuide

Back when I was a shallow, callow youth - as opposed to the shallow, callow adult I became - I tried hard to cultivate an appreciation for the so-called â��classicâ�� films. Periodically I gave some of these famous flicks a look, but they never did much ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD MovieGuide

Michael Turton

_Lawrence of Arabia_ is a rather strange epic; indeed, one might profitably ask whether it is a heroic epic at all and not simply a very long movie about Lawrence of Arabia. There are no redemptive moments in _Lawrence of Arabia_, because almost ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Michael Turton

CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)

Lawrence of Arabia is the portrait of a man's collapse, and through that an indictment of the collapse of sanity which is war itself. (Side note - try to spot a woman in this film, and good luck to you.) The tragedy of this conception, and the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)

Jiminy Critic (Taryn Arthur)

One of the major suspense factors in a typical war movie is the question of whether the hero will die at the end. In Lawrence of Arabia, the heroâ��s demise and funeral are previewed in the first five minutes, thus eliminating that edge-of-the-seat ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Jiminy Critic (Taryn Arthur)

Jeff Meyer

Within a week, I've doused myself in the fountain of film retrospectives, to wit, seeing the restored versions of GONE WITH THE WIND and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Both of these are film classics in the strictest sense of the term, both are epics, both have ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Jeff Meyer

Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)

Filmed long before special effects created other worlds, LAWRENCE was shot on location in Jordan with everything you see on screen as real as it gets. This was a difficult production not only because of the locale and weather, but because it explored the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)

Film Freak Central

Epics--they ain't what they used to be. Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, and the 1999 remake of The Mummy do have something in common, though: they each reflect Hollywood's compulsion to decorate the sandy, cosmic emptiness of the desert. While Freud ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Film Freak Central

DVD Net (Jules Faber)

tâ��s a beautiful and remarkable film, making full use of the massive desert vistas in its original 70mm format (and apparently one of the last films to ever do so). While the story itself seems almost devoid of plot with barely a woman in sight, it is a ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Net (Jules Faber)

Washington Post (Rita Kempley)

The film's genius is its marriage of intimate portrait and big-screen epic. T.E. Lawrence, a repressed 29-year-old British mapmaker, becomes a desert Napoleon, worshiped as a self-proclaimed demigod. His story is an atavistic "Revenge of the Nerds," ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Washington Post (Rita Kempley)

Nashville Scene (Donna Bowman)

Hollywood promoters are trying to convince us that we're entering a new era of huge films with huge subjects (and huge budgets and huge running times). If only Hollywood could add one more item to the list of epic qualifications: larger-than-life heroes. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Nashville Scene (Donna Bowman)

Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org

Before the First World War the empire of the Ottoman Turks governed most of Arabia. Turkey sided with Germany during the War. Promising the Arabs independence after the war, the British and French governments encouraged the Arabs to revolt. Lawrence was ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org

DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)

You're probably not reading this review of Lawrence of Arabia: Superbit for my capsule summary of this towering film's plot. You're most interested in whether this new Superbit edition packs the visual wallop that has been rumored on Internet forums ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)

Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)

Countless specs of sand cover the desert from end to end; try finding a single specific grain. That's like hunting for the faults of Lawrence of Arabia. the brilliant epic vision realized with consummate skill by methodically driven director David ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)

DVD MovieGuide

could go on and on about Lawrence of Arabia, for itâ��s about as good as a movie can get. However, Iâ��ll stop here. If youâ��ve already experienced its wonders, you donâ��t need more babbling from me, and if you havenâ��t seen it, Iâ��d prefer to leave ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD MovieGuide

DVD Review e-zine

Just shy of its fortieth anniversary, "Lawrence" finally makes its digital debut. Representing a virtual dissertation of the film, Columbia Tristar Home Videoâ��s superb new two-disc DVD boasts an impressive amount of supplemental materials including ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Review e-zine

Mark O'Hara

Robert Bolt's screenplay is both spare and poetic. It's like the best writing by Raymond Carver - laconic but not minimalistic, honest but not prideful. Bolt surely relied on the strength lent by the desert, where one's actions are magnified as if by ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Mark O'Hara

DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

Simply put, "Lawrence of Arabia" is the best epic the screen has ever seen. In terms of sheer sweep, intelligence, and star power, nothing much comes close. It made both T.E. Lawrence and actor Peter OÂ´Toole household names. Much as Columbia TriStar ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

DVD Net (Paul Dossett)

Obviously, Lawrence Of Arabia means a huge amount to somebody at Columbia Australia. It was one of the few titles they decided to release on PAL laserdisc back in 1992, and now they're releasing the world's first DVD edition of this 1962 classic in a ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Net (Paul Dossett)

DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

Lawrence of Arabia is presented in a 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This release features a restored and remastered source print and it shows, as minimal debris or grain is present, a real accomplishment to be sure. I know that some folks will ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

The Tech (MIT) (Manavendra K. Thakur)

Parts of the film do manage to create a lasting impression -- the sweeping shots of the desert and the battle scenes, for example -- but these scenes do so largely because the film has been conceived and constructed on a massive scale. The excellent ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The Tech (MIT) (Manavendra K. Thakur)

Britmovie

The film opens by showing us the ultimate fate of Lawrence, with his death and subsequent funeral at St. Paul's Cathedral. We then flash back to Cairo in 1917 and meet Lieutenant Lawrence, Lawrence is requested by English diplomat Mr. Dryden (Claude ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Britmovie

Classic Film Guide

216 minutes of film (second only to Gone With The Wind (1939)) without a single female speaking a line! This was an outstanding year for movies, another reason to appreciate how great this movie is. I believe it's one of the 10 Best Movies EVER made. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Classic Film Guide

Quick Reviews (J.D. Funari)

Amazingly well made movie (especially in the cinematography department). Epic in every sense of the word but emotionally unstable title character, played otherwise superbly by Peter O'Toole, is difficult to relate to. It's a clichÃ©, but they ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Quick Reviews (J.D. Funari)

The Dual Lens (Todd Wardrope)

I do not know what the Oscar endorsement means anymore. As a filmmaker and as a filmgoer, I can see that the award means something, but it seems to me that, more and more, the meaning of the Oscar changes with the season of industry politics. Oftentimes ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The Dual Lens (Todd Wardrope)

UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)

Normally a lack of extras is disappointing, but when you have a choice of editions, there's no cause for complaint. You get what you pay for, and Lawrence of Arabia is a film so strong that it needs no extra support. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)

Crazy for Cinema

Ever since we've owned a DVD player, I've been dying for this movie to be released. It is one of the most entrancing epics ever filmed and it requires great sound, letterboxing and a big television to do it justice. In fact, it is one of those movies ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Crazy for Cinema

The Flick Filosopher's take

T.E. Lawrence was what a friend of mine calls a "transethnic," like the couple of Italian guys you always see playing bagpipes in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Lawrence of Arabia's Lawrence (Peter O'Toole, who inhabits the role) tries to explain to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at The Flick Filosopher's take

DVD In My Pants - Special Edition DVD Review

Lawrence Of Arabia tells the story of real life British military man T.E. Lawrence, who served in the Arabian desert during World War I. His book, The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom, tells of his time in the desert, a time during which he led legendary attacks ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD In My Pants - Special Edition DVD Review

Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice

It goes without saying that Jerry Bruckheimer's sweeping claim that Armageddon director Michael Bay is the David Lean of this generation is, at the very least, ridiculous, but such a statement is rendered all the more idiotic when revisiting one of the ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice

Mr. Cranky

Our first introduction to T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), who laterbecomes Lawrence of Arabia while uniting the various Arab factions against the Turks, comes as he hops on a motorcycle without a helmet, speeds off down the wrong side of the road (I ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Mr. Cranky

Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

If your familiarity with Peter Oâ��Toole comes from some of his unmemorable roles in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, then Lawrence of Arabia will be a huge revelation. Here is a charismatic, intelligent and beautiful actor who can play a character viewed by ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

Filmchaw (Andrew Moxon)

...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Filmchaw (Andrew Moxon)

DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

As I mentioned, Lawrence of Arabia was directed by David Lean, who I consider to be one of the finest directors of all time. As I look over his resume of films, I can't detect a single movie that isn't a treasure trove for films fans, at least on ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

Brilliant Observations on 1173 Films (Clayton Trapp)

What a cast, what shots, what an epic, what's it supposed to be about? Linear plotline that's not difficult to distinguish, for sure, but there's also a very definite 2001: A Space Odyssey feel to it, and not just because space seems a more likely ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Brilliant Observations on 1173 Films (Clayton Trapp)

Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

The sweeping sands and landscapes in this film are breathtaking and that's what puts David Lean as one of the great epic filmmakers of all time. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

Boulder Weekly (Thomas Delapa)

The only way to properly see Lean's overstuffed epic is on the big screen, the better to appreciate the glorious desert vistas, Maurice Jarre's soaring score and the glowing performance by then-unknown Peter O'Toole as a messianic T.E. Lawrence. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Boulder Weekly (Thomas Delapa)

Salon (Gary Kamiya)

Perhaps an actor can only capture gleaming facets of a diamond-hard personality like this. In a performance that becomes more evocative, more densely textured with each viewing, Peter O'Toole captures dozens of them. They glint and shine for an instant, ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Salon (Gary Kamiya)

Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)

Is this an odd film or what? I'm not sure I really got it. I admire the achievement of visionary filmmaker David Lean, but I can't say that his film involved me all that much. I don't know, but I have trouble understanding why a film would need to ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)

Needcoffee.com - 1-disc DVD Review

I'm going to assume here that I don't need to explain to you what Lawrence of Arabia is. If you're reading this and don't understand why, report to the detention camps immediately. Quite simply one of the finest movies in American cinema history, it ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at Needcoffee.com - 1-disc DVD Review

DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

In the midst of World War I, a young British lieutenant named T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) has become tired of his current assignment, in which he colors maps and such. As such, he leaps at the chance to take on a new position and in this case, he ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

New York Times (Bosley Crowther)

It reduces a legendary figure to conventional movie-hero size amidst magnificent and exotic scenery but a conventional lot of action-film clichés. ...read the complete Lawrence of Arabia movie review at New York Times (Bosley Crowther)

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