Lawrence of Arabia

Magic. There's no words to describe this movie. The cinematography, direction, music, acting, locations (was filmed in my home city too :P )... The day I leave this world I will be happy 'cause I was lucky enough to watch this masterpiece... and sad because some weren't that lucky. Just watch the movie ffs!

This is truly one of the greatest movies of all time. Because of the engaging storyline, the suburb acting, and the incredible visuals, Lawrence of Arabia is truly an epic that will forever stand the rest of time. This movie over real historical data is undoubtedly an absolute masterpiece.

227 minutes of greatness!

I've always wanted to watch 'Lawrence of Arabia' given its standing as being one of the greats, though that rather long run time always put it on my subconscious back-burner. At last, I rooted out some time for it and man it was a well spent near four hours! I'm not going to say its length is ignorable, though it truly doesn't feel like a 3hr 47min movie - so every credit to all involved.

Peter O'Toole's performance is undoubtedly outstanding, I can't really add anything more to what I'm sure many, many others have noted down the decades - he is, put simply, brilliant. Other strong performers are Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif and, albeit more minorly, Claude Rains. No-one on the cast puts a foot wrong, as expected.

The cinematography throughout is also absolutely exquisite, the entire look and feel of the film is just stunning. There is much more to say about this but I'll leave that to those that have already said such things. I'm just here to watch great movies and this 1962 picture is unequivocally one of those. Quite evidently a classic, no doubt about it.

This is without a doubt, the best looking film I've ever seen. The cinematography is stunning and really changed cinema as a whole. The performances are so well done. With the mix of visuals and music, it makes for a wonderful experience. The scope of this film is so big and there is so much passion. I could go on and on but I'll just say that everyone should see this.

A true epic! They just don't make them like they used to.

There are films that, for good reason, are considered essential viewing for any true cinephile. Works that appear on every “must-see” list, spoken of with reverence as some of the greatest ever made. Films you must watch before you die. **This is one of them.**

For years, I kept it buried in my watchlist, for two simple reasons: I’m not particularly fond of old films, and I tend to avoid long ones. But now, having finally seen it, I regret every moment I spent waiting. This isn’t just a movie; it’s a cinematic experience I know I’ll never have again. Not because I’ve grown jaded or overly critical, but because films like this simply aren’t made anymore. And perhaps never will be again.

I recently saw it compared to Dune (2021) in terms of scope and grandeur, and I understand the comparison. Both aim for the monumental and the mythic. But to call this film "the Dune of its time" is, in a way, diminishing. This film doesn’t imitate. It defines.

To anyone hesitating to watch it, I’d say this: don’t let your biases get in the way, as mine once did. Don’t be put off by its nearly four-hour runtime or the slow, deliberate pacing. Give it time. Be patient. The film will reward you, and when it does, you’ll understand why it had to be the way it is. Every frame is deliberate. Every silence is meaningful. Believe me, it’s worth it. They’re not exaggerating.

That said, it would be irresponsible not to acknowledge some of the film’s more complex and problematic aspects, especially through a modern lens. [spoiler] Yes, it’s a film from 1962, and that shows. The Eurocentrism, the whitewashed casting in a distinctly Arab narrative, the near-total absence of female voices, and the "white savior" mythos are all present. These should be recognized, reflected upon, and even critiqued. [/spoiler]

Don’t look away. Don’t excuse them.

Engaging critically with these elements doesn’t diminish the film’s value. It deepens it. It allows us to confront its context and appreciate it from a place of awareness rather than blind admiration.

In conclusion, this is cinema in every sense of the word. It’s more than I imagined it could be. And the less you know going in, the better. I could say it took years off my life watching it, but it also gave me something that modern cinema rarely delivers: the feeling of having witnessed a true masterpiece. I can’t name a single aspect of it that doesn’t deserve praise. And I hope the same happens to you.

==Because it’s worth it. Utterly and completely.==

A classic in epic movies based on real events. Grandiose and epic story about namely the construction of the Suez Canal. Great performance by Peter O’Toole.

thy mother mated with a scorpion >:(

Wonderful photography, truly great. It was what I liked most about this epic. And the soundtrack is also very good. I'm undecided whether I liked Peter O'Toole's performance or not, maybe it's because I don't know much of his work. It is a long film of almost four hours but, unlike others, this one did feel long, the story did not end up capturing me and completely immersing me. What must be recognized is that blockbusters of this type are no longer made today and it is truly surprising to see works like this.

It’s certainly epic and grand in scale. I get why this won an Oscar back in the day. Some really impressive filmmaking here! The story is great and doesn’t really drag, which is impressive with this runtime. Still found it too long, which has more to do with my own shortcomings than with this movie, to be honest.

The music, scenery and performances make up for it, though. Lawrence is a bit of a smug and annoying asshole, which got on my nerves sometimes. In the end, I enjoyed myself against my expectations. Kudos for that!