Lawrence of Arabia Movie Review

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

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Written by: Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson [originally uncredited: credit restored in 1978 by WGA] (screenplay by)
Directed by: David Lean
Starring: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Jack Hawkins
Rated: PG
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Plot
The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.

Verdict
It's a movie that has inspired countless film makers. Few movies attempt such a broad scale on so many fronts and even fewer accomplish making an engaging movie. This is a monumental achievement of ambition in all respects; from nearly every image to the sprawling story. It's a movie unlikely to be matched as modern movies rely on CGI to create such vistas and wouldn't dare to tell a story this long.
Watch It.

Review
Based on the life of T. E. Lawrence and his 1926 book Seven Pillars of Wisdom, I've seen this before and this is one of those must watch films if you're a movie buff. It's a stupendous realization of what a movie can achieve.

This starts with Lawrence's (Peter O'Toole) funeral where many people don't care much for him. It's a preview of the man, but it's only perception. That's when we jump back to his time in the military during World War I. He's given an assignment in Egypt, but you get the sense that his bosses shipped him to the desert to get rid of him.

Part of what makes this movie stunning are the amazing vistas and vast expanses of desert. Breathtaking scenery sets the place as this was filmed on location. This isn't computer generated imagery. So many shots are absolutely massive in size and scope. It provides credence to the descriptions of the desert as an ocean. Words can't express how beautiful this looks.

It's also a dangerous place. Lawrence's guide is killed for using an unapproved well. We see men with swords on horseback being shot by airplanes. While Lawrence was sent to Egypt to get rid of him, he's familiar with the area and the Quran, impressing Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) with knowledge and honesty. Lawrence doesn't toe the company line. He advises with the Prince's best interests in mind, not Britain's. You have to imagine Lawrence's leaders figured he couldn't cause trouble in Egypt. They were wrong.

Omar Sharif, Peter O'Toole play Sherif Ali, T. E. Lawrence

Lawrence impresses the soldiers with a strategic attack and venturing into the desert to rescue a lost man. He uses his charisma to unite the groups in the area. While an outsider, they begin to accept him as it's clear Lawrence is on their side and not telling them what they want to hear. He's given traditional Arab clothing and wears it, gaining respect for their culture. Back on a British base he's the odd man out, dressed like the Arabs. He's never been one to fit in.

At first appalled at the violence in the area, Lawrence becomes bloodthirsty himself. He saw it coming, but he also had a goal for Arab independence. Despite all the good he did, the plan doesn't come to fruition. His superiors promote him to a desk job in another ploy to pacify him.

Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif play T. E. Lawrence, Sherif Ali

This is such an epic tale, and I don't think any modern movie would be this long. This movie is huge in all regards; locations, number of extras, and the story. We know what Lawrence is after at the beginning, but his goals change throughout the story. He just needed a goal, but he becomes a hero and buys into his own mythos. He was idealistic but became violent and blood thirsty, everything he initially abhorred. Having seen Lawrence's life, the opinions on him in the opening take on a different meaning.