Lawrence of Arabia DVD: Review By stevegibbs

In the heat of World War I, Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence is assigned to Arabia as an observer. However, his unconventional thinking and unshakable self-confidence soon propel him into a true-life adventure. Lawrence's heroism and determination manages to bring together the warring Arab tribes, uniting them into an effective guerrilla unit.

Whilst his superiors worry that Lawrence may have "gone native", he leads this new army to take on the might of the Turkish Empire.

For this special 40th anniversary DVD release, I would have expected that Columbia Pictures would pull out all the stops and give us a collector's set to remember: behind the scenes doc*mentaries, perhaps some kind of retrospective, at the least a commentary. But no. The movie is introduced by a stylish animated menu - and that's it.

Disappointed? Yes, I think you can safely say that. At least, I was until I started watching one of the greatest movies of all time...

Presented in 2.20:1 wide screen. The ONLY way to watch Lawrence is in it's original theatrical format. Columbia has done a decent job of cleaning up the negative. Apart from a handful of moments, the picture is clear and free of artifacts; the colors are rich and the contrast sharp.

The new 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is, for the most part, an exceptional mix. My only minorcomplaint is that the score sometimes overwhelms everything else. But what a score it is! If you don't mind your epics loud, then crank up the system and let it rip (don't forget to invite the neighbors so they can't call the cops).

Lawrence of Arabia was a classic the day it was made. Age hasn't diminished its spectacle and brilliance. The sweeping desert vistas; wind-whipped dunes and blazing sun; the long, lingering shots of solitary riders emerging from the shimmering wasteland. (Sorry if I get a little too poetic, but this movie'll do it to you.) These are the cinematic images that stick in your subconscious for years. In fact, I'll bet that much of George Lucas' inspiration for his Tatooine sequences came from Lawrence.

Peter O'Toole does an excellent job of recreating the bluff, bravado and sheer bloody-mindedness of this exceptional man. Each time I watch the film, I'm amazed at his skilled performance in a demanding role, despite the fact that this was his first movie. It would have been very easy to overplay Lawrence, turning him into a charicature. But O'Toole and director David Lean manage to keep him real, imperfect and mesmerizing. It is easy to believe he could inspire others to follow him.

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 doing so again as Obi-Wan.

Okay, I'm done gushing about the movie. Thanks for your patience. Now, do yourself a big favor. If it isn't already a part of your collection, rush out, buy it and immerse yourself in this spectacle!