Review of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) by Uditha D — 27 Nov 2011

When I first watched this at age 14, I was simply mesmerized and open eyed towards the end. I resorted to a habit then - every Friday afternoon henceforth after I returned home from school, I would watch it.

I continued this for more than two months. How it becomes mesmerizing is the answer to why Lawrence of Arabia is the most lovable epic ever made. It is not merely a refined classic in my view - it contains several elements that are easy to be taken in by even a child.

Almost ALL the ingredients in the film - Peter O'Toole's magnificently evocative role as Lawrence among others, the sweeping camerawork of Freddie Young (especially in the breathtaking entrance of Omar Sharif's Sherif Ali), and last but not least, Maurice Jarre's compelling music - are, in one word, magical.

That even after all these years I still am fond of this spectacle, no less than when I was 14, is testament enough as to why it is so much loved even by amateur film fans. This should definitely be in your personal "must watch films before you die" list.

Not having watched Lawrence of Arabia is a great regret not just for film enthusiasts, but for ALL art lovers. It is a masterpiece in its own right, and in my personal verdict, one that, bar Vertigo, is the best film Hollywood ever issued.

And this is a statement that in no way comes merely out of observing its Oscar glory or inclusion in nearly all Greatest Films Lists. It's a great work of art, one that's worth watching every single second of its 200-plus minutes!