Friday, July 18, 2008

Lawrence of Arabia

I watched "Lawrence of Arabia" for the first time recently. I had resisted watching it because of the length (3 1/2 hours) and because it looked BORING. But I figured that I had to take my medicine and watch it.

Whoa.

It's really good. REALLY good. In fact, I would go so far as to say it's a classic. There. I said it.

Like "Citizen Kane," LofA feels contemporary...it's engaging, it's beautiful, it's complex...it's NOT boring. I am ashamed I waited so long to watch it, though I have finally rectified my error. Now I'm going to have to watch "Gone With the Wind," another shameful omission in my film education. Anybody out there want to admit to omissions in YOUR film education?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Maltese Falcon...there, I said it. This fatal omission was pointed out during a round of Scene It Turner Classics edition at a recent family gathering (I answered a question about the film and then admitted I'd never actually seen it, which drew equal amounts of bewilderment and admonishment from my kin). I have, however, viewed "The Black Bird" on numerous cable TV showings back in the 70s :-o

By the way, 'El Aurens' is an old favorite of mine, and on my all time top ten list. I was even fortunate enough to see this on the big screen once; dragging Michelle to the theater for one of it's restored theatrical re-releases.

I occasionally pine for the bygone days of the roadshow pictures...

Eric said...

A perennial top tenner I still need to see is "Singin' in the Rain"

The omission of "The Maltese Falcon" isn't horribly shameful. You are absolved.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you about Lawrence of Arabia, but sadly I don't think you'll say the same about Gone WIth The Wind, which seems very dated and melodramatic to me.

I haven't seen Stagecoach by John Ford, I'm not big on westerns or musicals...

Eric said...

I am afraid you may be right about GWTW. I'll let you know.

Also, I need to see "The Searchers." I've read a lot about it, and it sounds great.

Mr. Independent said...

Although I'm not an afficionado, I would plead with you never to waste valuable PlayStation time on GWTW; I would rank it as one of the top three worst movies I have ever seen--right up there with Primeval and anything with Keanu Reeves in it.

Anonymous said...

As a huge classic film lover, I "shamefully" must admit that I have been loath to partake of even one installment of "The Godfather" franchise. I guess it's because I'm a woman and don't quite get the glorification of violence and the lust for power that is seemingly at the root of these movies. ( Perhaps it's because I just hate America.) I just can't imagine ever being convinced that this multi-hour orgy of blood and death is "art".

PS- I must admit I LOVED GWTW- Clark Gable's Butler is simply DREAMY (Is that wrong?)

Eric said...

Your assumptions about "The Godfather" are very misguided. You should watch it soon so you can post your apology here.