Lawrence of Arabia on Blu-ray

[J.D.]

Bought this for about $10 on Amazon UK.

I'm gobsmacked. Sat there for over 3½ hours, mouth agape.

This is the best Blu-ray movie I've seen, bar none. Zulu is amazing. So are Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Longest Day and Grand Prix.

None of them has the gravitas of Lawrence of Arabia and none can beat it for quality of transfer, detail, colour rendition or spectacle.

If you've got a thing for great movies and have a good quality TV, just buy it and soak it up.

Freddie Young's cinematography from 50 years ago brings Blu-ray to a place it's never been.

15/10

[smithcorp]

Bloody hell - I was looking in JB Hifi for this exact thing about 4 hours ago. Can it not be got in Oz?

Edit - looks like not released here until end October. Great film and now i have a Blu-Ray, it was top of my list for films for it. After that, Apocalypse Now (if the Blu-Ray version is good).

[J.D.]

I had never seen it here and had put myself on the list for when it was released. I think it came out in the UK a while ago. Can't remember but I didn't think it was the sort of thing JB would have carried anyway (no offence Dex).

I went to the Amazon UK site the other day and it popped up so I bought it. Might have been a bit more than a tenner but not that much.

[durbster]

I've never seen the film but since we've just bought our first Blu-Ray player, I'll add it to our rental list.

In fact I've not watching anything on Blu-Ray yet. The disc sitting waiting to give us our introduction to the experience will be.... Bridesmaids

[wobblysauce]

Just think of the HD Krusty the Clown episode of The Simpsons.

[DexterPunk]

I think JB imports if it can't be sourced from local distributors. But you'd have to order it. I'm not really sure. Games, DVDs, music etc is all another world to me.


Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

[smithcorp]

JB is showing a 50th anniversary version coming in October. I pre-ordered it. It is a beautiful, beautiful film with some great performances. When O'Toole's on screen, you can't take your eyes off him. If you haven't seen it, you really should and in the best quality, on the largest screen you can. It may even be showing in cinemas near you, as it was re-relaased earlier this year.

In fact, it's showing at the Astor for you Melbournites right now!

But what I love most is the pace of the film. It takes time with things and doesn't rush. I like a stately pace.

It's a little demeaning to the Arabs, but there's some lovely lines (such a script!) - Auda's "I am a river to my people" and "it is my pleasure to do so".

I read Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which is an astounding book; and a few biographies of Lawrence. I like flawed heroes of Victorian England (and despite his time, Lawrence was the model of the Victorian explorer-hero, with his short-arsed-ness and repressed homesexuality) - if you want a similar character, read about Richard Francis Burton, another amazing character.

smith

[smithcorp]

Got this from IGN's AU website:

But before the film will hit Blu-ray, Sony is planning a nationwide limited theatrical release starting October 4, 2012.

[J.D.]

Just found out it's a 4K transfer. That explains why it's so good.

[smithcorp]

J.D., is it this one?

[J.D.]

If it's the Region 2 version then yes, that's it.

That's probably the Australian cover. The British one is subtly different but as far as I know, there is only one Blu-ray version.

Mine looks like this one:

[durbster]

If it's the Region 2 version then yes, that's it.

That's probably the Australian cover. The British one is subtly different but as far as I know

It's slightly better, obviously

[J.D.]

J.D., is it this one?

Definitely the same one, just a different cover:

http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/dvd/dvd- ... ray/672634" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Newly restored and re-mastered at 4K resolution, the massive scope and epic action of the Director's Cut of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA can now be experienced like never before in this landmark 50th Anniversary Edition.

Order with confidence smiss.

The only issue is that the feature is on Disc 2, which is the brown one on my copy. That throws a few people.

[Nigel]

The thing that got me with this film is that Peter o'tool looks very much like TE Lawrence.

[J.D.]

Wasn't a bad effort for a first film either.

[smithcorp]

Here's the man himself. He was only 5 foot five inches, while O'Toole is 6 foot 2 inches, so the resemblance only goes so far.

O'Toole does intensity, though.

[smithcorp]

Perthorians - Lawrence of Arabia Special Event Screening Reading Cinemas Belmont in the TITAN XC Screen - 4th November at 2pm

Accessreel.com is proud to present the 50th Anniversary, super high definition 4K digital restoration of Lawrence of Arabia. Scanned at 8K from 65mm separation masters, with uncompressed 5.1 surround sound copied from the original master mix down tapes. This incredible film that has Won 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role back in 1962. With an All-Star Cast including Alec Guinness, Peter O'Toole, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer, Anthony Quayle and Directed by David Lean.

Tickets are on sale now.

http://accessreel.com/competitions/lawr ... -screening" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[J.D.]

Think that might be in WA smiss...

[DexterPunk]

I tried watching it once and got bored. But then I was about 16 I reckon.


Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

[smithcorp]

Think that might be in WA smiss...

You're right!

[J.D.]

I tried watching it once and got bored. But then I was about 16 I reckon.

"Better than Baraka" - JD.

[DexterPunk]

Baraka?? I'd have thought the two aren't at all similar.

Baraka is one of the best things I've ever seen on bluray, or likely ever will. It's a technical masterpiece.


Sent from Han Solo using TK-421's phone.

[J.D.]

The photography is amazing (I've seen both).

I was just pulling your chain. Got a half flush for my efforts.

[J.D.]

So...how did everyone go with this?

[DarrenM]

I've tried watching it a couple times in the past and it hasn't held my attention. That was on tv though and I struggle to maintain interest in anything with ad breaks in it. Last time I tried to watch a movie on tv I went to get a drink or something in the 1st ad break and forgot all about the movie until the next day