Only worth seeing because it's a classic

Rating: 5/10 (27 June 2005)

The first time I saw this movie, it was 1 o'clock in the morning, so naturally, I was fairly impressed. Upon a second viewing last week, some months later, I was highly disappointed. Omar Sharif is irritating as Yuri Zhivago, and while Julie Christie plays the part of Lara well, she also is slightly irritating. The chemistry between the two is non-existent, which certainly makes it easier to miss the point of the movie. It should have been at least an hour shorter, and this could have been accomplished merely by eliminating the 'prologue' and the 'entr'acte'. These sections of pure music seem too old for the movie's production date, like Dr. Zhivago is trying to become a classic without actually being one? I'm not sure, but this epic is over-rated. And the 'Lara Theme'? Why is it in every music box made this half of the century? Say the words Dr. Zhivago and the only thing that comes to mind is that obnoxious theme.