Truly sublime, one of THE all-time greats

Rating: 10/10 (2 July 2017)

Viewing this film at a small cinema as a birthday treat around 1972 when I was 10, I was absolutely stunned by the 'size' of this film. Revisiting it many times over the years, I have come to appreciate its finesse more and more, and rare it as one of my favourite films alongside The Shawshank Redemption, The Deer Hunter, 2001; A Space Odyssey and Breakfast at Tiffany's. The attention to even the minutest detail is stunning, as if a Michelin-starred chef had built the most exquisite dish whilst adding the tiniest of infusions to layer the taste. The scope of the film demands the viewer to sit back in a comfy chair, with a glass of Pimms and lemonade, and watch the spectacle in its original format; to view on anything other than letterbox view loses some of the detail that, whilst almost un-noticeable, is essential. Like a great painter, Lean laid down exquisite layers of images that make the film almost second to none in this department Iconic images abound, and ones eyes are treated to a visual feast, not only during the action sequences but also in the quieter, more reflective moments. A truly magical film.