Very Good Epic

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2001)

I was pleasantly surprised how good a movie this was. I generally don't care for epics -- although they're useful to view from a historical perspective, they tend to be overlong and filled with too many characters in too many menial roles. A BRIDGE TOO FAR come readily to mind as an epic that is overlong and overdone with the producers trying to cram too many characters into too little of a story.
Although LAWRENCE is long, the pace is maintained very well and the viewer is always on edge wondering what is going to happen next; there's very little static (unlike a Kubrick movie, which usually stagnates).
Not only is the casting laser-perfect (O'Toole is brilliant), but each of the leading characters has a significant role -- Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, Alec Guiness etc. each play significant and memorable parts -- and play them well. It may take you two days to view it, but it was worth it.