It was worth watching...

Rating: 5/10 (23 February 2005)

T.E. Lawrence was a lieutenant serving in Cairo for the British army. He was transfered to the Middle East during the World War I, because Britain wanted to ally with Arabia to against Turkey. Being sent to Saudi Arabia, he met Prince Feisal, a tribe leader of Mecca. Feisal let him lead fifty men across the Nefud desert to perform his mission - taking Aqaba from the Turk's hands. On the way through, he united the two rival Arab factions of Prince Feisal(The Hariths) and Auda abu Tayi(The Howeitats). After successfully completing his mission, he became a Major in the army and continued to secure Arab co-operation with Britain by stopping the Turks from gaining the control of Suez Canal. While on a spying mission in Derra, Lawrence was caught and tortured by a Turkish officer. He was depressed and wanted to resign. Finally he changed his mind because he thought he should give freedom to his Arab friends. He conquered Damascus and united the nations under the Arabs. As a colonel, he set up the Arab Council at Damascus for Prince Feisel, and he eventually went home after he had dome all the jobs in Arabia. He died in the spring of 1935, while he was riding a motor-cycle powerful enough to fulfill his appetite for speed.
Perhaps this is longest movie I have ever watched. Although it made me sit for three and a half hours long, I still found that it was worth watching. Firstly, it is because of the scenes. The real scenes of deserts were captured gloriously and incredibly. I felt like I was standing in the middle of desert when I looked into the screen. It was so boundless, but inanimate. It was too hot to walk hen the sun started to rise, and it was so deadly when the sun set. I could feel the thirst of water under the boiling sun. Secondly, I think the music was fantastic. The melody exactly matched the theme of the story of a hero. At the same time, it told the cruelty of mankind. Thirdly, I admired the main character. Lawrence was a really tough man in my opinion, He was brave enough to go into the desert which most British soldiers were afraid. He made confused decisions, for example he rescued Gasim in the desert, but he executed him when he committed murder. He fought and attacked cruelly, but he loved his friends deeply. He was an extraordinary person who learned quickly and served faithfully.