Lawrence of Arabia back in theaters (Fathom Events)

[JMS1223]

So this Sunday (September 1) and Wednesday (September 4th) Lawrence of Arabia will return to theaters in 4K digital.

My question is:

Should I go see this or wait for a 70mm screening?

Edit: Just bought my ticket to see this Wednesday night. Should be fun!

[Poya]

70mm. It was made for that.

[Cherokee Jack]

Gonna be showing at a pretty much brand new auditorium (my seat felt like it had never been sat in this past weekend) at a nearby AMC. Ready or Not looked fantastic on it so my expectations for Lawrence of Arabia are pretty damned high. Matinee tickets are only $8.50 too so I couldn't pass this up even if it is excluded from A-List.

[traths]

This film would be amazing to see on the big screen.

[xbs2034]

I got tickets for Sunday, looks to be selling very well (when I got it yesterday at least half the seats were gone, and another theater just had front row). I’m excited as have never seen it on the big screen.

They do on occasion (probably every couple years) play it on 70mm at a museum near me, but it’s a bit further to get to (close to an hour away) and not as nice a theater as the Regal I’m seeing it anyway. I do think I’ll try and see Joker in 70mm though.

[imsounoriginal]

If I hadn't rewatched the movie recently, I'd have already bought my ticket for this Sunday.

[JMS1223]

Thinking I will see it Wednesday night since I will be away on Sunday. Since it’s 4K and not satellite should be worth it. Also not too far away. I figured I can always see it again if a 70mm showing comes up (which would be an hour drive).

Edit: Just bought my ticket for Wednesday night.

[f451]

I first saw LAWRENCE OF ARABIA in 70MM at the RKO Grand CINERAMA theater in Columbus, Ohio, around 1965, booked for a week as filler material in between CINERAMA films.

Apparently, there was a constraint showing non-CINERAMA films on the full CINERAMA screen so the projected image was centered and filled around half the surface. Still, that's pretty darn big. It was absolutely, devastatingly brilliant. Clear, crisp, luminous. Well -- jaw-dropping stunning.

And it wasn't until I saw the then newly restored 70MM film at the Esquire Theater in Denver, in 1989, that I saw that level of detail again. The theater was packed and it was hot. And the presentation was flawless.

I have no idea how LAWRENCE looks in 4K projection. Probably pretty darn good. I wish it were at my local IMAX screen, but it isn't. Some smaller AMC screen. This is one film that deserves to be seen at the best venue available.

I can't find a 70MM screening in the Denver area. LA had screenings earlier this year and there's a scheduled 70MM screening at the Parkway Cinema in Barnsley, UK -- book a flight now.

And it might be worth your time to read about the real T.E. Lawrence. Fascinating individual.

Regardless, of where you see it, be sure to order two lemonade, with ice.

[ilovenola2]

Originally Posted by traths

This film would be amazing to see on the big screen.

Make that the BIG, BIG screen. I have seen Lawrence in every 70MM release since it first came out and it's the only way to go.

My nearby Tampa-area AMC is showing it in one of those small, few-seat rooms and I'd just as soon stay at home and watch it on my 55" screen.

To those of you who have never experienced David Lean's masterpiece in the theatre, do NOT cheat yourself out of seeing it on the largest screen available!

[JMS1223]

I saw this last night and I thought it looked pretty good. Very nice experience to see it on the big screen and having the intermission. so glad I saw it.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Looked great! On one of the tied for smallest screens at the theater, but at this theater even the smallest ones are are at least 38', probably 40' and 1.85 so they didn't have to pillar box to get 2.20:1 so it used full width.

[Connoralpha]

Lawrence of Arabia returning to theaters August 11 & 12

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by traths

This film would be amazing to see on the big screen.

If it’s a real DCP, yes.

[Rizor]

The last time this played as a Fathom event, it was as one of those TCM Big Screen Classics thing. I was so excited for it, booked my ticket 9 months in advance, drove about an hour to the theater, and it was the worst screening ever. It started in the wrong aspect ratio (the TCM intro was stretched), so I went to tell the manager. They fixed that, but picture quality was very soft and the right half of the screen had a purple tint to it! Very disappointing. Hopefully, this go-around will be better!

[hanshotfirst1138]

I’ve pretty much sworn off Fathom Events. Been burned too many times.

[nickg]

Fathom events is mostly 1080i dish network pay per view streams. So mpeg 2 at what 14 ish Mbps and 384kbps Dolby digital 5.1 tops. Vs actual 70mm film and lossless digital sound. Do yourself a solid. Don't touch fathom

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by nickg

Fathom events is mostly 1080i dish network pay per view streams. So mpeg 2 at what 14 ish Mbps and 384kbps Dolby digital 5.1 tops. Vs actual 70mm film and lossless digital sound. Do yourself a solid. Don't touch fathom

It was a DCP 5 years ago (man it does not feel that long), so would hope they would do that again

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

It was a DCP 5 years ago (man it does not feel that long), so would hope they would do that again

This is not a question we should have to ask!

[CarbonUnitM78]

I saw Lawrence of Arabia (Reissue) at Regal. It was shown on a smaller screen (1.85:1) than usual so there was black bars on the top and bottom. No biggie as that's how I watch TV at home. The picture looked phenomenal! So much so that the movie looked like it was shot within the past few years! The sound was mostly amazing too, except that the non-action dialogue scenes were at a very low volume, to the point where I can barely hear what was being said. My theatre usually has the volume really loud, so maybe someone complained recently. During the action scenes and when the amazing score kicked in the sound was great! There was no special features and there was entrance and exit music at the beginning and end of the movie and at the beginning and end of the 15 minute intermission.

I thought the movie was amazing and I will be buying the 4K Bluray!

[spider-neil]

I saw the movie for the first time relatively recently and an absolute masterpiece. It's one of the few sacred cow movies I've seen that absolutely earns its reputation. I'm so glad I waited for the Dolby Vision 4K version of the movie before watching it.