Lawrence of Arabia 4K UHD (1962)

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Frank169

Frankly I don't like the steelbook's artwork (almost looks like a SciFi movie or a theme from The Little Prince) and would have preferred something vintage original like this
but since Amazon Germany only had 6 copies to offer (now sold out and back to twice the price) and since the steelbook ends up on the shelf anyway (the 2012 Blu-ray deluxe edition is on display in my home theater) I made a quick decision.

The steelbook artwork is not my first choice, but overall the steel looks better in person vs images.

[Daytrader]

How will a bag help ? a box would make more sense.

[WhiskeyGnome]

"LIMITED EDITION"

F it just BUY BUY BUY YOU MUPPETS!

I did order this mostly for the camera work. I never really loved or even liked this film. Maybe the 4K will give me new blood though as has often happened. I still think it's a big mythical fairy tale based on BS history written by the people in charge. Yeah, it's not totally one-sided, but it's also completely fabricated. I guess my leash only goes so long when I want to believe things. I feel in parts the film is dated in that weird post-50s way; some of these epics all feel the same. But the costumes and landscapes I bet are just insanely nice in 4K.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by Reflection

He's talking about a problem with the Spanish version editions being shipped with the wrong disc for the extras where it only had the original extras disc for the standard Blu version and not the new disc included with the 4K edition which has new extras i think.

I was about to wonder if there was a new 4K version I didn't know about. I was one of the lucky ones to get it in Columbia Classics Vol. 1 before it went OOP & soared to somewhere around the price of gold on eBay; it shipped with the original extras disc, but Sony replaced it with little or no question. (Just swapped the discs between the CD mailer & case, then stuffed the CD mailer inside the box.) For a moment I thought Sony pulled an Oliver! or Gandhi on this one.

[Frank169]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

Yeah, it's not totally one-sided, but it's also completely fabricated.

Indeed, Wikipedia features a section "historical accuracy" for the film and it's obvious that the film took some artistic liberties (and I could add the Gasim Incident to that list). Nevertheless the essentials look intact like "[T.E. Lawrence] was also a consistent advocate of an independent Arab Syria" or "it is unclear at what point Lawrence became aware of the contents of the Sykes–Picot Agreement".

With your mindset one might just as well criticize Stanley Kubrick for filming Spartacus, because he freely admitted that it was driving him nuts not to have any historical records why Spartacus actually went back so that he had to made up an explanation.

If it's a good story, just tell it.

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

I was about to wonder if there was a new 4K version I didn't know about.

This is now the first time I bought Lawrence on UHD Blu-ray and frankly had hoped that for this "2025" (print on discs) re-release, they might have made good use of AI to perhaps pitch-correct the Sir Alec Guinness' post-dialogue for restored scenes, alas, no change at the beginning of Disc 2.

But from what I've thus far seen (on my front projection screen, HDR>SDR converted) the image is impeccable and perfect, I fail to imagine how it could possibly look any better than that.

I might have been a muppet when I purchased the 2012 anniversary limited edition erroneously assuming that I already had a great image here.
Turns out that the previous Blu-ray was way too dark, the UHD Blu-ray reveals details in dark clothing or objects in the shadow that were previously impossible to notice.

Not too surprisingly that adds a level of "perceived" sharpness (because the previous Blu-ray already had excellent detail and image resolution) because we can now see additional details (wouldn't exclude the possibility that the first Blu-ray was deliberately too dark so that a later UHD Blu-ray could easily "outshine" it).

A Dolby Atmos sound rejuvenation you think you've been hit by a train

As I started with Disc 2 I remained to watch the scene where Lawrence derails the train.
Sounded nice on the Blu-ray with DTS-HD 5.1 upmixed by Neural:X.

But with the new Dolby Atmos track the railtrack explosion made my home theater walls tremble and the derailed train moving towards the camera position acoustically sounded as if it would come off the screen and into my home theater!

Had never experienced anything like that in my 7.1.4 speaker setup and most assuredly had not expected something like this from a 1962 film.

I pray that we can get an equal Dolby Atmos rejuvenation for the upcoming UHD Blu-ray of Ben Hur, now that reportedly they had scanned again the 65 mm negative.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by Frank169

Indeed, Wikipedia features a section "historical accuracy" for the film and it's obvious that the film took some artistic liberties (and I could add the Gasim Incident to that list). Nevertheless the essentials look intact like "[T.E. Lawrence] was also a consistent advocate of an independent Arab Syria" or "it is unclear at what point Lawrence became aware of the contents of the Sykes–Picot Agreement".

With your mindset one might just as well criticize Stanley Kubrick for filming Spartacus, because he freely admitted that it was driving him nuts not to have any historical records why Spartacus actually went back so that he had to made up an explanation.

If it's a good story, just tell it.



This is now the first time I bought Lawrence on UHD Blu-ray and frankly had hoped that for this "2025" (print on discs) re-release, they might have made good use of AI to perhaps pitch-correct the Sir Alec Guinness' post-dialogue for restored scenes, alas, no change at the beginning of Disc 2.

But from what I've thus far seen (on my front projection screen, HDR>SDR converted) the image is impeccable and perfect, I fail to imagine how it could possibly look any better than that.

I might have been a muppet when I purchased the 2012 anniversary limited edition erroneously assuming that I already had a great image here.
Turns out that the previous Blu-ray was way too dark, the UHD Blu-ray reveals details in dark clothing or objects in the shadow that were previously impossible to notice.

Not too surprisingly that adds a level of "perceived" sharpness (because the previous Blu-ray already had excellent detail and image resolution) because we can now see additional details (wouldn't exclude the possibility that the first Blu-ray was deliberately too dark so that a later UHD Blu-ray could easily "outshine" it).

A Dolby Atmos sound rejuvenation you think you've been hit by a train

As I started with Disc 2 I remained to watch the scene where Lawrence derails the train.
Sounded nice on the Blu-ray with DTS-HD 5.1 upmixed by Neural:X.

But with the new Dolby Atmos track the railtrack explosion made my home theater walls tremble and the derailed train moving towards the camera position acoustically sounded as if it would come off the screen and into my home theater!

Had never experienced anything like that in my 7.1.4 speaker setup and most assuredly had not expected something like this from a 1962 film.

I pray that we can get an equal Dolby Atmos rejuvenation for the upcoming UHD Blu-ray of Ben Hur, now that reportedly they had scanned again the 65 mm negative.

Okay, well I will watch this over Spartacus any day of the week lmao. That chin and the 4K is just too much for me. Talk about overrated movies. Lawrence is on another level if you ask me. I don't hate the film. I just think it's talked about like it's god or something, and to be frank I find it really annoying because it's far from some perfect film.

Again, I want to watch the 4K in full detail too. It might change my mind on a few things. Older transfers really make me dislike films I have found through past experience. I haven't seen it in a good bit. Spartacus is just not my thing though. I actually dislike that film.

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

Okay, well I will watch this over Spartacus any day of the week lmao. That chin and the 4K is just too much for me. Talk about overrated movies. Lawrence is on another level if you ask me. I don't hate the film. I just think it's talked about like it's god or something, and to be frank I find it really annoying because it's far from some perfect film.

Again, I want to watch the 4K in full detail too. It might change my mind on a few things. Older transfers really make me dislike films I have found through past experience. I haven't seen it in a good bit. Spartacus is just not my thing though. I actually dislike that film.

Lawrence of Arabia is my 2nd favorite movie of all time because it's an epic that uses its vastness in service to the character. I don't take it as an accurate representation of events moreso than a highly critical examination of hero worship, which I wish were a more common thought process.

Lawrence in the movie accomplishes incredible things, but he could be a bipolar manic depressive, and his delusions of grandeur are used by other parties to their benefit (Claude Raines in particular is one of my favorite characters in film history). It's BIG and has ACTION to draw in audiences of the time, but it's used to isolate its protagonist. In the end, or the beginning really, he's far removed from his feats, and for all his "savior complex", he's an enigma no one really knew because he didn't know himself. I don't believe any modern blockbusters with comparable budgets would have the cajones to present such a complex and at times down right unlikable and unclear character at their centers.

[JackyJacquard]

8 of them available on eBay at pleaserewind!!

Link

$72.77 shipped to the UK though so I didn’t bite

[400TX]

Originally Posted by Frank169

Frankly I don't like the steelbook's artwork (almost looks like a SciFi movie or a theme from The Little Prince) and would have preferred something vintage original like this

[Show spoiler]

Yeah there's some great global poster art for this film.

Although the steel's artwork makes a bit more sense when you consider it alongside the other 4K steels that were release alongside and in a similar art style:



(although those other two, of course, had standard releases FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SONY, JUST RELEASE A STANDARD VERSION!!)

[nurikabe]

I fondly remember the DVD for the 40th anniversary, not so much for the sub-par cover but for the faux fabric they used for the package.

[Dubliner1]

Originally Posted by nurikabe

I fondly remember the DVD for the 40th anniversary, not so much for the sub-par cover but for the faux fabric they used for the package.

I also miss some of the unique and fun packaging we used to see back in the DVD (and Blu-ray) haydays

[Dubliner1]

...just read elsewhere there are 3 showings September 7, 14, and 19 with a brand new 70mm print at the Paris Theatre BIG and LOUD festival in New York City if ayone interested.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Yearbook

Lawrence of Arabia is my 2nd favorite movie of all time because it's an epic that uses its vastness in service to the character. I don't take it as an accurate representation of events moreso than a highly critical examination of hero worship, which I wish were a more common thought process.

Lawrence in the movie accomplishes incredible things, but he could be a bipolar manic depressive, and his delusions of grandeur are used by other parties to their benefit (Claude Raines in particular is one of my favorite characters in film history). It's BIG and has ACTION to draw in audiences of the time, but it's used to isolate its protagonist. In the end, or the beginning really, he's far removed from his feats, and for all his "savior complex", he's an enigma no one really knew because he didn't know himself. I don't believe any modern blockbusters with comparable budgets would have the cajones to present such a complex and at times down right unlikable and unclear character at their centers.

That's why I've always struggled with the movie, Lawrence the man is such a puzzle. But it's still an astonishing feat of cinema and worth a place on anyone's shelf because of it.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Yearbook

I don't believe any modern blockbusters with comparable budgets would have the cajones to present such a complex and at times down right unlikable and unclear character at their centers.

OPPENHEIMER (2023)

Also far more historically accurate--if far less militarily action focused--than LAWRENCE.

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

OPPENHEIMER (2023)

Also far more historically accurate--if far less militarily action focused--than LAWRENCE.

True, that would be the closest comp, but Oppie had a relatively "cheap" production budget of 100 million, which adjusted is similar to El 'awrence, but LoA was the most expensive movie ever made at the time (although Cleopatra absolutely obliterated that right after).

I'll never argue against the historical accuracy claims, but for me and in this case, I think of it how Leone treated his movies visually, it's only what's within the frame that matters. I'd be hard pressed to argue that against a WWI scholar, but it's merely my matter of taste. I don't envy the voters having to choose between this and Atticus Finch that year.

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's why I've always struggled with the movie, Lawrence the man is such a puzzle. But it's still an astonishing feat of cinema and worth a place on anyone's shelf because of it.

No doubt, and I wish it weren't semi-locked behind Sony's musical steelbooks releases for interested folks. I got Columbia Classics Vol. 1 for it alone, and while I enjoy the rest of the set, especially my favorite Kubrick in Strangelove, I paid a hundo for El 'awrence and would do so again if they did a modern scan because I'm a sucker.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

The steelbook artwork is not my first choice, but overall the steel looks better in person vs images.

It's true.

[Reflection]

Has the US limited edition reissue been shipped out for anyone yet?

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Reflection

Has the US limited edition reissue been shipped out for anyone yet?

Nnnnnope. Ordered it wayyyy back on the second day it was available for $27.10 and my delivery estimate still says "between Sept 17th and Sept 29". I am not a Prime member.

[Reflection]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Nnnnnope. Ordered it wayyyy back on the second day it was available for $27.10 and my delivery estimate still says "between Sept 17th and Sept 29". I am not a Prime member.

I ordered a week ago, i ordered it from the UK site so i thought maybe those in the US might have already had their's sent out, mine says arriving 22nd - 3rd of October.