Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Lawrence of Arabia 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 6, 2020

Sony has released Director David Lean's timeless 1962 classic 'Lawrence of Arabia' to the UHD format. The 4K presentation is currently exclusive to the studio's prestigious Columbia Classics Collection boxed set. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. One new supplement is included and this four-disc set bundles in the pair of Blu-ray discs originally released in 2012.

It is the height of World War I. A middling British Lieutenant by the name of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) may be the most enigmatic man in the entire military. He works diligently and with exacting precision on map detail. His is a rather quirky sense of humor and slightly odd way of carrying himself. He's a very highly educated man, an expert on Arabic culture and letters, and he's about to embark on a quest that will rise his star within the army ranks and the general public alike. He's sent on a lengthy mission of personal information gathering to assess the progress, or lack thereof, concerning the Arab uprising against the formidable Turkish Army. He's to meet with the noted Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and is escorted by Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif), a man who murders Lawrence's first guide and companion for drinking well water without its owner's -- Ali himself -- permission. Lawrence impresses the Prince a great deal with his honesty, intelligence, grasp of Arabian culture, and respect for the Arabs' ways. He speaks out against a plan of retreat from the Turks and instead proposes a dangerous cross-desert raid on the Turkish coastal stronghold of Akaba, the capture of which would yield political, strategic, and morale-boosintg victories all. As Lawrence proves himself a friend of the Arab, understanding of and embracing their ways, a strong military strategist, and a man of impeccable courage, he works his way into the hearts of his Arab comrades and morphs into a man fully ingrained in their ways. As he leads the Arabs in battle, unites warring tribes, and settles difficult disagreements, he becomes a hero to the Arab people, a respected military figure, and a curiosity around the world. As victories mount and Lawrence's star rises, he comes to realize the weight of the burden he bears and begins paying towards the inward price for his outward successes and transformation.

For a full film review, please click here.

Lawrence of Arabia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

For its UHD release, Lawrence of Arabia has been split between two discs: part one runs 2:19:23 and part two 1:27:38. Sony's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD is every bit the filmic wonder one expects it to be, that the film needs to be. It's difficult to imagine the film ever looking any better than this. Sony's presentation practically defies written definition; it truly must be seen to be believed. But in the interest of spelling out the essentials of what makes it so special, it all begins with that vital grain structure, which flows freely and with even distribution. It's not simply complimentary, it's a key defining feature and a significant portion of what makes this image an instant classic. Its consistency is vital, its composition exacting, its splendor unmatched. The fine detailing within the image is breathtaking. Clarity far exceeds, and is unmatched by, any previous home video version, even the outstanding 2012 Blu-ray. It's simply resplendent. "Sharp" barely begins to describe, it, "intricate" cannot fully report on the clarity of even the fine sandy and pebbly terrains. For essential textures such as faces and clothes, it goes without saying that Sony's image is first-rate. In any light -- even in difficult day-for-night shots -- there's a superb level of definition to essential skin and clothing lines, and that so many are war-weary and caked over with sand and dust and marked by sweat and frays only add to the splendor. Practically every shot leaps off the screen with razor sharpness. This extends even to the wide vistas and broad shots of both serene majesty and raging battle. The UHD is a sight to be hold, and the Dolby Vision color grading only betters it.

Tones are full and resplendent. Accuracy is unmatched. As the image deepens colors compared to the Blu-ray it seems to find their fullest life. Look at Dryden's gray suit in the opening minutes; the color depth adds are striking as it transitions from flat and bleak to fully saturated and impeccably dense and deep on UHD. Of course the movie is largely defined by earthy beiges and browns, both in describing the sandy desert locations and the various military uniforms. These colors find a new level of excellence, not reimagined by any means but solidified with a genuine saturation and contrast that flatters the material. Blue skies are amongst the revelations. Here they are intensely bright and bold, leaving the Blu-ray looking flatter and more lifeless. White garments shine with newfound crispness and vitality. Black levels are likewise improved with perfectly balanced depth and shadow detail. Skin tones are firm and reflective of individual composition as well as influencing lighting and other elements, like caked-on sweat and dust. There are no print blotches or encode issues to report.

Make no mistake, the 2012 Blu-ray still holds its own as one of the finest on that format, but this UHD is something else. It's transformative in all the best ways, a picture-perfect breath-taker that is as expected: a new reference image for the UHD format and proof of physical media's viability, and necessity, in delivering an epic in the most perfect way possible. The only downside to this reviewer's experience, beyond a technical hiccup around the 20:10 mark on disc two which fixed itself upon rewind/playback, was watching on a 65" screen. It demands to be seen big and bold, both the film and its UHD. Yet even on a relatively "small" screen, what an experience! Movie making and movie watching don't get any better.

Lawrence of Arabia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lawrence of Arabia features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and what a wonderful presentation it is. To open, the musical richness and fullness is apparent with the overture. Instrumental detail is spectacular, with each piece identifiable within the whole. Spacing is perfect, both for front width and surround wrap. Low end extension is solid. Throughout, score is majestic but not overwhelming. It doesn't dominate, but it is presented in equal proportion and splendor to Lean's and Cinematographer F.A. Young's grandiose cinematography. Environmental spacing is efficient and natural. Listeners will feel part of every environment, from sweaty English headquarters interiors to wide-open desert vistas, from tents to caves and, indeed, every location in the film. The overhead channels don't engage with much in the way of discrete effects within generalized musical and ambient supports; even the reverberation heard in chapter five of disc one certainly bounces throughout the listener but doesn't necessarily fill the space above nearly so fully as it does around, though moments later some explosions do feel as if there's more of a pronounced top end support. One of the best examples of discrete overhead usage comes during this battle in the form of plane flyovers that plainly engage directly above the listener, and with excellent spacial awareness and fluid top end movement, too. However, action scenes do lack the fluidity and precision of tracks engineered in the modern style. Horses charging into battle in chapter three on disc two leaves a bit wanting in terms of absolute clarity, for example. But the resplendent music, perfectly clear and positioned dialogue, and natural ambience and feel for spacial absoluteness make this a first-rate track and a practically perfect compliment to the amazing visuals.

Lawrence of Arabia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: As I received the set there are missing supplements. Sony has sent this statement: "It has come to our attention that due to a technical error, the set includes an incorrect bonus materials disc for 'Lawrence of Arabia' with fewer pieces of content than intended. We are working with our operations team to determine a solution for consumers who are purchasing the collection, and will communicate that to you as soon as possible.

This review will be updated once the new disc arrives.

This four-disc set includes a good many supplements as they carry over from the original two-disc Blu-ray release as included with this collection. The UHD also adds a single supplement. See below an outline of what's included and please click here for full coverage. As it ships in the Columbia Classics boxed set, a slipcover and Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included.

UHD Disc One:

• NEW! Unused International Prologue (2160p/Dolby Vision, 1:00): A brief text intro to the film meant to set the stage for newcomers that Lean ultimately rejected.

Blu-ray Disc One:

• Secrets of Arabia: A Picture-in-Graphic Track

Blu-ray Disc Two:

• Peter O'Toole Revisits Lawrence of Arabia
• Making of Lawrence of Arabia
• A Conversation with Steven Spielberg
• Maan, Jordan: The Camels Are Cast
• In Search of Lawrence
• Romance of Arabia
• Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic (1970)
• New York Premiere
• Advertising Campaigns

Update: The following extras are included on the corrected bonus disc:

• Deleted Balcony Scene with Introduction by Anne V. Coates (480i, 7:06).
• The Lure of the Desert: Martin Scorsese on Lawrence of Arabia (1080p, 7:51).
• King Hussein Visits Lawrence of Arabia Set (1080p, 2:07).
• In Love with the Desert (480i, 1:23:54).
• Archival Interviews (480i, 9:46 total runtime): Included are Steven Spielberg (1998), William Friedkin (2007), and Sydney Pollack (2007).
• Lawrence at 50: A Classic Restored (1080p, 13:30).
• Vintage Trailers (1080p, 11:05 total runtime): Included are 1962 Theatrical Trailer, Theatrical Teaser #1, Theatrical Teaser #2, 70mm Restoration Trailer (1989 Release), T.V. Spot #1, and T.V. Spot #2.

Lawrence of Arabia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

To be perfectly frank, the entirety of the Columbia Classics collection is worth buying for this film, and this UHD presentation, alone. One can almost consider the other five films bonuses. This one looks that good. It's breathtaking, and it's impossible to imagine even the most stringent videophile not smiling the whole way through. The Atmos soundtrack is first-rate, too. There is one new, brief extra but the carryover content is perfectly fine in support. What a gem of a film and of a UHD. Of course, Lawrence of Arabia's UHD disc earns my highest recommendation.