Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		1.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

Lion of the Desert Blu-ray Movie Review

Good film, disappointing Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 9, 2013

The finest War films really aren't "War" films. While they incorporate gun battles and general battlefield mayhem, they're not built around them, and they certainly don't embrace them. In fact, it's often the films that are run-and-guns disguised as military-themed Action films that are amongst the worst the genre has to offer. Pictures like Glory and Saving Private Ryan fold the action and historical authenticity into a greater tale of man or men, perseverance, courage, morality, and perhaps even social commentary in the form of, often, a subtle but highly effective anti-war note. Lion of the Desert is one such film that's more a dueling character drama that explores a number of substantial themes than it is a stereotypical "War" picture. It's the tale of two men -- an Italian military officer and a Libyan nobody thrust into a place of prominence in a rebellion -- who battle one another not with the sword or even the pen but rather the mind and master strategy. Through their battlefield confrontations they grow individually and evolve as men and military strategists both. The chaos around them does take a toll, however, and the story evolves from a broader tale of international conflict between a mighty European military and a ragtag North African freedom force to an epic confrontation between two men that will either end with a powerful, modern nation with a mechanized army disgraced or a cherished rebel leader at the end of a noose.

We demand better PQ! (and AQ, too, and supplements).

In 1929, with Italy firmly entrenched in an expansionist move in North Africa, Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini (Rod Steiger) rises to power and further expands Italy's military efforts to stomp the growing Libyan rebellion against colonization. He appoints veteran General Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed) to spearhead a renewed push against the rebellion, which is growing in strength and resolve under the leadership of a schoolteacher named Omar Mukhtar (Anthony Quinn). The Libyans, aware that Graziani's appointment all but guarantees a new offensive, prepare for the worst but prove courageous on the battlefield and hold their own against the better equipped and modernized Italian forces. However, with the Italian's failure to achieve quick victory comes a series of atrocities and a personal target on Mukhtar's back that both threaten the Libyan resistance movement more so than manpower and technology.

Director Moustapha Akkad's picture is an occasionally slow but oftentimes brilliant portrayal of a desperate battle seen from two very distinct perspectives. It's a classic tale of a lesser-equipped enemy and the man that would lead and transform it that's largely taken for granted by a significantly stronger, better equipped, and more technologically advanced army. Comparisons to Lawrence of Arabia are inevitable, both superficially and dramatically. Lion of the Desert is certainly the lesser picture -- it's not as beautifully filmed and performed, not as epic in scope, not nearly as visually and aurally unforgettable -- but that observation is not to be taken either as a criticism or as a failure in filmmaking. On the contrary, Lion is a strong, enveloping film, smartly crafted and very well acted and photographed in its own right. Watching the film with a mind on Lawrence would be a mistake and would only serve to detract from all that Lion accomplishes. In a pure comparative study, Akkad's picture falls short and often feels as if a copycat. Taken in as much of a vacuum as audiences can be expected to create, the film displays a number of positives -- some striking -- as a smart, well-versed picture of courage, culture, combat, nationalism, and the rise of spirit and the satisfying of soul, at least as much as war will allow, in the midst of the brutality of war and the barbarity of a foe that's forced to turn to desperate, increasingly violent measures to defeat its enemy.

Lion of the Desert effortlessly integrates its elements into a compelling, albeit occasionally overlong, tale of humanity, triumph, and failure on the battlefield and within the soul, the soul of men and the soul of a people under the brutality of a powerful fascist government and military force. The film opens up into a rather broad tale of conflict and the barbarism of an occupying force but gradually narrows back down towards the tale of the respective leaders, brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Quinn and Oliver Reed. As the scope shrinks, the drama intensifies and culminates with a beautiful sequence between the men that evokes a sense of brotherhood that often evolves in combat, a brotherhood built on a growing admiration for an opponent on one side and a soulful understanding of how the world works and a lifelong appreciation for life and man built on faith and morality on the other. Though the film ends rather predictably -- even for those who come into the film unfamiliar with the true history of the conflict and Omar Mukhtar -- it proves a rather beautifully realized journey through the terrors of war and the people who really exist beyond the weapons and the battlefield, here shaped by breathlessly excellent performances in a film that's unfortunately become a bit lost in the littered cinema landscape and under the weight of Lawrence of Arabia and, to a lesser extent, similarly-themed films like Braveheart but that is certainly a gem that's yearning to be uncovered.

Lion of the Desert Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Unfortunately, Lion of the Desert's Blu-ray release doesn't do the film justice. At all. Anchor Bay's troubled high definition transfer arrives at 1080i inside a 1.78:1 frame rather than at, or around, the film's original 2.39:1 aspect ratio and the advertised 1080p encode. Unfortunately, things do not improve from there. Details are generally uninspired and flat. Skin textures appear pasty, military uniforms lack beyond basic textures, and general definition around the screen -- including both ornate Italian "war room" furnishing and desert terrains -- proves greatly disappointing. Colors are rather bland, serviceable certainly but never vibrant. Black levels sometimes look a little unnaturally bright, but flesh tones don't appear to stray too far from normal shades. There are a myriad of additional nitpicks. Noise is sprinkled throughout, compression issues are evident, and one scene around the eight-minute mark jitters badly. The print is littered with random splotches and speckles. This is a watchable but hugely disappointing transfer in nearly every regard.

Lion of the Desert Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lion of the Desert's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack fares a little bit better than the video, but the net result remains negative. Dialogue occasionally comes across harshly and sometimes without much balance. Generally, however, it's clear and intelligible but not in any way natural. Musical presence is decent; fidelity lacks and volume sometimes seems out of balance around the stage. Most gunshots and explosions fall disappointingly flat. They're loud, but they don't pull the listening audience into the action. There are a few moments of adequacy; a blowing mountain horn offers a nice presence early in the film, for example, but such instances are far too few. Overall, a disappointing sound presentation for a great film.

Lion of the Desert Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Lion of the Desert contains no supplemental content. Note that the film runs longer than the runtime on the package suggests, but it does not match the 206-minute cut.

Lion of the Desert Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lion of the Desert isn't Lawrence of Arabia, but it's a very strong, reliable, beautifully crafted, precisely acted, and often intoxicating story of man, war, and the conflict between barbaric imperialism and spiritually based nationalism. Inside is a classic tale of rebellion, but the film draws its focus towards the men who would lead each side, culminating in a fabulous sequence between stars Anthony Quinn and Oliver Reed. It's a film that's certainly not a significant presence on the broad movie watching public's radar, but it's a film deserving of a wider audience and greater admiration. Sadly, the Blu-ray release fails the film in every regard. Absent supplemental features and sporting inferior video and mediocre audio, this release is sure to disappoint newcomers and longtime fans both. The film comes highly recommended, but this Blu-ray is most definitely not the delivery vehicle to bring it to a broader audience or to longtime fans hoping to see the film as beautifully presented as it must have been on the day it released more than three decades past.