Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
That was a rewatch, but I didn't remember much from the film. I think the beggining is really strong, the way they present Lawrence as this atypical military men, more intellectual then most of the other soldiers. The images are beautiful and the whole first hour where we see Lawrence in the desert and going to Akaba is cinematic genius, entertaining, beautiful visuals, beautifully cinematic. However, I have some issues with the film
Weaknesses: I was interested in how Lawrence continuously stressed the point that Arabia should come together against the turks, that the different arabian groups shouldn't be divided and fight against each other, but unite. What I found was lacking is to explain why the turks themselves can't be considered arabs. Among the different people of the middle east, which can be classified as arabs and which cannot? It's a question which I would have liked to be answered.
I really disliked the fact that white actors played arabs, even if Alec Guinness is an excellent actor it would have been a more immerscive experience if the arabian king was played by an actual arab actor.
The biggest weakness I'd say is the character of Lawrence himself, I just didn't get him, his personality. At one time he has this very high image of himself as this sort of new messiah that will give the arabs their freedom, at other times he has sudden flashes of modesty and thinks himself merely as a man (and he interchanges between these 2 visions of himself throughout the whole film). Also he's a pacifist throughout most of the film, at the beggining he prefers to walk in the desert then to take the lift of a murderer, then toward the end he willfully chooses to massacre turkish troops then to just ignore them (they weren't attacking). I just didn't get the character.
Still overall beautiful movie, the desert is almost a character in it, which I love, but it has it's flaws. Also, the movie could be an hour shorter.
78/100
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
One of the rare Hitchcock I hadn't seen yet and it was delightful. Super entertaining, short, thrilling, a great Hitchcock. I don't have much more to say, just an excellent Hitchcock film.
84/100