Amazon.com essential video: David Lean focused all his talent as an epic-maker on Boris Pasternak's sweeping novel about a doctor-poet in revolutionary Russia. The results may sometimes veer toward soap opera, especially with the screen frequently filled with adoring close-ups of Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, but Lean's gift for cramming the screen with spectacle is not to be denied. The streets of Moscow, the snowy steppes of Russia, the house in the country taken over by ice; these are re-created with Lean's unerring sense of grandness. The movie is so lush and so long that it becomes an irresistible wallow, even when logic suffers--like Gone with the Wind before it and Titanic after. Sharif, who achieved stardom in Lean's previous film, Lawrence of Arabia, mostly looks noble, but the supporting cast is spiky: Rod Steiger as a fat-cat monster, Tom Courtenay as a self-righteous revolutionary, and Klaus Kinski and Alec Guinness in smaller roles. Geraldine Chaplin, in her adult debut, plays the doctor's compliant wife. Robert Bolt's screenplay won one of the film's five Oscars, with another going to perhaps the most immediately recognizable element of the movie: Maurice Jarre's romantic music, with its hugely popular 'Lara's Theme' weaving in and out of a swooning score. --Robert Horton
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Rating: - A Timeless Piece
The depth of this master piece is timeless for all generations to come. Compared to what we are having on the market today, most of them are cheap, superficial and rediculous, I recommand this movie to everyone; at least watch it once to experiece what real love and real life are.
Rating: - Dr Zhivago Among The Finest All Time Classic's
I wish I could live a life as full as Dr. Zhivago. Every so often one realizes that when events in history happen, it changes the lives of people to the extent that can only be read about or viewed to believe. The loneliness, and then joy, Fear,uncertainty, and ultimately sorrow.
Rating: - Cascading oceans of tears
I just saw this last night and was almost immediately extremely emotionally expressive throughout the whole film. The juxtaposition between the rich and the poor and then the fall of society into communism is absolutely heart wrenching. But Omar Sharif's portrayal of Dr. Zhivago is all about hope during this depressing time and his bright attitude toward life is felt throughout by the viewer as well as many of the characters, but the despair is always there. Shadows of fear, violence, betrayal, and hatred lurk all around him and Lara, played by Julie Cristie. But Dr. Zhivago is driven by hope and tireless perseverance to build a better life for his family. Their love for one another keeps them strong and keeps them going.
I must warn you that this movie is not for the faint of heart. My husband, who had seen it a few times before, was emotional because of my sorrow filled emotion. Yes, it took ... Read More
Rating: - Fabulous
Doctor Zhivago is romance and history and struggle all wrapped up in one tremendous piece of art!
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- A Timeless Piece
