Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

jessicacoco2005 A brilliant, sweeping historical masterpiece based on the true story of Omar Mukhtar, a teacher, who earned the nickname "the Lion of the Desert". Intelligent script, Magnificent acting, directing, and cinematography make this film one of the best anti-imperialist war films; depicting the great bravery and intelligence of one man and of one country's resistance against imperialist designs.The story depicts post-World War 1, but pre-WW2 era. Mussolini decides to use Libya as an "easy stepping stone" to carving up the Middle East. Libya turns out to not be such an easy stepping stone. The Italians may have had machine guns, planes and tanks; while the Libyan peasants had nothing, but old rusted rifles. However the Libyans had something the Italians didn't, conviction: They were willing to die to save their land and keep their independence. When Italian General Graziani asks "and you cared nothing for the ruination of your country?" Omar Mukhtar replies: "You are the ruination of my country. What would you do if someone occupied your land? Though brutal, there were conscientious objectors in the Italian army and one of the fascinating features of this film is their depiction from the soldier unwilling to serve to the Officer who defends him. The director captures the horrific methods the Italians used from concentration camps, setting fields and homes on fire to raping innocent women. However, what is shown is only a small fraction of the ruthless brutality used by Gen. Graziani against the civilian population. He was responsible for the slaughter of over 120,000 civilians in these concentration camps. To this day, this film is still banned in Italy. In fact, Graziani served only 2 years for his crimes after the fall of Fascism, and even became honorary president of the (legal) neo-fascist party.

Syduzzaman Shimul The movie is based on a true history when Italy ruled Libya. Omar Mukhtar, a true symbol of a dedicated leader. who never compromised with the occupiers. He is fighting against super power dictators unequally to save his land, to save his nationality. This movie shows us the cruelty of dictators as well as inspires us to fight against dictators. I personally very much liked Omar Mukhtar for his outstanding personality and the role he played through out the movie. I hate all kind of occupiers. And this movie gave me the lesson to hate occupiers strongly. I also supports small ethnicity and nations to be exists around the world. Long live the leaders like Omar Mukhtar!

samkat1317 I was almost out of high school and a big history and war movie buff when I saw the marque poster in a nearby cinema. I caught it on a matinée and was captivated throughout the whole movie. It's definitely an epic, with wide shots of the deserts, immense deployment of extras, intense battle scenes, all whirling around the main character, Omar Mukhtar, played quite well by Anthony Quinn. While there is the sense of futility in the struggle between the old world of the desert and the new order of the industrial 'modern' world, I found a feeling of half-victory, where the battle was lost(despite some tough fighting), but the war was in no way won by the Italians. Overall a great picture. One of the most memorable scenes for me: after an Italian column is smashed by Mukhtar's men, one of his men shoots an Italian who surrendered. Quinn grabs the weapon, and insists they do not shoot those who surrender. The shooter retorts that the Italians do it to their people, and Quinn asks 'and you will allow them to be your teachers?'. That scene always stayed with me...

OttoVonB Prelude to WWII. Omar Mukhtar, a brilliant Bedouin leader, wages war against oppressive Italian Fascist forces (led by the bloodthirsty General Graziani) in his native Lybia.Director Moustapha Akkad (The Message) clearly learnt a few lessons from "Lawrence of Arabia", mainly how best to use the charismatic Anthony Quinn. As Mukhtar, Quinn gives a nuanced portrayal of compassion and wisdom. Whenever he features in a scene, it becomes impossible to tear one's eyes off the screen. Thankfully, Oliver Reed proves a magnificently cruel and seething counterpoint as General Graziani. Irene Papas provides strong supporting work and Rod Steiger turns in a delightful cameo as Benito Musslini.Moustapha Akkad uses a solid structure and keeps it riveting throughout, extracting fine performances from all his actors and technical collaborators. Where "The Message" was impressive but cold (due to its invisible hero and reverence), "Lion in the Desert" has an emotional core and throws up scene after impressive scene. The desert battle scenes are incredibly messy and savage and have a sense of multiple individual action amid chaos, rather than elaborate choreography. This perfectly suits the theme of Bedouin guerrilla. Production values are considerable and Maurice Jarre provides one of his most underrated scores.Some viewers will find qualms with the fact that, despite the coda that proclaims that Lybia managed to liberate itself, the country was then for long under the oppressive rule of Kadaffi. In truth, this little addition might have something to do with the fact that Kadaffi assisted in funding the film. If you can overlook this (not to difficult), you can appreciate the true focus: Mukhtar. This remains a beautiful film about a people's resistance."Lion in the Desert" is an important film, if only because it offers a very accessible (to Western audiences) Arab perspective. It is also impressively well made: an accomplished chapter in the era of great epics that flourished with David Lean's masterpieces and ended with Richard Attenbourgh's Gandhi.See this!