Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Excellent, a Must See

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

If you're looking for a travelogue of the vast landscape of Russia, this is for you. If you're looking for an interesting story, compelling characters, or just a way to stay awake, this is not for you. 15 minutes of story about shallow people running around the Steppes for three hours.

While not quite as good as David Lean's other masterpieces The Bridge on the River Kwai or Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago is still a stunning cinematic achievement. It has, much like the previously named titles, beautiful cinematography & an excellent score by Maurice Jarre once again.The most obvious and greatest thing about this film is definitely the cinematography. It is a beautiful film to look at, with many memorable scenes and extraordinary camera techniques ( Such as the one where it follows Rod Steiger's character sideways from room to room ). The shot right before Zhivago is picked up by the reds when trying to return to his wife is also one that springs to mind, a bit reminiscent of the final scene in The Third Man (1949), the shots of Varykino, the train ride, or any other shot in general of the beautiful winter scenery. It has critically acclaimed cinematography, and for good reason since it is one of the most beautiful movies you could ever see.However, i found that the performances seemed to be a bit flat in general. Omar Sharif doesn't have that ability to absord you as the audience into feeling a lot of sympathy for his character like Peter o'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia could or the raw natural acting talent that Alec Guinness and William Holden show in The Bridge on the River Kwai, except for the couple of teary eyed scenes which he pulled off extremely well. The two women in Zhivago's life, played by Julie Christie & Geraldine Chaplin, also seemed to be able to lack this strong screen presence most characters had in Lean's previous films. The only actors that really had excellent performances were probably Rod Steiger & Ralph Richardson, especially the former as the intelligent businessman. Ofcourse Alec Guinness is in this film too, but surprisingly he also seems a bit flat and does not quite compare to his great role in The Bridge on the River Kwai.The first half of the movie is a character piece whereas the second is more of a romance picture. It does a tremendous job of taking its time to properly set up its characters in the first half of the film, something that if often way too hasty these days. The second probably features more great shots, but still seems inferior to the first as a character development piece. Still, the second half is beautiful enough on its own and as a motion picture it is a stunning achievement.In the end this creates an epic atmospheric historical epic of a film, unfortunately devoid of the performances that made Lawrence of Arabia and The Bridge on the River Kwai stand out, but still a very worthy picture.

Doctor Zhivago is a 1965 drama film with elements of the romance and historical drama genres. The story follows Dr. Yuri Zhivago, whose parents die when he is a young boy. Zhivago is raised by the Gromeko family and studies to become a doctor. The doctor spends the rest of his life torn between romance, war, poetry, and a desire to have a peaceful life.Doctor Zhivago is a powerful film that is entertaining throughout its entirety. The acting and writing are amazing and the dialogue between the characters is extremely thoughtful and insightful. It is also nice to see a film that includes such historical events as the Great War and the Russian Revolution from the perspective of Russian characters. The effects of war, anarchy, civil unrest, and collectivism are illustrated very well. With such beautiful scenery and a fantastic plot, you never want to the film to end.If there are any complaints that could be made of Doctor Zhivago, it is the length of the film. Even though the film is enjoyable, it is almost three and a half hours long. It feels as if you have accomplished something when you finish the film because of the massive amount of time it consumes. I think the movie could have been shortened without hurting the overall story. Also, the ending is extremely underwhelming in my opinion, but I will not give away any details.Overall, Doctor Zhivago is a great film. Audiences of all tastes will enjoy the beauty, passion, and insight this movie offers. If you have yet to watch this classic film, I recommend it. You will not be disappointed.

This is a film like no other. Set in a period of great strife in a place of cold violence and indifference. This is a love story and a story of revolution. This is a portrayal of what is worst in humankind and what is best. We have a love story that transcends the elements and carries on to future generations. These are excellent performances by Julie Christie and Omar Shariff and impeccable direction by David Lean, who has produced some of the greatest works of the cinema. As we travel the endless vistas of the Soviet landscape we are given a taste of the Russia of the time, but there is threat at every turn. The young Yuri is shown the ugliness of politics at an early age and must confront this throughout his life. He is a man of great courage and compassion. If you've never seen this, by all means do so.