Nothing Is Written

As most people that know me understand that I am huge movie fan, which I have blogged about in the past, I am constantly watching something. Some of the movies I've watched and enjoyed lately are Argo, (500) Days Of Summer, Robot And Frank, The Graduate and Seven Psychopaths .

  I also recently watched the nearly 4 hour long, 1962 epic classic, Lawrence Of Arabia,  winner of 7 Oscars including best picture. The film is based on the true story of the British Lieutenant Colonel T.E. Lawrence played by Peter O'Toole and his adventures in Saudi Arabia during the First World War. I have to say I throughly enjoyed this movie, it had excellent acting, a great musical score, epic scenery and amazing cinematography, though it had a very long runtime it was worth watching the story unfold. It is a truly a piece of film history and just a masterpiece all around, Everything is shown in such an epic fashion that I couldn't help but just say wow from time to time. One scene introduces a character emerge through a desert mirage in the distance, a brilliant effect that required Panavision to construct a special lens just to capture it, this is also my grandpa's favorite scene in the film. Throughout the film Lawrence not only battles external enemies but his own ego, being a hero and his infatuation with violence. Another part of the movie that really stuck with me was when Lawrence and a group of Saudi tribal warriors were crossing a brutal stretch of desert, to attempt to take back Aqaba, a coastal town from, the occupying Turkish forces. At one point during the trek a member of the party became separated from the group, Lawrence wanted to go back to save the man, the tribe members warned against this saying it was written, that the man's fate was sealed and he would surely die. Lawrence disregarded this advice and went back anyway, the man that was left behind was nearly dead when Lawrence got to him but he was saved. The bold and fearless British officer returned to the disbelief of the group, one of his comrades named Ali, hands him some water and Lawrence, with confidence says; "nothing is written". 

The scene:

Something about that line just really resonates with me, it says to me that life is what we make it and that nothing is certain. The human spirit is a boundless well of shear will that can shift imagination into reality and make the impossible possible. I feel the art of filmmaking itself is a triumph of humanity. Movies tell stories and storytelling is something we can all relate to and be connected by, from ancient people around a fire to the latest movies in IMAX 3D it is all shared experience.

P.S. Amanda Seyfried