I have not seen the Omar Sharif/Julie Christie version of Dr Zhivago, so I do not have anything to compare it too. If the original version is better than this one, it must be REALLY good as this version is brilliant. Hans Matheson is lovely, and I am absolutely in love with him. I also think that Kris Marshall is wonderful, and has shown a completely different side to himself after being in "My Family", in which he is hilarious.