Rating: 
Summary: DVD flaws
Review: I'll agree with the other DVD reviewers and add another failing that I noticed. Near the end, during the carriage ride with Ms. Honeychurch and her mother, the audio track gets a little out of sync with the picture for a couple of minutes. That, and the missing 40 seconds in the rather crucial scene in the Italian pension after the picnic, were things that bothered me the most. A Room With A View is my favorite movie of all time; I don't have to have special features on the DVD, like director's commentary or "making of" segments, though they would have been nice, but at the VERY least I expect them to actually give me the entire (!!!) movie without leaving bits out. Quite disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the money, even without the 40 seconds!
Review: A genuine thank you to those who wrote and warned us of the missing 40 seconds. Knowing ahead of time, I was able to make plans to hang on to my laserdisc copy! Pretty monstrous considering that a major plot point has now been deleted from the movie.But I must respectfully disagree with those who criticized the video transfer. I have owned this movie on VHS and laserdisc and, though no transfer is worthy of the film, this DVD transfer is by far the best I've seen. Not to excuse Image Entertainment's enormous gaffe, but it's been worth it to me to own the crisp, vibrant DVD version. I won't even feel that cheated when I have to buy the "fully-restored" DVD copy down the line! Long live Maggie, Judi and Dan!
Rating:
Summary: 2nd Opinion DVD Review
Review: I agree the DVD is as bare bones as it gets. Just chapter selections and the film itself. But should you buy this version if you already have this on VHS? Yes by all means. I like many others have only seen this wonderful classic on tape and seeing it widescreen (not anamorphic) with the sharper, brighter and richer in color that DVD provides was well, wonderful. The scenes in Florence and the English countryside are given new life. Watching this film on VHS always gave me the feeling of watching a PBS broadcast of Masterpiece Theatre but with the DVD it has regained it full cinematic glory. Yes the picture could have been better but all DVD titles around pre-1995 seem to lack the definition of newer releases. If its not playing at your local revival theatre this may be the closest you'll get to Merchant/Ivory's masterpiece as it was meant to be seen. At the very least rent it and toss that chopped and cropped as though filmed in a smoke-filled room tape. Now, if they'll only release Enchanted April on DVD?
Rating:
Summary: "This is not at all what I was led to expect..."
Review: An astonishingly beautiful adaptation of the novel that might well even make the film-hating Forster proud. Too bad its beauty has been unhappily ruined by those idiots at Image Entertainment, who have released such an appalling DVD transfer that I had to take mine back and get a refund. The cinematography is hard, green, orange and so digitized that anything with highlights quivers irritatingly. This is a problem with all motion pictures, as the registration has never been rock solid. But with a good transfer, you don't even see it, as you almost don't see it in the theatre. It seems Artisan Entertainment and Image are competing for the worst quality of their DVD releases. NOT ONLY THAT - the film is missing, yes MISSING, approx. 40 seconds at the end of one scene. I called Image here in Chatsworth and they said, "Thank you, we'll check it out." I'm sure that went as far as my own telephone. I thought the disk was skipping, but ran it frame by frame and yes, it's missing. I am surprised Ismail Merchant has not addressed this problem, since he follows every step his movies take. In anycase, don't bother with the DVD. It will only cause agonies of frustration. Just stick with the ancient, though beautiful transfer Fox made for VHS years ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Crucial moments missing from DVD
Review: ROOM WITH A VIEW is one of my favorite movies. I've seen it several times and was ecstatic that it was going to be released on DVD in widescreen format. The color and sound on the DVD are glorious. I was however very disturbed to discover that at least 30 seconds at the end of one scene is entirely missing from the DVD. It was not any of the nudity so I can only conclude that it was a processing error that was never caught. To make sure I wasn't imagining it I retrieved my taped copy and forwarded to that scene and sure enough 4 lines of dialog are missing. It happens in chapter 4 at 41 minutes and 36 seconds. 4 lines--lines later referred to--are cut off and a rather abrupt scene change occurs. So fair warning to all who buy this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite film, lousy DVD
Review: "A Room with a View" starts with two women on holiday lamenting the disappointing view from their hotel room. In a similar way, I found myself lamenting the poor quality of this disc. And like other reviewers on this page, I can't praise this film enough! But I only feel ill will toward the DVD version. The video lacks the sharpness of other DVDs. Starting right from the main titles, the film's exquisite cinematography looks hazy here, with orange and green halos of color bleeding from pixel to pixel. It is not anamorphic or enhanced for widescreen televisions. The video was compressed to fit on a single-layer disc, and appears interlaced. The DVD would only play in fits and starts on my Apple iMac DV before overwhelming the computer entirely. I had never seen the computer choke like this before, through dozens of other DVDs. The Dolby sound is good, but there is no commentary on the disc, no production notes, no trailer, no second language -- no extras to speak of whatsoever -- and it comes in a paperboard latch case instead of a glossy keep case. It feels like corners were cut in every possible way. This disc seems an insult to the hard work that talented artists put into "A Room with a View," and the DVD's makers owe the film's ardent fans an apology. If you think you want to buy this DVD, rent it first and see if you don't change your mind. If you don't already own Sony's "Howards End" on DVD, buy that instead -- both films appeal to a similar audience. To see how a DVD should be made, try "Collectors Edition" discs from Universal Pictures such as "Fried Green Tomatoes" or "Field of Dreams." For scenery of Italy, try "Much Ado About Nothing" from Columbia TriStar and Samuel Goldwyn, or for scenery in general, try "A River Runs Through It" from Columbia Pictures. As DVDs go, all of these discs are far superior to "A Room with a View." I had been looking forward to "A Room with a View" on DVD with great anticipation. What a letdown! I hope 20th Century Fox and Image Entertainment find a way to make amends, sooner than later.
Rating:
Summary: A Room With A View
Review: I first saw this film when I was about twelve while my parents were out of town. I loved it! This film captures the very essence of the book and every character is portrayed with stunning excellence, especially Daniel Day-Lewis' priggish Cecil Vyse. Both Helena Bonham-Carter and Julian Sands brought Miss Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson to life. Maggie Smith is Miss Charlotte Bartlett. I can comfortly say that E.M. Forester wrote this novel with each of these actors in mind to portray his character.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning film; but shabbily produced DVD
Review: This is one of the great American films since 1950 -- the perfect romance, the perfect period film, the perfect literary adaptation. And thus I am shocked that the DVD makers (Fox, it seems) have produced such a feature-less, hasty DVD. The director does not seem to have been given the opportunity to comment; there are no additional tracks; even the packaging lacks the artistic flourish that we associae with Merchant Ivory (based on the impeccable eye of his films, I would bet the house that James Ivory did not choose the rococo font in which the title is written on the box!) Was this some hasty effort on Fox's part to capitalize on the film? Will they be releasing another edition with director's commentary, deleted scenes, additional features? I think they owe this film a more prestigious release.
Rating:
Summary: As Chick Flicks Go, It's One of the Best....
Review: Okay. I admit it. When it comes to movies, I'm as chauvinistic as they come. Girly movies that explore the subtlely of unspoken feelings and romance at an ethereal level? Not exactly my cup of tea. I even waited till "Thelma & Louise", the most macho of chick-flicks, came out on video before I watched it (yeah, it was good, I guess). So what am I doing watching a British period romance set in the Tuscan and English countryside? Simple. Maggie Smith is in it, and from what I had heard, she gave another one of her brilliant performances here. I was not misled. Maggie was indeed terrific as the spinster chaperone, fretting and fussing her way through life, and doing her best to keep her reluctant charge (Helena Bonham Carter) in tow. Maggie was only one of the pleasant surprises in this movie. All actors involved turned in memorable performances, the most stunning of which was Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of the self-aborbed, unctuous, repulsive little worm of a fiance to the young Miss Honeychurch. If you are a Day-Lewis fan, you cannot afford to miss this performance, as he is barely recognisable in both appearance and in character, and is brilliant in his role. Only the Brits are capable of producing a romantic film so full of pretty postcard images of longing and suppressed desire, and where the nudity on screen comes not from the lovers in question, but from men (one of them the local parish priest, no less)romping innocently and uninhibitly like boys at a local swimming hole. Those who may be offended by dangly bits may choose to divert their eyes from this scene, but by doing so, will miss one of the funniest moments in the movie. Ivory-Merchant films are all visually satisfying, and this is no exception. Add to that great performances and a wonderful screenplay and you have all the makings of an enjoyable evening in. And even if you hate chick flicks, see this one with the girl you love. If you love the film, or pretend you do, you may be amply rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: Edwardians in Italy....
Review: What a fabulous film. Daniel Day Lewis plays the prigish Cecil Vyse, Ms. Honeychurch's fiance. (That he would later turn in stellar performances in "The Boxer" and "Last of the Mohicans" only reinforces that he is one of our greatest living actors). Helana Bonham Carter plays the beautiful Miss Lucy Honeychurch. Julian Sands--in the only role I ever liked--other than his Franz Liszt in "Impromptu"--plays the philosopher/newsman George Emerson. Denholm Elliott plays his father. Maggie Smith plays Charlotte Bartlett, Lucy's companion. Judy Dench plays Miss Lavish, author of novels and Ms. Bartlett's acquaintence who with her Baedecker takes Miss Bartlett sight-seeing in Florence. The list goes on and on. Miss Honeychurch and Miss Bartlett travel to Florence Italy. They are disappointed when they discover they do not have a room with a view at their pensione. "But we specifically requested a view" says Miss Bartlett. She makes a fuss, much to Miss Honeychurch's consternation. The Emerson's kindly and graciously give up their room with a view (of the Duomo) to the two ladies. One bright morning, instead of being out on the piazza with the other travelers, Miss Honeychurch plays Beetoven madly at the pensione. Lucy's vicar is a member of the travel party in Florence. The Reverend Mr. Beebe (Simon Callow) hears Lucy playing and says, "If only Miss Honeychurch would learn to live the way she plays." Lucy gathers herself up in a peevish mood, and goes to the piazza. At the piazza, she witnesses a violent scene, loses her composure, and is rescued by the young Mr. Emerson. He gazes on Lucy fondly and says, "Don't you feel it." "It" of course are his feelings of tenderness and stirrings of love. But Lucy is engaged to Mr. Cecil Vyse and cannot easily reciprocate. The countryside around Florence is intoxicating and the visitors decide a picnic is in order. On the picnic, Lucy encounters George Emerson in a field strewn with red poppies and tall grasses--one of the most beautiful scenes ever filmed (scored with an Italian opera and faithful to the book(s)). Once more, she loses her composure. Miss Bartlett sees her with George and intervenes. The ladies return to England to Miss Lucy's home. By coincidence, Mr. Emerson Sr. takes a lease on a house in the local village. George visits him on weekends. "Fate" --says George Emerson when he discovers Lucy lives nearby. The rest of the film, Lucy battles George and what she perceives to be her unacceptable feelings for George. She lies to herself. She lies to George. She lies to her mother, her brother, Mr. Beebe, and Cecil Vyse. Will she finally tell the truth--she loves George and wants to break her engagement with Cecil? The film is scrumtous: romantic, funny and beautifully made. It was nominated for best picture, and several of the actors were nominated for awards. It faithfully recaptures E. M. Forster's book. You will want to read the book, and it doesn't matter if you read it before or after the film because they are almost identical. Forster also wrote "Howard's End", "Passage to India" and "Maurice" -- all wonderful stories from the Edwardian period and developed into Merchant and Ivory films with exacting verismilitude. This is a happy film. This is a very funny film. The scene where the men go for a "bath" at the local pond (skinny dipping) is absolutely hysterical. If you love Italy, you will want to see this film just for the sights in and around Florence. Ms. Smith and Ms. Dench are fabulous together. Buy the DVD. Buy the book. This is one of the best you'll ever see/read.
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