Rating: 
Summary: A film that literally changed my life
Review: My story is much similar to that of Mark from San Diego. It was "Maurice" that was the reason for me to become aware of the fact how the power of motion picture is above every limit. Back in 1991, when I was an university student, I suffered from the total identification crisis, spending long sleepless nights dealing with the suicidal thoughts and the question who and what am I... like Maurice, who found himself trapped in his own gayness, trying to find the answer on that eternal question: why me! I had terrible doubts in accepting myself as one of "them", just the thought of admiting my own homosexuality frightened me to death. Then, suddenly, like a gift from heaven, this film was shown on TV on a cold, january evening. After those two hours of watching it, I realised my life will never be the same again. "Maurice" threw me into a whirl of feelings, but in a way, I felt reliefed. No more pretending. Today, ten years after, I am proud to be gay, living with my friend and all those uncertainties, surmises and questions remained on the pages of my diary...I have "Maurice" on tape and watch it every now and then. It still has a strong effect on me, even I know every dialogue in it by heart. I watched another ecranisations like "A room with a view" and "Howard's end", but the both acts of James Wilby and Hugh Grant are so persuadive here that this is almost an paradox, having in mind that Grant is a straight male-sex symbol. The word that comes to my mind first when mentioning "Maurice", is beautifulness. Maybe this was the reason it affected me in that way - homosexual love is presented as something beautiful, romantic, non-stereotypic, longing and truthfull. Another subject, strongly presented here, is sacrifice of Maurice, who subordinated all his career and needs just to be with a love he met in Alec Scudder. The end of the film is not a real end but just a beginning of viewer's interpretation and his explaining of question whether their love has made it through. It is left for him to decide what happened after. I'd point out that "Maurice", even acting like some kind of a fairy tale, represents all types of man approaching his own homosexuality and this hasn't changed a bit over the history. Clive's tightness into straight-acting world and common-sense lifestyle is just another sight of those gays who rather choose to get married and therefore ruin the life of another woman who, in this kind of relationship, can't be nothing but victim, trying to hide from the rest of the world, but as for Clive, this turns out to be just a short-termed solution. I have a strong sense that at the final scenes when Clive replays all his tender moments with Maurice when they were together at Cambridge, he is thinking: you can fool with the rest of the world, but you just can't fool yourself. Then, Maurice, who decided to live the way that will make him happy, no matter what the British Class system might think - it is a step someone can take now a days, prepared to struggle and fight with a confinement and intolerance of the straight-majority. It is true that being gay is no more being considered as an illness or blasphemy, but things haven't changed that much as they seemed to. If you like "Maurice", then you're going to like the book, too. I suggest you read it. It is one of the best descriptions on gay love I've ever read, especially when you have in mind this novel was written in 1910 when noone even dared to think about writing and mention this theme in a literature. I only feel sorry that this review is limited to 1,000 of words, as here is so much more to tell about... A great movie!
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Summary: Rare Movie Where Art Imitates Life!
Review: i saw this movie 10 years ago and was astounded to see a period of my life on screen. complete with best friend who succumbs to social norm. this is a beuatiful movie from start to finish, james wilby is oscar worthy rupert graves sexy,sinister and sly. this is their best to date. this is the best book em forster wrote the most poignant and powerful. it's amazing how 80 years after writting it people will still relate and feel for this story. the movie 95% is faithful to the book.the best "gay themed" movie ever made. this just reaffirmed my theory .leave it to the english to produce a movie on this subject that is beautiful,artistic,well done and timelessly honest. not afraid to express itself,and uncompromisingly convey the writters vision.
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Summary: Maurice is real!
Review: I have never been so moved by a film about love. Maurice may have been set before the war but the story and truthfulness of it is happening today. Once in one's lifetime you see a film act out your life...Maurice acted out mine. Choices in life oftentimes require sacrifice and oftentimes painful decisions. This in one movie worth seeing, not for its gayness, but for its reality. And made me mighty proud that like Maurice, I chose what will make me happy, and I am!
Rating:
Summary: A real winner
Review: "Maurice" is not so much a film about being gay as it is a testimony to the importance of integrity and the courage of conviction. In an age and a society where acceptability and prominence reigned supreme, Maurice Hall choose love and happiness rather than banality and conformity; an utterly brave act considering what he risked losing in doing so. Beautiful and evocative throughout, with every scene resplendent and atmospheric, brimming with the essence of the age. The scenes in Cambridge were especially beautiful with the gothic architecture adding to the underlying, brooding sense of the film. James Wilby, Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves were equally marvelous in their respective roles, as was Denholm Elliot in his smaller, yet vital role. Merchant Ivory's made some extraordinary films in their day but "Maurice" is, in this viewer's opinion, their greatest film. In lesser hand's "Maurice" could have been relegated into clichéd obscurity. Their pace, sense of time and place and deep commitment to E.M. Forster's vision raise this great story to new and lofty heights.
Rating:
Summary: A film everyone should see
Review: This Merchant Ivory production, though as deliciously beautiful as the others, has an edge in that it brings to life a novel which its author considered so controversial, he wouldn't publish it in his lifetime. The production values in this film are, as always, superb. But the acting especially is where it triumphs. The three leads are excellent. I especially admire James Wilby's wonderful performance, as indeed I do those of Rupert Graves and Hugh Grant. The ending is quite unlike most other gay-themed movies: the two characters we have followed from the outset turn out very differently: Hugh Grant's character capitulates to the societal "norm" and, at the end, is actually a little despicable, or would be, if one didn't feel so sorry that he "sold out". But the final scenes -- in which Maurice (Wilby) realizes that Scudder (Graves) has not left England and in consequence has risked his future to be with Maurice, and where finally, Maurice does the same for Scudder-- where they end up together, against the admittedly tough odds, and risk all for love-- is beautiful. As other reviewers have pointed out, the film is not only about Maurice's struggles with his gayness, but also with the expectations and presumptions of the British Class System: the servant, Scudder, turns out to be extremely intelligent and witty-- in the "afterglow" scene in the hotel, he quite incisively lampoons the condescending and perfunctory way he gets treated by people of Maurice's "station" -- and Maurice, if belatedly, realizes the quality in him. Both overcome temptations to give in to society -- (when Scudder is hurt by Maurice's cold-shouldering of him he hints that he might blackmail him -- the only power he might have over someone of Maurice's class---, but repents; Maurice flirts with the idea of accusing Scudder when he is terrified at the prospect of what he might lose) but in the end commit to each other, and society-be-damned. The complexities of the situation, though they relate to societal conditions no longer obtaining, still exist, though manifesting in different ways. An excellent movie about the triumph of love, of commitment, and most, of honesty.
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Summary: Brillant and beautiful!
Review: One of my favorite films! Rarely does a film leave such a haunting impression upon me. After watching it once, I immediately rewound to watch it again. Hugh Grant proves he truly is a gifted actor, and James Wilby does an admirable job as Maurice. This is a breathtaking film, and remarkably faithful to the book. Not merely a "gay film," Maurice appeals to a much broader audience, with its themes of self-discovery, and class difference. All film lovers, gay or straight, male or female, should watch this one.
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Summary: Lushly beautiful and based on Forster's personal experience
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Everything about MAURICE is beautiful. This film resonates as a fictionalized depiction of an unhappy early relationship in E.M. Forster's own life in which his love was set aside by another man for empty social acceptability. Maurice's relationship with Alec is a healing one. Some of the best scenes take place when they are maneuvering around the people in their lives to find themselves, ultimately, together and in love. They seemed to speak a secret language to each other, without speaking. This movie opened my eyes in many ways and changed my life. It is one of a kind and brilliant.
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Summary: I need see the movie
Review: 50
Rating:
Summary: This film deals with love and the struggle to find ones self
Review: I usually am not interested in period films but this one does something that most hollywood films don't seem to do. It deals frankly with the struggle to find ones self and once that is done to find what makes one happy. Murice is a film that lets us know that once we find what or who it is we want we should go after it because no one has to live our lives but us. I say BRAVO to Murice...
Rating:
Summary: just great
Review: it is just a great movie, is my favori
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