A Room With A View

Rating:
Summary: Boring, Boring, Boring
Review: I borrowed the video from a library, and all the way home I was so looking forward to seeing it. I had a shower, made a cup of tea, put in the video - and then experienced about 40 minutes of complete boredom.
I only kept it on so long because I was hoping it would perk up, but it didn't.
I usually love this kind of costume drama, so I was very disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Sublime-Sensitive-Superb
Review: This Merchant-Ivory piece was one of their biggest hits of the 1980s. It stars Helena Bonham-Carter and Daniel Day-Lewis, Simon Callow, Rupert Graves and Julian Sands .
Taken from the Forster novel, it is a tale of upper middle-class life and travel, and is considered by many to be the best of the Merchant-Ivory catalogue (Maurice, Howard's End, Jane Austen in Manhattan, The Remains of the Day).

This movie is superb in almost every aspect. Very sensitive and well-acted throughout. A touching love story. If you liked this, rent Maurice, another Mechant-Ivory production that is almost as good.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the romantic
Review: I received this for my birthday a few years ago. I've always loved classic literature, particularly Regency, and more recently into period films as well.

I wasn't expecting very much from this film going into it, but it was surprisingly good--or perhaps not so surprisingly. The cast is superb: Maggie Smith as the prim maiden aunt, Judi Dench as the slightly scandalous novelist, Daniel Day-Lewis as the somewhat stuffy fiancé, Julian Sands as the free-spirited admirer, and of course Helena Bonham-Carter as the heroine.

I'd recommend this to anyone with a romantic side, lovers of period pieces, and fans of any of the cast. It was much funnier than I expected and thoroughly enjoyable.

Notice: there are a few scenes of male nudity--not full frontals or anything, but there's this swimming trip... It's not obscene or anything, just be prepared.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely, I have fallen in love.
Review: I wasn't quite sure what to think when I started watching the introduction to this movie--sure, it had Helena Bonham Carter, one of the most talented actresses of all time, but how could that guarantee it was going to be a good movie?

I've watched it at least twice in the last few days. Though I do have to admit I'm somewhat romantic, in every moment this film is ingenious, delicious and hilarious. George Emerson, the son of Mr. Emerson (the comedic pair residing in Italy at the time of Lucy Honeychurch and Charlotte Bartlett's stay there) Lucy Honeychurch and Cecil Vyse are possibly some of the most vivid characters ever created. Each is cut precisely and perfectly to take their place in the film--the quiet but extremely individual George, the pouty and strong-willed Lucy, or the antisocial, self-centered Cecil.

Some of the movie's humor and social commentary is difficult to catch on the first viewing, but for those unobsessive, it is still very entertaining for nearly anyone.

Simply fabulous. I highly recommend it.