Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Poignant & Brilliant!
Review: This movie is a must-watch for everyone who loves meaningful dramas. The cast is first-rate, the acting brilliant all round. Emma Thompson gave a definitely Oscar-worthy portrayal of a gentlewoman, Margaret Schlegel who is generous, honest, kind but torn between love for her sister, Helen (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and her pompous-and-brute-of-a-husband, Henry Wilcox (played by Anthony Hopkins). At the centre of the story is Howard's End, the beautiful country house/cottage which is a Wilcox's family jewel.The story reminds me of an Asian belief that if something is meant to be yours (eg. Howard's End rightfully belongs to Margaret as it was actually "willed" to her by the first Mrs Wilcox before she died), then you will get it in the end, no matter what. Everything comes a full circle in the end, that's what it means. This is one of the best period dramas I've ever watched - it's definitely worth your 2-1/2 hours. BRILLIANT!
Rating: 
Summary: Perfection Personified
Review: This story line is good enough to keep you in suspence and entertained at the same time. Anthony is perfect as usual. The greatest part of this story is the first glimpse into the cottage at "Howards End". Upon entering the house, the most glorious piano begins to play in the background music. The music is so hauntingly beautiful, so perfect for the setting that I found myself in tears throughout its playing. I had to have the movie, just for the piano alone.
Rating:
Summary: Perfection Personified
Review: This story line is good enough to keep you in suspence and entertained at the same time. Anthony is perfect as usual. The greatest part of this story is the first glimpse into the cottage at "Howards End". Upon entering the house, the most glorious piano begins to play in the background music. The music is so hauntingly beautiful, so perfect for the setting that I found myself in tears throughout its playing. I had to have the movie, just for the piano alone.
Rating:
Summary: This is Fine Movie Making,
Review: Turn of the Century story with Anthony Hopkins as a wealthy man who wants to marry a woman (Emma Thompson) who has an inner strength to her, and buy a large estate called Howard's End to live there. But when Thomson's younger sister (Helena Bonham Carter) first tries to help, and then falls in love with a young working class man (Samuel West), the conflict between the wealthy and the working class threatens to bring the world of Howard's End come crashing down. The sets and period costumes look quite authentic and the acting is suberb.
Rating:
Summary: Get it.........NOW!
Review: What can be said other than: Merchant/Ivory, Hopkins, Thompson, Bonham-Carter, Forster, Robbins? If none of that made sense to you, then buy this movie, buy Remains of the Day, buy every Merchant/Ivory film you can find (except Maurice). To those of you who are not acquainted with British cinema, particularly classical style cinema, this is where you need to start your journey. Ambiguity, deceit, intense atmosphere, characters that you will not see anywhere else, passion, desire, murder, the music alone will bring you to tears; this film has everything. Just as racy as anything you will find in "modern cinema," only it actually has a point to it--a theme, a lesson, something that you walk away with that you can apply to your own life.
Even without the thematical implications of the film, it's cinematic value is more than enough to warrant multiple viewings. The cinematography, the art and set direction, the music, the costumes, it all is far more incredible than any other recent film that I can recall.
Beware, however. To fully enjoy this film you have to do quite a bit of mental work.
Rating:
Summary: Adaptation of E.M. Forester's classic novel...
Review: When watching "Remains of the Day," you never really get to see Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins show one another any real affection. In this movie, they actually have great chemistry and while Emma takes on the role of a much more subservient woman, she is much more radiant. If you are a fan of her acting, you will definitely want to see this movie. This is a movie which takes some patience to view and the artistic elements are well worth waiting for. The Schlegel sisters get themselves into a few trying situations and the men they love either fail miserably or protect them from the world. Margaret (Emma Thompson) is the smarter of the sisters and yet she lacks heart in certain situations. She seems quite happy to let others save her, but is not as willing to sacrifice to save a friend. Her sister falls in love with a young bank clerk and while trying to assist him is seduced and "ruined." She is not following the laws of her society and therefore is rejected at first. This is a tangled web involving the cultured and underprivileged. Margaret and Helen are independent and well educated and when they meet Leonard Bast (Samuel West) their lives are changed forever. A somewhat somber ending because we are not sure any of the characters really get what they first wanted. I found this movie to be enjoyable, yet felt tense throughout the movie because there is always the thought that the sisters have ruined an innocent. Leonard is really the tragic hero in this story because he took on a responsibility neglected by Mr. Wilcox who has his eye on Margaret. All I have to say is..."Don't let anyone steal your umbrella." If you enjoy movies that make you think about more than what is happening on screen, this is a good movie that will make you contemplate the fate of others around you in your world. You could hold someone's destiny in your hands, even if it is not as dramatic as the story in this movie.
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