Rating: 
Summary: Lynch chose to have no chapter stops...
Review: This is a beautiful, moving, and masterful movie. One of the most touching stories ever put onto film and a must own for fans of David Lynch or great cinema. It is unfortunate that there are no chapter stops on the DVD, but that was Lynch's choice. As the director of the movie, I suppose that he has that right, but it is a shame. Other reviewers ask you to wait for a re-release. There will most likely be none, so don't let Lynch's decision dissuade you, particularly since the transfer and sound are wonderful and the few extras that are provided are equally so. An amazing story, and an amazing film. I give it the highest possible recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Best and Worst of Humanity - One Soul's Amazing Journey
Review: "The Elephant Man", can be viewed as a metaphor of an oft abused, immature soul working its way through "Earth School". John Merrick, a man with a horrible physical deformity, has experienced much suffering in his life, when an ambitious doctor intervenes on his behalf. Despite his physical appearance, he is an incredibly sensitive, artistic, gentle soul who has simply tried, as he puts it, "to be good" all his life. In 2 very emotional scenes, the board votes to give him a permanent room at the hospital. But, his journey is not yet over. Merrick has been apparently passive to all his life-long mistreatment and has more lessons in store for him.He is kidnapped by his former "owner" and taken to a very bleak and rainy carnival in France. After a horrifying scene where he is forced into an orangatang cage, his fellow "freaks" in the carnival give him a second chance at liberation and set him on his way back to the hospital. The movie climaxes at a train station, where in front of an angry, fearful mob he declares his humanity in the famous line "I am not an elephant...I am not an animal - I am a human being...a man..." There is so much to enjoy in this movie, the acting, directing and visual artistry all support this great storyand never once do you wish it was in color. Outstanding!
Rating: 
Summary: Deformed disc.
Review: Certainly Lynch's greatest achievement and, in my mind, a film not surpassed by "Raging Bull" or anything since, "The Elephant Man" practically demands close, critical reading of many of its inspired and strange, rare, isolated moments. But the makers of the DVD have foreclosed that possibility by neglecting to provide chapters. I like to present this film by examining sequentially three subjective scenes that take us into the interior of John Merrick's consciousness--the opening montage; the camera's moving into the eye-hole of his mask midway through the film; the film's final panning shot linking the dying Merrick to a realm that "never dies." But the disc makes it no more convenient for me to do that than the VHS tape. Guess I'll have to be patient enough to await the next release.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars even though...
Review: ...there are no chapters on this disc! Beautiful transfer, quality supplemental material, but no chapters. Weird. I only noticed this when we had to stop watching mid-film and went back the next night to finish it. A minor inconvenience, and more puzzling than annoying. Despite this, "The Elephant Man" DVD presents this moving tale in all its sumptuous black-and-white beauty. If you've never seen it, don't think twice about picking it up for your permanent collection. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Sheer Brilliance--A Once-In-A-Decade Achievement
Review: This film deals with a theme that is close to all of us, that of a misunderstood man whose shining inner being redeems himself, as well as those around him. Heroic stuff. This theme has been dealt with throughout the history of film (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, On The Waterfront, ad infinitum) on various levels and in various scenarios, and has nearly always presented the audience with a cathartic experience that can change the way we look at ourselves and others. There is something very spiritual in "The Elephant Man," an essence that digs deep into the human psyche, far deeper than those films that seek to merely manipulate us by tugging at our collective heart strings. The film's visual quality, the industrial audio textures, the gorgeous musical score, the sensitive acting by masters of the craft--these all add up to a true masterpiece, something that is rarely seen in films of the '80's and '90's. What's more, the DVD provides us with a rendering of a piece of art that is finally worth its salt, well deserving of the rave reviews regarding the outstanding image quality. And one more thing: the extras on this disc are splendid, and I don't give a hoot in Poughkeepsie whether the disc is separated into chapters. So there!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: "The Elephant Man" is arguably the best of David Lynch's works while some may argue his best being "Mulholland Drive", a film which may easily lock him up as a best Director nominee for the 2002 Academy Awards. "The Elephant Man" takes place in England about a man called John Merrick, who's used as a freak show because of his abnormal looks and body structure, played by John Hurt, who was given a new life by a doctor played by Anthony Hopkins. The movie later takes us to see what Merrick goes through in his life before being rescued and the life after. It's important for many of you to note that this is a PG movie because this movie is that important for everyone to watch. It demonstrates ignorance, prejudice, and the evils of the human race. Watching this movie is a life-changing experience and perhaps a turning point in your life. David Lynch's direction in this movie is absolutely outstanding right from the beginning to the end, strange and dreamy. Lynch has long been criticized for his film to be a dreamy imagery by the film critics. However, in this film, it works in its effect of telling the horrific cause of Merrick's looks and teaching us the main lessons of the movie. It's evident there's so much passion put in to make this movie. Bottom line, even though the movie could be disturbing at times, but it is compelling and beautifully made- in black and white. If you want to see good acting and directing, this is the one.
Rating:
Summary: Reel Close to Reality...
Review: The true history of The Elephant Man, who's real name was actually "Joseph" Merrick, is one of degradation and misery, only momentarily relieved by his association with Dr. Frederick Treeves and his stay at the London Hospital. His life as a sideshow freak was actually something he entered into voluntarily, as what he considered the only way he could stay out of the Poor House. He was abandoned in France by the man who acted as his Barker when the show was shut down, and he did make the harrowing journey back to England much as is depicted in the film, but the mistreatment that he suffers in the movie I have to assume is meant as a composite sort of license taking, as he did spend his childhood in a dormitory for homeless boys, where it is assumed he suffered incredibly, as he would never speak of that time to anyone. All in all, though, the movie gets it right more often than not, especially the circumstances of his death, which was the most poignant moment I can remember seeing in a movie in a long time. You should read the book, if chance allows, but the movie is a pretty good substitute.
Rating:
Summary: The best!
Review: "The Elephant Man" is the ultimate David Lynch...that's a given. But this DVD packaging contains not only this stunning black and white film but also some excellent retrospectives of the camera work, the acting, and the make up. This compilation is a fine example of the contribution that DVD presentations make to the art of film.
Rating:
Summary: I DARE you not to cry
Review: The Elephant Man is not a movie for kids. It disscuses the theme of hate strongly. My parents allowed me to see it because they didn't want me to turn into a polittically incorrect idiot when I grow up.(sometimes, we can't help being polittically incorrect, but after some time, it gets bad and you start turning into another fool) I'm mature enough to see this, most kids are not. This is the saddest movie I've ener seen. I've seen many movies(around 120) for a kid, and Ithis is the ONLY one that has made me cry.(I haven't seen Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan, but those will probably make me cry, too) John Hurt plays John Merrick withan amazing amount of emotion. I believe that this is Anthony Hopkins FINEST role in a movie. He STEALS the show! This is fabolus directing by David Lynch. The starting scene is really scary!(Why does that even matter?) This is my seventh favorite move ever!
Rating: 
Summary: No chapter stops a big mistake
Review: It was nice to see such a beautiful and elegant movie like 'The Elephant Man' released on DVD. Even with the slim pickings of extras (trailer and make-up docu) that could be forgiven, just as long as Lynch fans and fans of good cinema had this movie in pristine DVD format. Well, it's here, but it's a long, long ride. For reasons I don't understand, Lynch decided to release this without chapter stops (a similar thing happened with his awesome 'The Straight Story'.) This is such a disappointment. I have never even heard of a DVD without scene selections, and it really hurts the disc. No skipping to favourite scenes, no taking the disc out midway through watching. Definately a mistake for this fine film release.
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