Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, Emotional, Tragic
Review: I first heard about the Elephant Man in the sixth grade, when, coming home from school one day, my mother introduced to me one of the many books written amout him. Telling me a bit about him, she then turned to the photos in the center of the book, and those disturbing, then, images have vividly lived in my mind ever since. Thinking of the book as one I might not be interested in reading, I found myself turning to the inside of the front cover, engaged in learning about this strange human being and his even stranger condition. (Which was thought to be neurofibromatosis, (NF) but was actually a similar, but different, condition known as Proteus Syndrome.) I finally got to the point were I wanted to read the whole story, so I finished the book, (from the third chapter,) in a day. I found the story so intriguing and engrossing that I could not put it down and walk away. My mother had also told me about the movie made for him, and that famous and powerful line: 'I am not an animal!' These words shall never be forgotton. Two days ago, (August 9) I finally got to see the movie, which we rented from the library. This moving film was equally engrossing and astounding, and never did I move away from the T.V. as I watched it. Joseph ('John') Merrick's story was so intricately captured in this film in which, because I had read that book, I was able to predict what a few of the upcoming events were, such as when Merrick constructed the cardboard cathedral, and when he watched the play which he so wonderfully enjoyed. A few of the events in the film, however, were alien to me. These had not been in the book I read, as it included some fictional happenings and was more inaccurate than some of the other books written about Merrick. John Hurt portrays 'John' Merrick so greatly that the two people, the actual Merrick and the movie Merrick, were near to exactly the same. The way Hurt's character was treated is so much more disturbing than his appearance that it might count as the only thing disturbing about the film. Compared to this, Merrick was not ugly at all. I still do not understand why I did not burst out into tears at certain parts of the movie, but I so thouroughly enjoyed it that, I suppose, there was no reason to do so. This inspirational film is one that no one will, or should, ever forget. And it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest ever created.
Rating:
Summary: Probably one of the most emotional movies I've ever seen
Review: I first heard about the Elephant Man in the sixth grade, when one day, after getting home from school, my mother pointed out to me a book written about him. I found it, at first, quite bizarre, and when I saw the photos of Joseph Merrick himself, the disturbing visions stayed in my mind, quite vividly. Getting home, though I had thought of the book to be, back then, as one I might not be interseted in reading, I found myself reading a description of its contents inside the front cover. This, I discovered, was highly intriguing to me. Reading chapter by chapter each day, I reached the third when I finally decided to finish reading the book...so I completed the rest in one day. It was so engrossing that I could not put it down and walk away from it. And the story stayed fresh in my mind long after that day. I recently had the priveledge of seeing the movie made for it, (just last night (8-9)) and neither could I walk away from the so vividly portrayed story of Joseph ('John') Merrick. Since I had read a book about him, I was able to predict what would happen along the way, such as when he built the fantastic model of the cathedral, and then when he so tragically died. I still do not understand why I did not burst out in tears at certain parts of the movie, but all the way through it, I had a lump in my throat, and my eyes were constantly wet. I grew to love this man more and more as I watched the movie. John Hurt so wonderfully depicted 'John' Merrick that it was somewhat difficult to tell the difference between the actual person and the emotionally gripping actor. This movie is one of the best that I have ever seen, and is probably one of the greatest films ever created. And now that I have seen the movie, Joseph Merrick's story will forever stay in my mind.
Rating:
Summary: Superlative movie, lousy transfer
Review: The Elephant Man is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. The story of John Merrick is based closely (but sometimes, not too closely) on the Victorian Joseph Merrick, who was so disfigured he could not go out in daylight. Rescued from the life of a sideshow freak by Sir Frederick Treves (masterfully portrayed by Anthony Hopkins), he lives the remainder of his life in dignity and relative comfort, attracting the attention of much of upper-class society, including Dame Madge Kendall and Princess Alexandra. The black and white cinematography is stunning; the makeup work--and John Hurt's ability to touch all of us beneath layers of latex--should have won Oscars. The music is perfect. One of those historical films which convinces you, "yes, this MUST be what it was like to live back then." The small details matter, such as a scene where Treves is performing an operation, at a time when surgeons did not wear masks or gloves, and he coughs right on the man's chest. Germ city--but they didn't know it back then. OK, these were (just) some of the film's strong suits. Now to review the actual video. In short, this one screams out for a DVD release. Even for a mid-priced video of a somewhat older movie, this VHS tape looks dreadful. The black and white photography appears overexposed (all the whites are too pale, almost blindingly so, and I know it's not my TV because I did some comparisons). For example, the scene where Treves first sees Merrick, Merrick is in almost total darkness and we must "guess" as to his appearance--this is how I remember it from HBO. But heck, here everything is so light we can see the guy perfectly, certainly not the intended effect. If this is not enough, consider that the original film was shot in widescreen, and yet most of the VHS is in full-frame, except for the opening credits. After the credits we have a glorious split-second more of widescreen, but then we go to full-frame and don't get the original intent of Lynch's vision. If this is not enough, there are tons and tons of artifacts on the film. Some may think it makes it look "Victorian," but I have a feeling a DVD release would clear this up as well. So in short, this film needs a DVD with the following features: widescreen, trailer, commentary by the principals, perhaps including a historian who can compare the film to the life of the actual Elephant Man, and even deleted scenes.
Rating:
Summary: A superb, and inspirational picture.
Review: The Elephant Man inspired my heart and soul, about how much cruelty one man can take. This film, not really a box-office hit when relaesed, is far better than the disturbing Raging Bull, and more moving than Driving Miss. Daisy. it definetly is the most powerful film of the 80's. along with a exemplary portroyal of Merrick by Hurt, the film moves along rapidly, and is worth every minute until the thought-provoking conclusion. it's hard to wonder what it was really like for this poor young man, but in this classic film, The Elephant Man teaches people about courage, and believing in themselves.
Rating:
Summary: HUMAN DRAMA
Review: David Lynch's cosmic black and white film of the life of John Merrick is a rewarding movie experience. Quite touching without being sensational it extracts dynamic performances from John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft. Director David Lynch has somehow combined the grimy grey bleakness of old London with the bright hope of a better tomorrow. Black and white indeed. Some scenes, like the elephant man's memory of his mother, and the doctor's first examination of him are so moving they pain until tears swell in your eyes.
Rating:
Summary: This film will shine when it is seen in widescreen format..
Review: I have been waiting for many years for Paramount to release this film to video without cropping off the image. The entire film was shot in widescreen format (Freddie Francis is a master with B&W). To truly enjoy and cherish this film it needs to be seen as close to it's original format as possible. After seeing a screening of The Elephant Man at AMMI (American Museum of the Moving Image) a few years ago, I realized that the VHS shortchanges the viewer of so much.......But alas.... DVD may be the format that brings this film to the masses. I hope Paramount is up to the challenge. This is an amazing film that deserves to be showcased on the highest level because it will constantly remind us that we are human.
Rating: 
Summary: Such a touching story...
Review: The Elephant Man was a wonderfully gripping drama about the life of a sadly deformed young man doomed to spend the rest of his life as a carnival sideshow "freak", until a compassionate doctor (Anthony Hopkins) takes an interest in him and offers him sanctuary in a hospital and giving him back his dignity. I read the play when I was in high school speech class, and it touched me so much even then that I was pleasantly surprised to see it as a movie, so I rented it and watched it. the movie followed the book as I remember it extremely well, and I was actually able to visualize the horrible deformities that this man suffered as well as the torment. I was surprised at how well everything was portrayed, from the storyline to the makeup. The music was at a minimum, but that added to the overall great effect of the movie. It was also in black and white, which leads me curious as to when the film was actually made. It is one of those "classic" stories that captures your attention and leaves you breathless. Add to that the fact that it is a TRUE story, and you have a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films I've ever seen, hands down!
Review: Sad, disturbing, and powerful are all good words to describe this beautiful motion picture directed by David Lynch. Filmed in black and white, it tells the true and altogether touching story of John Merrick, a young man so grotesquely deformed he was forced to spend most of his short life as a carnival sideshow attraction. Though he is looked upon and treated as an animal by both those who put him on display and others still who pay money to see him, Merrick's fortune soon takes a turn for the better in the guise of Dr. Treves. Treves, portrayed brilliantly by actor Anthony Hopkins, takes John into his care and tries to instill within him a sense of love, dignity, and acceptance. You won't see a more emotionally draining movie than this one. It's an important film and one that I truly believe parents should watch with their older children, especially given that it's based on a true story and would do well in teaching them acceptance for differences in others. Very well made and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: In the Top Ten of all time
Review: The Elephant Man is by far one of the most compelling, best made dramatic movies ever. I know this is a heck of a boast, but this movie is as close to perfection as any movie ever made. With a perfect cast, a dynamite script and powerhouse direction, The Elephant Man weaves a hypnotic fairy tale on the screen that is nothing less than spellbinding. While at times it maybe one of the most saddest movies ever made, this movie is always a special joy for me to watch, even after seeing it 26 times since I first saw it in the theater in 1980.
Rating:
Summary: To be different is the chance of others but also their fear
Review: This film is a jewel, a gem in black and white by an unpredictable David Lynch. The subject is amazing : the utmost deformed and rejected freak in Victorian society. But straight away we have to know it does not deal with the past. It deals with our modern world, with us. It reveals all our defects and shortcomings. Human society is cruel and cruelty is natural to man. The cruelty of voyeurism : to see someone who is utterly different is a pleasure for our little souls. We like seeing what we are not. We like watching what we could have been. We like scrutinizing what we have had the luck not to be. The being who is different is a freak and we enjoy gazing, gaping and staring at him. We do not care for the pain we may cause. We do not care for the suffering we may impose. We just care for our little freakish pleasure, this little feeling that we have escaped the unutterable abyss of rejection. And young boys only find excitement in chasing him and older men only find the exhilaration of coming to the lynching point. Reject or even kill that atrocity that reminds us of our destiny and of our luck : the luck that we want to believe is natural, though it is pure fate. And they are on the very verge of purging the world of the suffering man who does not have the appearance of a man. And yet there is some hope in this society. And this hope comes from doctors who may have the heart to consider a human being in his soul and not in his body. And this hope comes from an old nurse and some younger ones who find pleasure in helping the rejected one and giving him the pleasure of their attention, and conversation, and even little presents. And this hope comes from an artist who has the strength to see beyond the surface and feel the heart and the soul that are trembling in those out-of-shape limbs and flesh. And hope comes from the fact that, providing some minimal human conditions are fulfilled, this perfect paria reveals himself a sensitive and even creative human being, provided we go deep in the abyss to get that humanity back to the surface, back out of the prison of rejection. And yet the film is sad because this distorted man wants one night to be so normal that he decides to sleep the way other people sleep but the way he cannot sleep, he shouldn't even try to sleep, and in the morning he will be dead. Dead with the dream of beauty and perfection he has encountered at the theater and with some friends, but dead all the same. To intregrate the one who is different is a lot more complex than just trying to forget that he is different. We must accept that difference but also make him accept it and make ourselves live up to it. It is in the differences of other people that we can find our most enriching present and future. It is not in looking for our normality that we will expand our personalities. It is only by integrating other people's differences in our way of thinking and feeling that we will become better and we will multiply our own assets. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
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