Product Description Timothy Spall, Elaine Cassidy, Laurence Fox. E.M. Forster's romantic novel gets a breathtaking cinematic treatment, bringing to life the story of a repressed young English woman who escapes to Italy in search of the sexual and political freedom she so desires. 2007/color/86 min/NR/fullscreen. .com Made for Britains ITV network, this Masterpiece presentation of A Room with a View introduces a fuller version of E.M Forster's 1908 novel. If it isn't as romantic as Merchant Ivory's 1985 film--with that picturesque kiss at the end--Nicholas Renton's adaptation offers its own unique charms. For one, it provides a look at the self-possessed woman Lucy Honeychurch (Elaine Cassidy, Felicia's Journey) a decade after her Italian sojourn. The action alternates, somewhat confusingly, between 1912 and 1922. In both cases, Lucy travels from Surrey to Florence. On the first trip, she and her companion, Miss Bartlett (a fidgety Sophie Thompson) are both taken aback by the left-leaning Mr. Emerson (Timothy Spall) and his railway clerk son, George (Rafe Spall). Not only are the men outspoken in their views, but George is Lucy's social inferior. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she accepts a proposal from the bookish Cecil Vyse (Laurence Fox, giving a more sympathetic performance than Daniel Day-Lewis). For the tragic ending, screenwriter Andrew Davies (Bleak House) draws on notes the author left behind, but didnt incorporate into his book. Ideally, Davies should've turned to Forster's more upbeat 1958 epilogue A View without a Room. Further, it takes awhile to warm up to the central character (previously portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter), though Cassidy ultimately rises to the occasion--especially in the post-war sequences. It's unfortunate Davies didnt support her efforts with stronger material. --Kathleen C. Fennessy P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review "...a rich, romantic, finely cast production about repressed early-20th century England..." --Brian Lowry, Variety"[Elaine] Cassidy gives an exceptionally natural performance as Lucy, engaging in the age-old and very Jane Austin-ish internal battle between heart and head." --Brian Lowry, Variety"...bubbles with terrific performances, including that of Elaine Cassidy, who manages to show the conflicts in Lucy's heart and mind without making her look like a ditherer." --David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle See more
K**0
Loved the casting.
Personally, I thought the two leads were better than the Merchant Ivory version. Perhaps the credit for the chemistry should be given to Rafe Spall - who was so fresh and appealing as George. The only objection I have to this version is the awful ending. It was heart breaking.
E**H
This is why everyone always say that the book is so much better. This didn't seem to capture the spirit of ...
I suppose this was true to the book in some respects, but it veered off course now and then. I do understand that in adapting a book for a movie, some things will have to be changed or even lost. This is why everyone always say that the book is so much better. This didn't seem to capture the spirit of the book and that is what a good movie adaptation should do. The characters of Lucy and George seemed so boring and unappealing that I really didn't care what happened to them. The bit at the end (which I won't give away) just ruined the whole thing. A little bit of unnecessary "realism" that was not in the book at all an just spoiled the beauty of the happy ending. I have read this book several times and am a fan of the Merchant Ivory movie, so it was hard for me to like this even though I really wanted to try.
A**G
different version
Love period pieces, this one didn't disappoint me. It was a tiny bit too real life for me though. I was very happy to find a different version then the b Carter one.
C**S
but beautifully acted and set and costumes seemed to really give ...
Very different from the more famous version, but beautifully acted and set and costumes seemed to really give a more natural view of the period.
S**J
Not Merchant and Ivory
Timothy Spall is always worth watching. Rafe Spall his son plays his son. Cassidy as Honeychurch is a fresh take. The Florence scenes are so dreary which is astounding for such an exquisite city. Still Spall is brilliant.
J**C
What is the fuss about? Awful
**SPOILER CONTAINED HERE**It took forever to get here and after watching I am befuddled over what all the brouhaha was about! HATED IT. Bored to tears but committed to watch to the end hoping for that last minute save. It wont come.In fact youll be angry at having wasted the time. SPOILER ALERT Whats it about? Sex. Ways to get it. Ways to lie about it. Ways to get it AND lie about it. Ways to get a wife/husband in order to get it. Attempt gang rape to get it-- all trussed up in Victorian turn of century romanticism in pre-WWI era. When true love APPEARS to come guess what? They get it! Without benefit of the coveted matrimony. Wow. What a new concept on getting it. They marry, he signs up and dies in the first wave and guess what? The game starts over. Vacuously deceitful and while I can find meaning in almost anything and find metaphor in the random rock or casual butterfly the meaning herein just eludes me. Wish I could get a refund.
N**E
Great movie
It’s great movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M**R
I like this version as it has more of a complete ...
I like this version as it has more of a complete story, but there is another version that I also love.
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