The Elephant Man - Special Edition [DVD]

This is a great film - very emotional and inspiring story and plot

This film holds a denominate place in my heart. Its core is unpretentious and undemanding, never attempting to alter the life of a man and place it in a modern setting. And this is what makes The Elephant Man, or John "Joseph" Merrick, so believable and so lovable. It took the work of Anthony Hopkins' character, Dr. Frederick Treves, to expose the class and intelligence, allowing his tormented past and his defamers to loose their hold on his existence. It is only because of the actions of others, and Merrick's passivity, that he succumbs to their fears and disgust, but ultimately he is the one that fights back in a beautiful scene that showcases him not as a violent man lashing out against those that have berated him, but that of class, collected demeanour, and proud sensibility. This shocks the ignorant and even earns him their respect. It is a wonderful testament to the power of words, forgiveness and of confidence. John's pride, built up gradually by the support of Frederick Treves, surpasses the inherent fears of the public and teaches them a lesson in human decency. This is incredibly inspiring.However, the film never tries too hard to do this; to teach the audience about understanding and acceptance, for that would be hypocritical in itself. You are shown through excellent editing, scripting and acting from John Hurt that David Lynch understands the human psyche regarding the strange abnormalities of life and how it affects everyone else around. There are many ways this is done, but none more obviously and powerfully than the fated conclusion. The end of the story could be seen as somewhat of a downer, as you're reminded of the frailty of The Elephant Man and all that surrounds him, but this is crucial because it demonstrates not only the pride of this brave man, even to his last breath, but also that life within such pride comes to an inevitable end, and that one shouldn't worry too much about it. I think it's making the point that if we are to go out then we should go out with a bang and with a song in our hearts. And to me, that is not such a negative thing; to me, it's pride at its most prevailing and powerful.David Lynch is a fantastic director, as he is able to capture various different themes and voices by utilizing light, sound, angles, and pacing. This means that we are not only offered a tale of pride and loving support overcoming adversity, but also a fine example of film-making. The black and white is entirely befitting and does not strain the eyes or feel forced -- not once did I feel disconnected from the universe or that something was added for shock value or needless artistic merit. The settings and backdrops were full of details and, at times, over-the-top beauty and grime. This helped the audience understand the contrasts of the supportive staff at the hospital and the manipulative group of slackers at the taverns and the circus's. But again, Lynch never forces anything down your throat. The morality of it is certainly not left up to your own self, but John Hurt's acting as John Merrick shows how someone belittled. hurt and totally disfigured and destined for death can still love, still show understanding, and still show some class. That is incredibly inspiring.

"The Elephant Man" is without a doubt one of the most beautifully realised movies ever made. Every element is spot on, from the compassionate performances to the striking black and white cinematography.I first saw this film as a floppy-haired schoolboy in the 1980's. It knocked me sideways back then, and on each subsequent viewing it has never failed to coax the tears from my eyes.Briefly - It is the true tale of John Merrick, an astonishingly deformed man who was admitted to the Royal London Hospital in the 1880's. To say that he faced hardships is an understatement. He was fully exposed to the ugly prejudices of Victorian society. I will not reveal too many details, but his harsh treatment is presented here unflinchingly. If you have not seen this movie, experience it now and prepare for a heart-rending two hours that can be cherished again and again.If you HAVE seen this movie, this special edition DVD is still well worth a purchase. It features a highly insightful documentary that presents life in Victorian London; the accuracy of the movie with regards to Merrick's life, and the book upon which this movie was based. Also featured on the disc is a great interview with John Hurt (who gave the performance of his career as Merrick). Finally, and most tantalisingly, there is a conversation with the enigmatic director David Lynch. Lynch discusses the development of the film in intricate detail, and his words are invaluable. It is rare that we get to see Lynch interviewed at all, being the elusive creature that he is...which makes this extra feature all the more vital!So...a great DVD package all said and done. An absolutely stunning movie accompanied by wonderful extras. I bought this DVD when it was previously released in a basic format, but still I had no hesitation in snapping up this special edition. Some things are just too special to miss...

I showed my boys aged from 9 to 15 and they all thought it was a fantastic film, I hadn't seen it for years and I'm so glad we decided to watch this again, beautiful story told with sensitivity and hard to believe it's actually based on fact, had lots of explaining to do about how human nature can be so vile at times.

First order was a cardboard cover blu ray Elephant Man but had a different blu ray disk. The replacement is great - it’s in a tin and sealed. Thanks Amazon for a speedy replacement.