s="h3color tiny">This review is from: A Room with a View (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD)

...if you have the least interest in this film-BUY the new DVD. It's simply amazing. I've scanned these reviews here, and apparently there was an earlier DVD issue that wasn't up to par at ALL-but rest assured, this reasonably-priced "Special Edition" looks and sounds crisp, clean-and stunningly beautiful. Obviously I loved the film when it was originally released, and plenty of others did as well-see reviews below. But watching this new DVD the other night, I was struck at how amazing this movie really is: in the first place, it's rare(to put it mildly!)for a film nearly 20 years old to not look "dated" at ALL-this one doesn't. It could have been shot yesterday. I'd be willing to bet that in 15 years "Shakespeare in Love" *will* look somehow "late '90s"-it's the norm for period costume pieces to wind up reflecting the styles of the times they were made, even if we can't see it without the distance of years passing. What an achievement, then for James Ivory, Ismail Merchant,...Read more

I dare anyone to say anything negative about this movie. I cannot think of one element of this movie that disappointed me. I love the romance between Miss Lucy Honeychurch and Mr George Emerson. I adore the frustrating, "poor Charlotte Bartlett", Lucy's travel companion and thorn-in-her-side in matters of the heart. I love Cecil, wonderfully pompous Cecil. I want to be like Eleanor Lavish, the adventure-seeking, scandal-relishing novelist Charlotte and Lucy meet in Florence. Freddy and Mr Beebe provide delightful comic relief, as do the lovely Miss Allens. And who could not love George's doddering old Dad, Mr Emerson, especially when he upsets a tour group with his travelogue asides? If anyone is worried that their favourite book will suffer at the hands of uncaring, ignorant film makers, please, unfurrow your brow and see this movie. E.M. Forster's characters are brought to life by some of Britain's finest actors. The film is wonderfully scripted,...Read more

By A Customer Tragically, those reviewers who criticize the quality of the DVD transfer are correct. Not only is the sound a problem, there are odd deletions in the film (and I don't believe they reflect any late decisions on the part of the filmmakers). The early scene where Charlotte (Maggie Smith) tells Lucy (Helena Bonham Carter)after her kiss with George that "we'll both be as silent as the grave" is oddly truncated. Compare it with the VHS and you'll see. This absolutely wonderful film deserves a first-class DVD edition. Of course, it's still worth watching, but it's the one time I'd say opt for the VHS.