A great movie experience

Rating: Null/10 (12 April 2002)

This is a very sad, uplifting movie. At points it makes you ashamed to be a human in seeing how we treat each other but in the end leaves you with a good feeling through watching the friendship between Doctor Treves and John (the elephant man).
In the beginning we see images of a woman, we hear screaming and an elephant. Then there is great anticipation as Dr Treves is on his way to see what appears to be the main attraction of the freak show as people leave that direction in horror. I couldn't wait to see what it looked like, it seems as though i was no different then the freakshow attendees.
When i saw him i was quite simply shocked. I'm not the only one, when the doctor sees him a tear rolls down his face. John can barely speak when the doctor takes him to the hospital, over the movie we see great growth and change in both the characters.
However, the change doesnt happen with everyone. Most people still dont see him for anything more than a freak, and there are those who still try to profit from him, and abuse him. Eventual John stands up for himself, probably for the first time in his life.
Later on we once again hear a screaming woman, etc. At this point i was wondering why it showed it. This just goes to show that over the course of the movie you get to know John and you completely realize that its not what he looks like, its who he is.
This is one of my favorite movies because it looked spectacular. It told a very nice, and moving story. And it had some of my favorite scenes (when John breaks down crying and explains that it was the first time an attractive women was nice to him, and when he calls the doctor his friend).

All in all, john is the ultimate example of someone who has been picked on. You really feel changed after seeing what he had been through, and how we treat people who may appear different.