Deeply moving

Rating: 9/10 (18 October 2008)

It's hard not to get teary eyed while watching The Elephant Man and I'm usually not the type to get emotional while watching movies. Although similar movies have been done before, the realism, acting, and subtleties were done fantastically in this film. Elephant Man was shot in contrasty black and white, which gives it a feel of the early times in which the movie takes place. Elephant Man is based upon the actually life of John Merrick (actually Joseph Merrick) - a man who had a frightening appearance but was actually an ordinary human being. Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt do an exceptional job at playing their characters.
There are some historical inaccuracies in this film. Such as the fact that Merrick was not abused while performing at the freak shows and that Merrick went out of his way to find a doctor and not the other way around. But other than that, a must see film and a film that is good for family viewing.