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Don't listen to the negative reviews

A Masterpiece!

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Sir Anthony Hopkins brings dignity and poignancy to a role that most actors of his ilk may shun for fear of either being typecast or remembered poorly. James is a man who let himself be defined by his profession in a day and age where servants were noble and noblemen were fools.

I wouldn't consider this film excellent or very good because it was rather long and I found Anthony Hopkins' character as a Butler, was rather selfish. Now, I know butlers have to be professional and what not, but I just think he was over the top with his job by always saying no or being faulty when it comes to others. I have to say though on the positive side, he was quite good at looking after the father before he died. I really liked Emma Thompson's character, she really knew what she was talking about and knows how to do stuff right! I honestly thought that herself and Anthony Hopkins character were going to kiss. The way the poster looked and is meant to be a romance/drama film, it didn't happen and I was rather annoyed that it tricked me into thinking that was part of the story! Seriously, can't this film just be different for once instead of the storyline being rather dull?!The scenery was beautiful including the mansion! It would definitely bring you back to the 1950's! I would rather forget that this was a film and just only admire the background. It would make it a lot better for me to watch the film happily!

This movie is centered around an English butler, Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), a man with very respectful manners working in Darlington Hall during the times of World War II. In this movie, the viewer will notice two main things.Firstly, how deeply devoted Mr. Stevens is to his work serving Lord Darlington. However, Lord Darlington, being honorable and gullible, is deceived by the Nazis as he develops relationships with them under secret occasions. Mr. Stevens having total faith to his Lord, as a butler owes to, keeps serving him without any suspicion.Secondly, the sentimental relationship between Mr. Stevens and the house-keeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson). A relationship that is difficult to be fulfilled as he is incapable of revealing his true feelings as a result of being a respectable footman all his life.James Ivory has managed to depict these two attributes impeccably on the central protagonist.

I guess you could call this a romance story about a love that is never obtained. And as such, it is both bittersweet and brilliant.I love HOWARDS END (the other film Emma Thompson & Anthony Hopkins made with Merchant Ivory), but I think this production is perhaps just a bit better. I like how they refuse to give us the obligatory happy ending for these two characters-- he stagnates, but she changes considerably through her marriage to another man. I think if she had left her husband and gotten together with him at the end, it would have been a step backward for her, and I am glad they didn't do that. It's a beautiful film with a poignant story.