Kirpianuscus The basic sin is to not be a real adaptation of Hawthorne novel. inspired by it - yes. but nothing more. the second error is to transform a classic novel in a kind of "ad usum Delphini", in which every nuance of a great and profound drama is lost. the only significant virtue is the fight of Demi Moore and Gary Oldman to save their roles. not with real succes because the script does a so simple and pink story than nothing could change the sense of it. and the only prize is the atmosphere, costumes, and hope than another director will do a better and smart adaptation for a novel who remains one of fundamental books not only for American literature.

ofumalow This is one of the worst major-studio literary adaptations ever, and I've given it a 1 rating because it deserves to be in the IMDb bottom 100--though in terms of (unintentionally hilarious) entertainment value I'd give it a 6. Maybe even an 8. I'm no huge fan of Hawthorne--his novels are pretty dry, dull and moralistic, like much pre-20th-century American lit--but his whole story is outrageously skewed here to suit Demi Moore's ego. She was at the top of her stardom then. This, "G.I. Jane" and "Striptease" pretty much destroyed that status--and all because each of them was wrecked by the need to flatter her so much. She needs to be the toughest yet most sensitive, sexiest yet most spiritual, etc. etc. person on screen--which would be OK if she were playing an action heroine or female superhero, but was disastrous for these particular stories. "G.I. Jane" could have been a gritty look at women's military life, "Striptease" has considerable sequences--all without Demi--where it's a very funny retro screwball comedy. But her humorless image-sculpting ruined both. Then there's "Scarlet Letter." Whoa. Roland Joffe is not a good director (despite having gotten praise for the fairly good "Killing Fields" and overrated "The Mission"--since then it's been all downhill). But the problem here is clearly that Demi wants to reshape Hester Prynne from Puritan victim of Puritanism into a hot ass-kicking, erotically supercharged mama who connects as a kindred soul with local Native Americans and hosts a sort of women's consciousness-raising/sewing group. In colonial New England. Uh-huh. I kinda love this movie--it's so slick yet incredibly wrongheaded, encouraging possibly the worst performances ever by some very good actors (Gary Oldman and Robert Duvall for starters), that it's frequently hilarious. It's one of those rare crazy monuments to a star's ego--at the expense of any fidelity or credibility--that results in an instant camp classic.

kim_smoak Review: This movie was a beautiful movie. I can't tell you how happy this movie made me. It was a love story beyond anything I could have ever asked for! There is a disclaimer…there is male and female nudity, and extreme gore, so this is not a family movie. Though there was some extreme gore for a movie like this…I was happy with it. I did close my eyes during the fighting scenes, because there were some over the top nasty scenes…but the fight scenes only lasted a few minutes, and wasn't a huge part of the story. The story was about a married woman in the 1600's who moved to America to build a new life with her husband…though her husband decided to stay behind in London and send her there alone, almost like he was trying to test her.After settling in, she begins to have feelings for another man in her husband's absence…but this man also is the minister of the town where they live. They both avoid each other, knowing that they both have strong feelings for the other, and if they were to do anything about it, they would both be hanged. They then get news that her husband's ship was attached by Indians, and no one was found alive…so they begin their love affair. She then becomes pregnant with what the town calls a "bastard" child…not knowing that it was their minister's child. He offers to give himself up in order for her to not be punished, but she forbids him to do so, because she loves him too much to see him hang for their love. She is put into prison until she has the child, and then is forced to wear a red "A" on her clothes everywhere she goes. Shortly after her release, she finds out her husband was not killed by the Indians, but captured, and returns home under an alias…only because he doesn't want the town to punish his wife…he wants to punish her by killing her lover. Still, no one knows that her lover is the minister…but her husband begins to investigate everyone, and soon suspects that her lover is the minister.I could seriously go on and on, and give you the climatic ending of the movie…but I won't…because you NEED to see this movie if you haven't. It was a brilliant work of art in the form of a movie. Demi Moore was charming and graceful as Hester, and Gary Oldman was almost a knight and shining armor as Minister Arthur. They did change up the story of the book…but this movie was just beautifully done. I will watch this movie again…very soon!

WellaBlack Arriving to freshly formed Massachusets colony without her husband, Hester Prynne tries to adapt to the extremely strict minded colony. After she falls in love with a pastor, Arthur Dimmsdale, she receives the information of her husband's death. Following the path their passionate love has shown them, Hester and Arthur later have to face unexpected factors and the Puritan colony's cruelty...The Scarlet Letter is one of those 90s Hollywood movies that I have been used to see since my childhood. I also have to admit that this is probably a movie more of women's preference. However, that does not mean that the movie is bad. In fact, I still cannot understand how it managed to be so disliked, for I simply "loved" it. This motion picture is beautiful: beautiful in its scenes, beautiful in its music, beautiful in its story... I cannot say that it was powerful, for it made some interesting choices like keeping the reverend alive in the end, but is it not a love story after all?(I have never read the book and I was begging for him not to die, so I am completely satisfied by that fact. ) Although Demi Moore's voice was slightly annoying, I can easily say that her performance was totally believable and included a good character portrayal. There is naught to say about Gary Oldman except for that his performance was perfectly enjoyable. Being used to seeing him as the villain,(or the character who simply has too much ego besides the others,) I was pleasantly surprised by how well he played Dimmsdale's emotions, which were screaming out 'I am an honorable man!' I really, really had fun watching this movie and finished in a COMPLETELY satisfied state of mind. I strongly recommend it to anyone who needs some positive emotions and suggest that instead of looking at it with an eye of a critic you enjoy the music, the thrill(yes, there are many sharp turns in the story, and that's why my summary is so short) and the performances.