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Movies / On DVD / The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter (1995)

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Reviews Counted:32

Fresh:5

Rotten:27

Average Rating:3/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi... Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi Moore) makes the voyage to the New World in order to find religious freedom and a new home for her and her husband, Roger (Robert Duvall). However, Hester proves to be too free-spirited and strong-willed for most of the conservative Massachusetts Bay colony members. She abandons the laws of the colony and sets up a home far from the town square, living by her own rules and setting the townspeople's morals on end. While waiting for her husband's arrival from England, she befriends the town pastor, Arthur Dimmesdale (Gary Oldman), a liberal-minded and passionate man who instantly strikes Hester's fancy. Although the married woman and pious pastor are strongly attracted to one another, the two refuse to give in to temptation--until Roger is reported dead in a violent Indian massacre. When the townfolk hear about the ensuing scandal, they force Hester to wear a shameful scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her clothing at all times--while living as a moral and social outcast. [More]

Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh

Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh, Edward Hardwicke, Robert Prosky, Roy Dotrice, Joan Plowright

Director: Roland Joffé

Director: Roland Joffé
Composer: John Barry

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Scarlet Letter

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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For all the talent on display, this is a waste of movie.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
08/04/09
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite the cast taking themselves very seriously indeed, The Scarlet Letter is a great comic turn, complete with cod-accents and other period jiggery-pokery.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/04/09
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Not only does the film bear little resemblance to the source novel, but it's cluttered with ridiculous symbolism.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

“Freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne,” the credits say cautiously. I'll say.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
08/04/09
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

Rage, love, defiance, confusion, fear -- Moore just sticks out her chin and makes her eyes brim with tears. She's the stolidly immovable object at the film's center, and there's no getting around her.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/04/09
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A very '90s take on a 1660s tale written in 1850, as a picture of early colonial life it's about as convincing as Pocahontas.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
08/31/05
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/07/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Oh, Roland Joffé, thy free adaptation of the Hawthorne classic didst produce abudant derisive laughter. Didst thou once direct 'The Killing Fields?'

comment Comment
05/19/05
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online

For anyone who's ever wondered why Hawthorne left out the mute servants, red cockatoos, and rolls in the proverbial hay. As Hawthorne himself would say: "Ignominious!"

comment Comment
08/31/04
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

If you've read the book you won't know the ending. Let's just say that Indians with flaming arrows come to the rescue. They manage to keep a straight face, which is more than anyone in the audience will be able to do.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Caryn James
Caryn James
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A hysterically incompetent camp classic, highly recommended for English department faculty parties.

comment Comment
05/26/04
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

Love the book or hate it, but no novel deserves the shabby treatment that director Roland Joffé and screenwriter Douglas Day Stewart have given the classic novel.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/13/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/20/03
Michelle Alexandria
Michelle Alexandria
Eclipse Magazine

Corny, heavy-handed, but definitely romantic, The Scarlet Letter is a mindless piece of historical amusement.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

[It's] a mess that serves no one, least of all students hoping to get out of having to read the book for class.

Full Review Source: ArtVoice | comment Comment
04/28/03
M. Faust
M. Faust
ArtVoice

The script by Douglas Day Stewart gives new meaning to the phrase "free adaptation".

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
04/25/03
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
12/23/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

This is a well-acted, beautiful movie.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
06/18/02
Peter Stack
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle

A sweepingly romantic and formulaically fulfilling tale set in the oppressively patriarchal and staunchly religious mid-17th century.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Christine James
Christine James
Boxoffice Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Scarlet Letter

March 30, 2009: An Easy A for Emma Stone Opens in new window
Emma Stone will star in a "modern, high-school retelling" of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," penned by Bert V. Royal and titled "Easy A." More...

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