For starters, I have read Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter, both for high school and personal enjoyment, and I absolutely loved the novel, but most high school students would disagree with my view of the novel. When seeing this film, one must remember the phrase "freely adapted from," because that's what it is. Things are changed, yes, but that doesn't stop this movie from being wonderful. The movie gives background to the Hester/Dimmesdale romance that Hawthorne left in the background, and so beings the tale to life and makes it more understandable to the modern population. Depsite its inaccuracies and liberal use of literary lisence, the movie is a hypothetical "What if?" It asks what would have happened had Dimmesdale come forward, had Pearl been a more congenial, innocent character, and had the Indian troubles played more of a part in Hawthorne's work. As Dimmesdale, Oldman performs marvelously, depicting the tortured soul of the Puritan priest in love with a strong, undaunted woman. This movie is a must see for all the historical romance lovers out there as well as those who need a reprieve from Hawthorne's often long and difficult prose. Just don't use it to pass your tests; that's what Sparknotes are for...
Reviews
2 Reviews
Mary Reilly
(1996)
A Good Movie
25 June 2003
Mary Reilly is a well done version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Although Dr. Jekyll's name is Harry, and not Henry, in this case, the movie is an extremely good adaptation of the book, told through the eyes of one of Jekyll's servants. John Malkovich brings fire to the part, and is brilliant as the subdued Jekyll and a delightful cad as Hyde. All in all, I think this is a must see for Jekyll and Hyde fans, as it triumphs in places where the book could not, making the story personal for someone who discovered the secrets of Jekyll's laboratory.
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