tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post2737139614794765993..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: CULT MOVIE REVIEW: The Handmaid's Tale (1990)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-51143254259677860252018-08-27T06:03:51.196-04:002018-08-27T06:03:51.196-04:00Awesome review. I really enjoyed your huge blog po...Awesome review. I really enjoyed your huge blog post. It really change my mind set and so I had decided to <a href="123movieputlockers.com" rel="nofollow">watch movie online</a>. I will watch full movie later when I got time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11064780887752189724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-62505322301600116212011-05-23T06:39:21.461-04:002011-05-23T06:39:21.461-04:00Hi thedarkbackward,
I think you're right that...Hi thedarkbackward,<br /><br />I think you're right that some elements of the film that seem rathr problematic are also in the book. <br /><br />Yet, somehow, the book feels more powerful, perhaps just because of the nature of the medium. You feel more "inside" of that literary world, if that makes sense.<br /><br />I haven't read EVIL IS LIVE SPELLED BACKWARD, but I'm interested...<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-82142206579581712512011-05-22T15:29:36.277-04:002011-05-22T15:29:36.277-04:00Many of my issues with the film come directly from...Many of my issues with the film come directly from the source material - in part, THE HANDMAID'S TALE is a strangely dispassionate book, but it has a tendency toward romance-novel bodice ripping. That stuff is definitely in the source.<br /><br />I've always felt that a better (if more pulpy) treatment of the same material was in andrew j. offut's book EVIL IS LIVE SPELLED BACKWARD.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11029803750925552257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-37496047095670363942011-05-21T08:59:34.276-04:002011-05-21T08:59:34.276-04:00Hi Le0pard13:
Excellent insights on the film. I ...Hi Le0pard13:<br /><br />Excellent insights on the film. I appreciate you excavating that second level of hypocrisy here, namely that of the men involved. Birth control would be constitutional law, just as you say, if men could get pregnant.<br /><br />Also, I'm glad you called attention to the scene in which the criminal (really a political activist...) is thrown to the lions...the Handmaids. You're right to remember that scene's power. All the anger the handmaids must feel is released and they descend on their enemy like wolves.<br /><br />Great comment!<br /><br />best,<br />jKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-40027504797291550822011-05-18T02:07:07.335-04:002011-05-18T02:07:07.335-04:00I can't add much to the already adept commenta...I can't add much to the already adept commentary offered to the fine analysis of this film. Not having read the novel this is based on, I think it's a somewhat flawed film adaptation to a very intriguing premise. It does seem that religious fundamentalism, no matter whose religion, is male-dominated and ultimately seeks to control women. The perceived threat of their sexuality and genesis ability also has a hand in the matter, IMO. I've grown to believe that if men could have children, birth control wouldn't just be an option, it'd be constitutional law. Another angle of hypocrisy, me thinks.<br /><br />Everyone notes "<i>... the three-way, religious-minded sex act</i>" as a powerful scene. I'll note the other that caught me in this film. The criminal male thrown to the females for punishment scene is particularly chilling. In some cultures, having a woman as the tormenter is seen as the worst possible outcome for any man. Anyway, another keen look at the context of a fascinating dystopian work, John. Thanks.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-39640890607022396302011-05-17T19:08:27.358-04:002011-05-17T19:08:27.358-04:00Hi everybody,
Terrific comments all around.
SFF:...Hi everybody,<br /><br />Terrific comments all around.<br /><br />SFF: I agree with just about everything you said. The Handmaid's Tale, for all the incipient weirdness and passivity, does linger in the memory...especially that odd sex scene. I think it's because the story and ideas are powerful, even if the presentation could have been better.<br /><br />I don't disagree with you about spending and tightening our financial belt (nationally-speaking). I just think there are a whole lot of things we could target before we have to cut health care and screenings for poor women. I know a little pain has to go around, I just hate to see that the Republican plan puts all the pain on those already suffering: the poor. <br /><br />DLR: I think you are picking up on the same disturbing vibe that SFF mentioned, and yes, it is there in the movie. The alienated tone, as you call it, is definitely present, but I just feel the movie is almost too laidback; and the touches of traditional romance, in this setting, almost absurd.<br /><br />But like I said above, I think the debt problem is serious, but that there must be compromise. Defense cuts. A tax hike to the Clinton Era levels, at least, if not the Ike ones (though that would solve the problem...), coupled with some smart spending cuts would do the trick, I think. I know we can do it, but everyone has to give something. I just prefer the hardship fall on those who can better deal with it, and it just is not the poor.<br /><br />J.D. Yes, the book haunted me as well. It's still a powerful read, and I think your suggestions of Jane Campion and Atom Egoyan, are perfect!<br /><br />Thanks for all the thoughtful and insightful comments!<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-82934866929326530832011-05-17T10:07:05.949-04:002011-05-17T10:07:05.949-04:00Ah, what an intersting film is would have been had...Ah, what an intersting film is would have been had someone like David Cronenberg or maybe Atom Egoyan had taken a stab at it.<br /><br />The book is excellent and presents a very chilling futureworld. I remember being haunted by it weeks after reading it.<br /><br />I agree with you that the film could've been much better and deserves another cinematic adaptation. I would be interested to see a female filmmaker's take on the material. Someone like Jane Campion or Lynne Ramsey.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-45890576215684002742011-05-17T09:24:16.052-04:002011-05-17T09:24:16.052-04:00Hi JKM;
I actually really liked this movie and it...Hi JKM;<br /><br />I actually really liked this movie and its alienated tone. I don't re-visit it, but it did make an impression and I think about it whenever I read about the Biblical Patriarchy movement or the Right-Wing "Christian" strategy of fifth-column infiltration of school boards and the US military. <br /><br />On the subject of hypocrisy, I challenge all Christians to count the number of times Jesus yells "Hypocrite!" or otherwise uses the term or a variant in the Gospels, and then compare that to the number of times he mentions abortion or homosexuality (or for that matter supply-side economics). He does take a stern stand against infidelity, though - sorry, Newt, Ahnold, etc.<br /><br />I do agree with the Fanatic above that we need serious spending cuts but would note this doesn't mean the mainstream Republican approaches are correct (in fact they push the costs of social iniquities down to states, which then in turn delegate them to towns and cities). The Congressional Progressive Caucus, Ralph Nader, Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich have all proposed strong budget-cutting, social-network strengthening ideas from the left (single-payer actually saves money overall, BTW). I do support a return to Ike-era tax rates, too - if the problem is <em>that</em> serious, I don't see why everyone doesn't. The economy was pretty good in those days. (So was Sci-Fi!)DLRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-75078062176536620972011-05-17T08:21:56.371-04:002011-05-17T08:21:56.371-04:00Hello John,
I concur with RC. Your write-up is a...Hello John,<br /><br />I concur with RC. Your write-up is a terrific read and much better than the film deserves probably.<br /><br />I remember seeing this film in theatres. It had to be out for like a week and I'm not sure what got me there. It was the strangest movie and my youthful sensibilities we're at one bored, underwhelmed, weirded out and just generally disappointed.<br /><br />It was such an odd movie and it felt that way. I felt so empty after seeing the film and that was before I had formed a full appreciation for Robert Duvall. What a shame Natasha is gone. She was a beauty, but this was just wholly strange stuff.<br /><br />I remember the sex scene most. It was so unusual to me it troubled me.<br /><br />It certainly could have been an entertaining premise but it ultimately left me pretty cold. Fortunately, as odd a take on the future as it is, it's one that is conceivable [pun intended] on some level, but it seems the most unlikely as premises go.<br /><br />Anyhow, I found it weird and warped as films go. I suppose on some level the film worked to affect me with its story, but it was uncomfortable viewing and again mostly slow when I saw it back in the day. Your Ebert bite was a good selection from his review clearly.<br /><br />I think your point about "limiting the freedom of women" always makes for great political debate and conversation, and I don't entirely disagree with you. But spending cuts across the board feel necessary if this country is to survive. I don't think people fully realize just how bad it is or could get. We're going to find out.<br /><br />This is perhaps one of the best realizations of a left-wing nightmare. You make some great points and I agree with you John about the hypocrisy. I wish both side could see it, but they refuse to relent to the other. IT's extremely unhealthy. Truth certainly doesn't seem to speak for itself and that's the saddest fact of all.<br /><br />I loved your final point about the title of the film.<br /><br />But yes, a strangely chilling film that was really hard to enjoy.<br /><br />All the best<br />sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-91674706867024429052011-05-17T07:54:30.281-04:002011-05-17T07:54:30.281-04:00Thanks, Rick.
Yeah, the movie is sort of underwhe...Thanks, Rick.<br /><br />Yeah, the movie is sort of underwhelming, despite the fascinating set-up and background from the novel. I'm not generally in favor of remakes, but the original novel could be adapted better.<br /><br />best,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-77280499774496216702011-05-17T07:09:52.349-04:002011-05-17T07:09:52.349-04:00Nice review John, I enjoyed it much more than the ...Nice review John, I enjoyed it much more than the actual movie. -rcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com