Formypointofview"TheScarletLetter"isagoodfilmwithgreatperformances…Alltheactorsdoasuperbjob…IwasworriedthatDemiMooremightnothavetherangetohandletheroleofMistressPrynne,butsheisexcellent...Sheisstrong,passionate,intelligentanddamaged…Inanotherplaceandtimeshemighthavebeenaleader;inthismoviesheisquitebelievableasthewomanwhodefendsherloveatallcosts…GaryOldmanlooksperfectasReverendDimmesdale…Heprojectsforceandsexualmagnetismalongwiththeguiltforhissin…

　　Thefilmopensin1666whenHesterPrynne(DemiMoore)arrivedintheMassachusettsBayColonyfilledwithhopethathere,atlast,inthisnewWorld,wouldcomethefreedomtoworshipwithoutfearorpersecution…Shedidn'tsuspectthatbeyondthetreesthereisasavagelandofsavagepassionsdarkanduntamed,andthatsoonshewillfaceascornfulcommunityinwhichshewillforeverbeshamedbythescarletletter…

　　MistressPrynnerejectedtheideaofstayinginthecongregationuntilherhusband'sarrivalandlookedforahouseofherown…Shefindsabeautifulandfrighteningplace,justas'Edenmusthavebeensountouched…'

　　OnoneSabbathmorning,HestermetReverendDimmesdale(GaryOldman)whohelpsherwhenhercartgotstuckinthewoods…Shetrulyenjoyed,fewminuteslater,hissermon…Itwasrare,forher,tofindamansoyoungandfierywhocouldspeakwithsuchforceofpassion…Shewasmovedbyhispassion…

　　DimmesdalethoughtthatcomprehendingGodwasgoingtobehisgreatestchallenge,but—afterhemetHester—hewasnotthemanheseemstobe…Helosthispowerbeforethisseductressbeautifulwoman…Helivedinthistownshiphiswholelifeandhispurposewasclear…Butnowhewouldriskeverything—hislife,hisministry,hissoul—justtospendafewmomentsalonewithher…Afterheaskedherwhythatmorningintheforest,shedidn'tsaythatsheismarried,hewonderedhowshewereabletoseesodeeplyintohisnature…

　　Fromthatmoment,twoheartsweretherestrugglingagainstalovethatgrewstrongerwitheachpassingday…

　　Hesterwascourteousenoughbuthertongueknewnorules…Sheearnedmorethanafewreprimandsinherlifeforspeakingtoobluntly…Withafrighteningstrength,shechallengedherpersecutorsandstooduptotheirhypocrisy,refusingtorevealherlover'sidentity…

　　"TheScarletLetter"compelsustorecognizetheshadowsideofourlives,includingthispassionthatpushesusbeyondourlimits...Theclimaxalsocompelsustocontemplateaboutwhetherthereisanythingthatwewouldbewillingtodiefor…