The Postman DVD with Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate (R) +Movie Reviews +Used DVD available for Swap

POST-"apocolyptic"-MAN

Anthony Hinde | Sydney, Australia | 05/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is difficult to review a film that you like, when every professional critic has slammed it. On the other hand, I have to believe I am not alone in my tastes, so, here is some praise for "The Postman", Kevin Costner's cinematic version of the great book of the same name, written by David Brin.

After the success of "Dances With Wolves", it's pretty clear that Costner has been trying to recapture that epic feeling. But where "Water World" was silly to the point of being a caricature of a sweeping drama, "The Postman" avoids the trap. The nemesis, General Bethlehem is played seriously by Will Patton and the situation in general is believable if not completely explained.

I admit there were a few moments that were too heavy handed, the most memorable when the Postman gallops back to snatch a letter from a boy's hand. Even so, I can forgive a little over enthusiasm when it is mixed with a stirring tale. I know that during times of war, rhetoric is grist for the mill and so, the character's obsession with the American way, is understandable, given that it no longer exists.

You see, civilisation has fallen. It's implied that nuclear weapons were used, perhaps even biological weapons. Whatever the cause, people survive precariously, huddled together in fortified towns dreading the next visit of the Holenist army. A band of thugs created during the last days of the war and now led by General Bethlehem towards some nebulous vision, who's only constant is that Bethlehem will be the one in power.

Enter stage left, an unlikely hero. Kevin Costner's character may have a name but it is not revealed during the film. At first he is known as Shakespeare because he is a wandering loner who is sometimes driven to produce one man, one mule, productions of the Bard in the hopes of winning a meal from his audience. His aimless existence is abruptly ended when he is roughly drafted into the Holenist army.

From the first he stands out from the crowd of beaten hopeless recruits and so is singled out for special torments and duties. The army life is brutal enough without having earned the enmity of your squad leader. One thing leads to another and escape presents itself for Shakespeare. Without food or any other protection he stumbles on the remains of an old mail van and spends a night huddled in its dubious warmth, kept company by the body of a US Postal worker.

Whether by chance, destiny or foresight, he dons the guise of a postman and scams his way into a local town. "The mailman's here. Lock up your dogs." So long starved of civilisation, the bedraggled townsmen clamour for news of the world, the government, the future. He has little choice but to answer their questions, with creative and plausible fictions. It is here that the wheels of fate start turning.

The idea he has created, of a new America, is too big for one man to control. The film takes us on a steamroller ride headed straight towards the Holenist army. People with hope demand action. The desire for action creates leaders. Leaders are often forced to carry out the will of the people despite a lack of talent, desire or knowledge.

In this case, a young man, self named Ford Lincoln Mercury, forces the Postman to become a symbol of civilisation and eventually the symbol of resistance. Ford's passion and his actions are resisted for a long time but eventually the Postman comes to share the myth. One man can stand up to tyranny, especially with the help of a few courageous friends and the trust of one strong willed woman."

An Heretical Viewpoint

C. Spencer | Louisville, KY | 06/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe that the reviewers must have been reading each other's reviews instead of actually watching the movie, and Costner-bashing has long been great sport among reviewers. The original David Brin novel has been improved upon in several ways. In particular, gone are the two cyborg/supermen who duked it out in the finale of the novel, a distraction and deus-ex-machina. I especially loved the internal consistency, lack of impossible battles, and the strong development of a number of believable characters. The Holnist leader (who played a supporting role in "Armageddon") is more than a cartoon bad guy, and Costner's postman is plagued by guilt and doubt as he discovers how seriously everyone takes his "Restored United States". There is almost nothing in the movie that is irrelevant to the plot.Yes, it is a bit slow in parts, and I was ready to quit watching after 30 minutes because I had heard that it was just another post-apocalyptic bore, but it turned into a sterling movie. Even my wife, no fan of that genre, wanted to watch it all the way through."

Sunk by Titanic, Pilloried by the Press

C. Spencer | 07/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the wake of Titanic's unexpected success in 1997, the media needed another Christmas epic to lambast, hence the grossly unfair pile-on that happened to Costner's The Postman. To pretend that this is another Dune or Heaven's Gate is not only hyperbolic, it is willfully dishonest (even Dune has gotten a grudging second chance with critics in recent years). The fact is, had the country's female populace not been busy swooning under Leo's spitballs, The Postman might today be regarded as the classic that it deservedly is.Like Titanic, The Postman is lengthy and excessive, but it is also watchable and entertaining. Costner downplays his basically selfish and opportunistic title character, while his costars--Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, and Giovanni Ribisi (in a brief supporting role as a grateful dupe in Bethlehem's army)--all give shining performances. Moreover, the movie's message is the opposite of blind patriotism; it cleverly skewers the militia movement in the U.S. while reminding us why democratic government came about in the first place: to keep gangsters, extortionists, and military tyrants out of our lives.The Postman is worth your time if you haven't seen it; if you have, it deserves an honest and iceberg-free reassessment."

Perhaps the most underrated film ever!!!!

JT | Washington, DC | 12/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As stated several times before, after Waterworld, critics and Costner-haters walked into the cinemas like loaded weapons ready to blast this film apart. I promise this film would have been greeted with a much friendlier audience if not for it's timing. Not that it doesn't have short-comings. It has the Costner-esque three hour length, which probably isn't as necessary here as it was in "Dances With Wolves," and the editing is a bit choppy, and sometimes the flow and pace slacks off a little. Strip these things away and you have a solid commentary on the aspect of hope, group dynamics, and the psychology of leadership. Costner's role is decent enough, though the film is taken away by the stellar performance of Will Patton ("Armageddon", "No Way Out," & CBS' excellent but mistakenly canceled show "The Agency"). Patton's role pushes both borders of intellect and insanity, all the while holding on to some inner-confidence which drives him.It's so easy to jump on the wagon and label this film a disaster, when the truth is that it gets better with each viewing, and sticks with you for hours and even days after the TV is turned off. Hope is a prominent topic in the state of the modern world, and this film expertly illustrates the ideal in grand fashion.As a victim of unfortunate timing, this film is simply one of, if not THE most underrated film in the last three decades."

Far better than they say

Antonio Vega | Miami, Fl United States | 02/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After years of hearing how bad this movie is (since it was released, so almost 9 years) I finally watched this movie. I watched it with a group of friends expecting a good time, due to how bad it was supposed to be. We did end up getting a few laughs but at the end of the movie we all more or less agreed that this wasn't such a bad movie.

Sure, there were a few cheesy, over the top moments; like the now infamous kid holding up the letter and Kevin Costner heroically grabbing it from his hand on horseback. However, even those cheesy moments don't seem to ruin the overall movie. The premise itself seems a little unbelievable, preposterous or hilarious even but it doesn't really turn out that way. Of corse, I'm sure most of you know it already but I'll repeat it once more just for the hell of it. It's a post-apocalyptic world and the it is in chaos. One man comes along and becomes a Postman; by accident. This accidental Postman eventually manages to rescue the desperate people of this shattered earth. Yeah, at first glance it seems like some B movie you'd watch on Sci Fi Channel late at night. The thing is after watching it I can't say it felt like that at all. Kevin Costner's character becomes far more than some mailman. He becomes a symbol of hope for the people that now live in small towns that are scattered across vast wastelands. The amazing part is that it is pretty believable. These people that have been living in isolation finally realize that there are others like them out there and that people they thought had died are actually alive. These people that previously had nothing now have something to cling to and often times that can be an extremely powerful thing. A broken man can do little but when given something to fight for that same man can do incredible things. He gives them that by simply giving them a way to communicate and telling them; even if it was a lie that there is a Restored United States of America.

Despite the few cheesy moments and the sprinkled cliches the movie holds up pretty well. The movie is by no means an all time classic; the critics made sure of that though. Regardless of its' shortcomings it is not the horrible, horrible movie people made it out to be. It's a very enjoyable movie. The 3 hours it lasts kept my attention and when the big finale came I can't say it disappointed. When Costner finally challenges Bethlehem (the "villain") of the movie and rips off his own sleeve to show the branding he received when he was captured and forced to serve in Bethlehem's army it just makes you want to cheer.

It's a shame the critics panned this movie. I'm willing to agree with them on Waterworld but not this one. I'd give it a 7 more or less, which when you're expecting a 1 is utterly amazing."

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