Customer Reviews

The Postman

5 star:		(107)
4 star:		(76)
3 star:		(32)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(61)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

As others in this section have said, it always amazes me why this film was panned as thoroughly as it was. It seems to me that movie critics are attracted to films that are so often so obtuse as to be incomprehensible. The beauty of 'The Postman', I think, lies in its simplicity and clear cut message.

The Postman is a post-apocalyptic survivor, who in the film's beginning is more concerned with his own welfare than in being a hero. How can we argue with a film where the good guy starts out so much like most of us - self-absorbed, looking out for #1 - but ends up rising to the occasion in a big way - a way that we hope we all could or would? And he defeats the bad guy in the end; I mean, you want to get up and cheer! Talking about the bad guy - what a bad guy! Will Patton was astounding as the evil General. His performance alone should have been enough to make people stick around and be sure he got what was coming to him!

The supporting cast were all believable and appealing for either their good or evil ways. The cinematography and special effects were breathtaking. And yes, 3 hours is a long film - but I feel that every segment sets the stage for the one following it, successfully moving the story along - and building to the exciting finish.

Look around, folks - the world ain't a pretty place. This film stirs and uplifts the soul; it makes you think that if the good people rise up, then good can in fact triumph over evil. It's that hope that keeps most of us getting up in the morning.

"The Postman," a post-apocalyptic epic, was critically panned and flopped at the box office in 1997. Panoramic scenes shot in Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Oregon; several emotional, dramatic moments; and good music couldn't quite overcome the fact that many people found it too long, boring, violent, corny or improbable. However, it is increasingly being seen as a classic, with historical significance. Consider America's state of mind, c. 1993-1996, when it was made, which included intense anti-Federal government rhetoric, Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" in the 1994 elections, growing concern over the threat of "Y2K" computer shutdowns, Waco, the spread of survivalist or militia groups in many Western rural areas, and the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City. Set in 2013, following the collapse of the United States as a result of ecological disasters (climate change, plagues) and a civil war 15 years before ("I was there at the battle of Georgetown. I watched the White House burn to the ground!" declares General Bethlehem, the head of the marauding neo-Nazi army that still terrorize the Pacific Northwest), the movie's vision wasn't entirely divorced from reality. It's message also was relatively simple: we take a lot in life for granted, including, yes, the much-maligned US Postal Service and the importance that small things, like sending and receiving letters, have in binding together a nation. Also the importance of hope, and for individuals to believe in something bigger than themselves (in the movie's case, the hope for a "Restored United States of America) in building a better life for new generations. At the same time, the Postman doesn't take itself too seriously. There are ironic, humorous touches throughout, some less subtle than others. As the Postman, Costner tells the people he meets in the small surviving towns he visits (initially as part of a scam, making it up as he goes along) that a man named Richard Starkey [i.e., Beatle Ringo Starr] is the new president, who wants them to know that "It's getting better...better every day" and that the new capital is in Minneapolis in the Hubert H. Humphrey Superdome, "where the Vikings used to play." When he comes to a town that has no name, he unilaterally proclaims it, on behalf of the Postal Service, "Elvis, Oregon." One mayor is played by Tom Petty, an obscure, but vaguely recognizable musician, whom Costner asks, when they meet: "Didn't you once used to be famous?" "That was a long-time ago," replies Petty, reflecting perhaps the sense of a past that applies as much in the movie and the reality of America in the 1990's. In the movie, as a Restored USA seeks to be born, Costner tells people that it's not Democrat or Republican distinctions that are important, but rather, our commitment to one nation. The Postman is a movie worth seeing. No, it's not the greatest movie ever made. At times, it's downright bizarre. But it is a prism for considering America's passage from the 1970's through the 1990's, and for reflecting, in the early years of the new century, where we might be going next. Individually, but also together, we're the ones who have to make the choices and sacrifices to get there. A corny, bizarre, but healthy dose of patriotism may be what we need. If nothing else, the good guys ultimately win. There is an happy ending.

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.

As a huge fan of David Brin, whose book "The Postman" served as the basis for this film, and the post-apocalyptic genre in general, I was looking forward to seeing this movie. My friends tried to warn me away from it, and after all the negative press I read, it was hard to keep an open mind.

The Postman isn't awful, but it is incredibly overlong. It seems to crawl about as fast as a bulldozer out of gas. Thankfully, the plot develops in that time, but The Postman lacks the sweeping, involving, intricate details that define an "epic" (and David Brin's books).

The problem is that Costner and the editors wanted to include as much material from the novel as possible, but instead of folding plots into each other, it only half-develops different lines, or totally leaves them untouched. The Holnists, for example, while only playing a major role in the last quarter of the book, become a variety of "devolved" enemies and serve as the "main bad guys" in the film.

David Brin's works are extremely complex and intelligent, which Costner and company no doubt recognized, but The Postman was partially dumbed-down for audiences more interested in brainless action-schlock like Mission Impossible 2 or the watered-down "epic" Gladiator. The dumbing-down occured in the wrong places; the editors no doubt assumed that audiences would have the attention span to sit through a three-hour movie but still wanted something substance-less - it just doesn't work. By trying to satisfy the fans who wanted the complexity and sincerity of the book, and attempting to appeal to the wider popcorn-munching audience, Costner strove for a middle ground, the same route he found with dazzling success in Dances With Wolves, and ended up falling off the fence.

The Postman is worth watching for the post-apocalyptic sets and ideas, especially if you are interested in the genre, but I can't imagine this film as much more than an artifact, appealing to the few of us who enjoy the post-nuclear, post-apocalyptic films like The Postman.

DVD dirt -

The transfer is OK - not great, but not terrible. You can tell it was done in the early days of dual layer, because there is a slight hiccup at every chapter change. Some sections of the film seem quite dirty, with obvious splotches and scratches. The sound transfer isn't bad, but the voices and the effects aren't mixed properly; viewers with a center-channel system can simply turn that speaker up, but those without will experience very quiet dialogue with very loud music and ear-blistering explosions that seem almost out of place.

The only extra worth talking about is the "Postman's CGI Route" featurette, which talks mostly about splicing green-screened actors onto computer-touched-up shots of landscapes, or replacing some background scenery with matte images or still frames. Nothing terribly special, and the featurette only lasts for 15 minutes or so.

I really enjoyed the Postman. Having it on blu-ray just makes it that much better. I never saw the film in the theater and the dvd copy I've been watching just wasn't cutting it anymore. Hollywood seems to be on the Post-Apocalyptic bandwagon this year, with the Road and 2012. The Postman, if released this year would not have been so panned by the critics. The movie has a great message about freedom and self determination. It also shows how an idea can grow bigger than a man.

The picture quality on the blu-ray is excellent and the sound quality is the best this movie has ever sounded. If you are on the fence, buy it. I have watched my dvd copy more than 7 times and plan on watching the blu-ray many times as well. To the people who say "the movie doesn't match the book", what movie has ever really matched the book?

"The Postman", adapted from David Bryn's book of the same name, is an underrated masterpiece that perhaps appeared 15-20 years too late. Many post apocalyptic films have been made (some, like "Waterworld", are okay but not really believable; others, like "Steel dawn", suffer from some 3rd rate acting. However, this film stands second only to the "Mad Max" trilogy as a definitive PA adventure. Like "Mad Max", the plot is believable and there is room for the audience to fill in the events that lead to the post apocalypse.

Now, in 1997, Al Qaida and the Taliban were organisations not many people would have heard of. In 1997, the old USA v USSR thing was well in the past and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was buried. In 1979, when Mad Max debuted, things were different: The Shah of Iran was toppled: were the USSR going to invade and the USA to intervene? Afghanistan was invaded by the USSR and the USA wasn't happy with this. In 1981, when Mad Max 2 was made, the USA and USSR were debating the situation in Poland and Afghanistan and a war involiving USA, Iraq and Iran (with possible USSR backing) was possible. In other words, the world was interested in the PA movie.

Timing was the first casualty of "Postman" - because 1997 was a 'normal' year politically. PA was not that popular a movie genre for this reason. However, move on 4 years: 9/11/2001. The evil and callous acts of today's terrorists, and the often unplanned responses by western states to curb terror (such as the invasion of Iraq) show exactly how PA chaos could be a possible future.

"The Postman" bases itself on the concept of the destruction of the USA by some fascist madman. "Mad Max" predicted the 'oil war'. Looking at the former, we see all the ingredients of what terrorists and fascists want to achieve: the fall of a democracy, replaced with their own feudal state.

How did the US fall in the "Postman"? This is what connects it with events of today. Was it that the Holnists were some US organisation that merged with Al Qaeda? Were the Holnists some group who formed because of a fear of other races (who they blamed for terror), and struck at the heart of US democracy? Or were the Holnists created out of a bipolarised USA (e.g. those who love or hate a certain controversial President - like we've seen recently with Reagan, Clinton, Bush, etc.)?

Though the references in the film point distinctly to the KKK or Adolf Hitler, they also point to Al Qaeda, Timothy McVeigh and other evil people/organisations of our time. This is what makes this film strong.

Those who do not like this film should reconsider their position with regard to the age we live in now.