Genres

Visitors Review

2013-06-13 06:22:20

biased and leaning to the left

Just for once would I like to see a movie that didn't resort to high drama to show the viewer their political idealogies. In this trilogy of stories I must say that the first and the second stories were my favorite. Demi Moore, showed she does have artistic talents when it comes to her acting. Her protrayel is very heart wrenching in the first story of a woman who made a very stupid mistake by sleeping with the brother of her recently deceased husband, and ended up pregant. Her very desperate choice was to have an illegal abortion or suffer being shunned and marked an adultress and having a bastard child. ... Second story was also a favorite in the trilogy of abortion. Sissy Spacek, as allways is just superb in her acting abilities to portray a grown woman who finds out she once again pregnant when her present children are all grown and she is on the verge of completing her studies. The story is naturally told and naturally acted. The one thing that was off putting for me was her daughter, who really got under my skin. She just was to feminazi for me. To over the top with her man-hating thinking and ways. Also, she went out of her way to try and force her mother to abort an unborn baby just so her parents didn't stop thinking of sending her to colledge when she finished high school. That was selfish and cruel. Sissy Spacek decision in the end was the right choice. The third story for me was the weakest and most manipulative. Why? You have to see it. There is one part of the story where to two woman have a very ridiculous conversation and I had to laugh. Bad acting, bad dialouge and liberal babble that is too funny to write down. Cher acting is not great or up to her standards. Diane Scarwid has a small role in this movie which I guess she did only because of the subject matter. Anne Heche's role was not natural or even real, as her story was too forced and fake. You really never get to know her life story or why she chooses her fate. I was left wondering why she chose to have an abortion. Jada Picket was the only character in the whole third story that really was true and natural and faithful to her role. The only one role in the whole third story that really spoke to me. The ending was absolutely obvious and perdictable. ... So, if you choose to view this film. Watch it with an open mind then when it is over disect it and make up your mind if Hollywood loves to ram their idealogy down our throats.

2013-06-12 19:23:22

A Must See!

I like that this movie showed many angles on abortion. If you are pro choice or pro life I think you should see this movie because it will let you see several situations involving abortion. Abortion isn't as simple as "yes" or "no." There are many gray areas and this movie explores them. I totally recommend this movie.

2013-06-12 05:19:24

omg it is so good

OMG this movie was so sad and so moving. The acting is mesmerizing and the story is so good. Make sure u have a tissue cause this is a very sad movie. This movie should win every oscar. Demi Moore, Anne heche, and Sissy Spacek are so good and deserve an oscar

Donald W. Cameron 2013-06-11 20:27:19

Ladies in baiting

When film deals with contentious issues, prudence is not always the betterpart of wisdom. Some films will slap your face to, draw your attention fromboisterous even pugnacious red herrings, or rouse you through informedopinion to informed action and or informed decision, or some are trying toget your attention for an issue that needs exposure period. Some films justslap and run; they call you out into a storm and leave you there with noexplanation, exposed and vulnerable with out so much as a cover for yourhead. I any or all cases it is buyer-beware, and the prudent sensitiveviewer will seat themselves near an exit or close to the stop button on theVCR or DVD remote. Ultimately, you are your own censor, and there is noshame in walking out or terminating the experience when it takes you beyondyour limits. However, in rare cases there is nothing you can do to protectyourself, and you fall victim to the old bait-and-switchscam.In My Humble OpinionThis film is an astonishingly vacuous and arrogantly deceitful exercise.Instead of providing food for discussion, it leaves the viewer scramblingfor cover trying to keep some measure of privacy while crying out forcomfort in the areas that have been exposed. It is a blatant and mindlesssimile where it tries be a subtle metaphor. Was I supposed to feel invaded,raped, or traumatized, to view the fetus as a parasite or cancer, and theissue as a conglomerate of isolated events? I don't know, and now I don'tcare. This film promised to open my mind; I just didn't know it was going todo so by hacking open my head.

2013-06-01 05:13:50

Very educational

I believe this movie should be shown in schools across the country to show young females (and even males) the aftermath of the choice of abortion.

2013-06-01 03:35:07

Very Good

The movie came in excellent condition, the shipping was good time, and the movie itself was pretty good.

2013-05-30 06:11:22

most of the reviewers missed the entire point

First of all, I want to thank fayR for calling a spade a spade: I'mpro-abortion, period. I believe all three women should've aborted. Igave this film a nine because, as testified to at I'mNotSorry.net, Idon't believe it's true that all women who find themselves pregnant anddon't want to be agonize over it; and neither do I believe that havingan abortion necessarily affects a woman negatively or for a long periodof time. For that I'm grateful for the character in the middle segmentwho admits to having felt relieved after aborting. Hard for me tobelieve that relief isn't the Number One sensation felt by a womanafter undergoing a safe, effective abortion. No, it will not haunt youfor the rest of your days, and this needs to be said.I also thank Merwyn Grote, though we sit on opposing sides of thisissue, for submitting the only review that actually looked beyond thesurface to see the message. The message I got, however, differs fromthe one Grotes saw: What I saw was the horror of conservative backlash.The only character who had access to a safe, legal abortion withoutgetting mobbed or firebombed was the 1970s one. Our society passedthrough a blip of progressiveness that lasted about a decade, andthat's what I find the most disturbing thing this movie showed. Everyviewer should agree with that.Veering a little off-topic here, but I never understood why back-alleyabortionists couldn't take the extra minute to wash their hands anddisinfect their instruments. It's not as if it added to their overhead.What motivated this pond scum? Money? OK. But he already got paid! Whatharm could it have done to swab some alcohol onto the speculum? Tom inthe 1950s segment was the one who deserved to be shot. Where are allthe indignant anti-abortion voices when it comes to him and his ilk --and don't think they don't still exist. The state of Wyoming has not asingle legal abortion provider. Who do you suppose is performingabortions in Wyoming?

2013-05-30 01:32:51

Intense and wonderfully challenging

I really enjoyed this movie. It was incredibally thought provoking. I think that this would be a wonderful video for young women (and guys) to watch as an aid to a sex-ed class. It really makes you evaluate all sides of the issue. I also think that it's a great film for people interested in the history of abortion/women's rights. It shows how far we've come, as well as how far we yet have to go.

2013-05-24 03:04:04

Excellent!

Rented this over the weekend and was stunned! The first part, with Demi Moore, was the best, I think. Thank goodness abortion is now legal ... it *must* stay that way. This movie should be mandatory viewing for all teens, male and female.

shanex 2013-05-23 11:00:42

Impressed

When I started to watch the movie, I assumed it would be very heavilyslanted toward pro-choice. Hollywood has a tendancy to be incrediblyliberal. However I was pleasantly suprised that, while certainly biasedtoward pro-choice, it was much more moderate than I expected. It showed"reasonable" pro-life protesters (in the 1994 segment) that were neitherinsane nor violent. The movie took the issue very seriously and looked atboth sides. Still pretty biased, but not unreasonably so.

2013-05-22 04:51:46

HBO Rocks

This HBO original movie premiered in 1996. It follows three women, Demi Moore in 1952, Sissy Spacek in 1974, and Anne Heche in 1996, who must decide whether to have an abortion. This movie was very touching and shows the strugles women go through, even when abortion is legal.

2013-05-22 00:33:34

A Powerful Take on a Continuing Controversy

This trilogy of stories is both powerful and thought provoking. The movie follows the stories of three women of different eras who are conflicted regarding their unplanned pregnancies. While fictional in form, in reality it reflects the changing views and policies toward abortion from the 1950's to the present era. The setting of all three segments is in a single house. This masterful production/directorial technique seems to be symbolic for an issue which has always been controversial to many. As the house becomes more and more dilapidated over each segment, we also see that the right to abortion is becoming a compoundingly fragile right that could be taken away at any time. Instead of gaining strength over time, the volatile issue is subject to the demands of the political party in command.The dynamics of the eras are reflected so realistically in each segment, that a viewer cannot help but to be actively drawn into the drama. The segments feature all-star casts including such heavy hitters as Demi Moore, Sissy Spacek, Cher, Anne Heche, and Jada Pinkett. Cher deserves special attention for both directing and acting in the excellent third segment. Rather than pro-choice, I think the video challenges us to think, "What if there were no choice?" This is recommended viewing for women and men alike, and this movie will stay in your thoughts for a long time to come.

2013-05-18 08:08:19

Wonderful

Very moving trilogy of shorts. Takes a women's view point on the difficulties of deciding on whether or not to have an abortion. As I am in my 30's and have always only been aware of a "Roe vs. Wade" world, the first short was shocking in what what women used to have to endure. While abortion is such a difficult issue and while I consider myself to be pro-choice, I also feel I can see and understand some of the pro-life arguments. The first short in this trilogy made me feel even more strongly that we must never totally outlaw abortion again. The cost would be to high in the end. Buy or rent this video and see what your thoughts are at it's conclusion. All three stories are excellent, moving, and thought-provoking in their own ways.

Old Joe 2013-05-17 12:47:34

Changing Times, intimate decisions, and the four walls that hold their secrets. There's one question only a woman can answer. This is the most powerful TV movie you will ever see.

I have a strong opinion on the issue being show in the 1996 TV movie, `IfThese Walls Could Talk', which is about abortion. This film presents theissue in 3 different generations and shows what the attitudes and dilemmasare when it comes to a woman choosing and/or having an abortion. Is abortionthe right choice for a woman who is pregnant? I am not so sure itis.Here is a film with three powerful, intimate stories of abortion and howtimes and freedoms have changed. A recently widowed nurse struggles to takecontrol of her life in the early '50s. A mother of four is overwhelmed bytrying to raise a family and maintain a career in the '70s. While a youngstudent makes a decision with the help of one woman that will change thecourse of both their lives in the '90s. These women, living in the samehouse at different times, share one thing in common, the decision they mustcome to on how to deal with an unplanned pregnancy. Have an abortion or keepthe child they have growing inside them alive? This film was very well directed by two women. The 1952 and 1974 segments ofthe story were directed by Nancy Savoca. I especially like the way that shegoes inside the lives of the people that we meet. Then directing the 1996story is Cher (who also stars in the film). Now considering what we seehappen in this part of the story, especially to Cher's character, the wayCher directed it was most skilful and praiseworthy. The stories that are presented in this film are very well balanced andwritten. Each story goes on in the same house over that time. Yet thefeelings towards the issue of abortion change from each generation. The 50'sit is frowned upon, the 70's it is more accepted, and by the 1990's, whileit is still protested, it is commonly practise by women.Each different story has a main character that it focuses on, with theirviews on abortion and how far they will or will not go being veryinteresting. What is also interesting are the different characters we meetin the stories, as they present a different view on how they feel aboutabortion, another good aspect to the story. The stories for this movie werewritten by Pamela & Earl Wallace and Nancy Savoca (1952), Susan Nanus andNancy Savoca (1974), with the final story by I. Marlene King (1996).Playing roles in this film must have been difficult for all the actressesinvolved. The 1952 story has a widow nurse, Claire Donnelly (played byexecutive producer Demi Moore) who we find out is pregnant, but do notunderstand the circumstances for how she got that way. The lengths that shegoes to fix her problems certainly are disturbing, with the finale to herstory very distressing. Then the 1974 story shows mother, Barbara Barrows (Sissy Spacek), with fourchildren, in a somewhat dysfunctional family. She is a college student andhas found out she is pregnant. We are shown that she is unsure of what shewants to do. She wants to continue with her studies, but also wants thechild. Her daughter Linda (Hedy Burress), is a girl who states to hermother, ‘do you think this baby would have a good life, if its motherresents it even being there?' saying that abortion is the only sensibleoption.Finally we have the 1996 story. Here we meet Christine Cullen (a very youngAnne Héche in a fine role), a girl who has had relationship with a collegeprofessor and is pregnant from that relationship. With Christine we see thatshe is torn apart by being pregnant and with the decision to have anabortion. She lives with Patti (Jada Pinkett Smith), a girl who stronglyopposes abortion, but considers other options as better for the child'slife. This part of the story also goes inside an abortion clinic. Here we meetmany caring people. Dr Beth Thompson (Cher) is the doctor who does theabortion procedure, while other carers make the time pass, as easy aspossible for the patient. Cher's part in the film is truly amazing to saythe least. The finale to the ‘1996' story haunted me the first time I sawit, and after recently seeing it a second time, had a similar effect. Ibelieve it is showing what a divided issue that abortion creates in thepublic arena, with the result of the actions of certain people not helpingto resolve the issue, but just making it worse. While it would be naïve of me to not accept that abortion is a legal optionfor a pregnant woman, married or unmarried in the western world, I am afraidI cannot agree with abortion, as someone is physical killing a human ‘life'.Men and women consent to having sex whenever they feel like they want it,but most do not consider the consequence of that action, which in most casesends up in a pregnancy, an unwanted one at that. By killing it, you give the‘life' created no choice in wanting to stay alive or not. I believe God isthe only one who has the right to abort a child.This film puts my life in perspective. I do not want to have sex outside ofwedlock, or have to go through the painful (and wrong decision in my view)of looking at abortion as a way of covering up any mistake. That is allabortion does. I also know that God would look down upon me for making thatdecision. ‘If These Walls Could Talk' might be a TV movie, but it is a filmthat we all can learn from. Please confront this most controversial ofissues in a great movie, just Iike I have. CMRS gives ‘If These Walls Could Talk': 4.5 (Very Good – BrilliantMovie)

2013-05-03 03:05:14

Overall, a pretty good movie

This review is from: If These Walls Could Talk (DVD) Normally I wouldn't have picked this video up and watched it. It was a requirement for a humanities class I was taking. I watched a few diffrent movies about abortion and I would say that this one was closer to the bottom of the list of favorites. I think my problem was that it moved through the stories too quickly. I did end up learning a little bit about abortion and how it can effect more than the woman having the abortion. Overall, I would say that it was a good movie.The DVD I received was in excellent condition and arrived quicker than quoted. Thanks for an excellent product!

2013-05-02 18:28:00

great hbo movie

This review is from: If These Walls Could Talk (DVD) I thought this movie was really good. I thought it was interesting how time would progress 20 years and women were still torn between the issues of abortion, even though legalized later was interesting. All of these women were conflicted in their decisions for ddifferent reasons.

2013-04-22 10:33:10

Compelling--For Both Women & Men

It does not matter whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, this film is excellent & compelling in so many directions. Pro-Choice followers will definitely identify with the power of the struggle to legalize abortion & the pain & sorrow of the times when it was not. My husband & I are Pro-Life followers, & we own this DVD because it is so important for any person that has a belief or conviction to not be naieve or blind to the opposite side. I applaud the directors in their ability to convey each aspect, & both sides of the abortion issue.

2013-04-21 22:41:35

Ouch

I had an abortion at 13 and now (at 23) I counsel women who suffer from Post Abortion Trauma. This movie tries to make abortion seem like it's not a negative thing, however the topic goes well beyond black and white. Don't count on this as your education regarding terminating a pregnancy. Instead volunteer at a clinic and watch the change which befalls women afterwards. The vacant look you see in their eyes will overpower you much more than Demi or Cher. I assure you.

ORLANDO DIAZ 2013-04-20 03:53:09

Thought provoking and terrifcally acted.

Demi Moore gives her strongest performance to date her(and serves as producer.) in this startling, scary, insightful and sad film about three generations of women in one house where the frame of the stories is abortion. Sissy Spacek story is touching as well, but the Cher one is the weakest of the three and has a violent conclusion. One should watch with an open mind, but see it for the great performances from all involved.

marco montalvan 2013-04-19 13:15:25

Just great

Just a great movie filled with great performances and a great direction by Cher amazig about a subject that is very delicated