Also - would she be able to pull something like this off if Douglas' character was an ex special services veteran, a black belt expert in martial arts and a world class champion in boxing and heavy lifting so much that he could probably strangle her with one arm or just effectively enough manage to get away from her before it escalated into what it did, and she probably KNEW it in advance?
Then again. In the Japanese movie "Gonin" (1995) some amateur crims managed to rob top Yakuza without thinking of consequences and succeeded for a bit but suffered afterwards.
And in "Hard to Kill" (1990). Steven Seagal's character, who IS a capable martial arts expert and top shooter cop, capable of taking 20 tough guys in gun battles and ten easily in hand to hand combat, not only failed to save his wife from getting killed but was even sexually harassed for a bit by Kelly LeBrock's nurse character - although there he was in a coma.
So - who knows, maybe it WILL be possible and could happen.
Hell, in the movie "Thursday" (1998) Thomas Jane's character was a tough guy able to take care of himself and kill bad guys in tough situations but that lady Dallas still managed to rape him and he couldn't do anything about it.
So, yeah, it can happen to tough guys too.
The greatest trick the Devil has ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist!

Remember how in "Fatal Attraction" (1987) he later came and confronted Glenn Close's character only after a series of stalkings and harassments made towards him by her and nearly chokes her to death? I'd say it took a lot of guts and being a little pushed over the edge to do that.
Here, I'm guessing he wasn't quite at that stage yet.
But could it also be that at first, he didn't really mind it but only later changed his mind but felt powerless in the overall picture?

Considering how aggressive she was, and even openly admitted it during one of the hearing sessions, I think a taser might have been his only hope. lol

Another interesting question to you all: is our (human) attitude towards sex natural or nurtured? Besides of course the obvious physical and emotional harm that, let's say, a rape causes that makes us humans against rape both in a legal and a moral manner, what is it in us that tells us that sexual harassment is wrong, or even touching us in "inappropriate places" without permission is a "serious offense"?
And what if some people did NOT find that wrong/damaging/hurtful/offensive etc, where would we be?
Seriously, WHY DO we, as human beings, have SO many laws and restrictions placed on sex, and how come when people consent to it, it can be a wonderful thing, but if someone does it to someone without their permission, it is like the worst thing ever?
I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I'm just trying to understand how our attitudes and morals towards sex have evolved throughout evolution and history?
Also - are "some" sex offenses, in your opinion, more serious than others, or do you put all eggs of this type into one basket? Like, should some people, perhaps, face shorter or longer sentences for some sexual offenses than for others?
And while all this is being debates, how would you punish someone like Demi Moore's character in this movie, like, how many years of prison sentence would you give her for harassing Michael Douglas?
And if nothing works out, would you be happy to exact or if someone exacted a violent revenge on her?
Just curious!

I have recently been on the following website, where one particular user made a thread entitled "Sex is a double edged sword" and then went on to talk about the same things I've been saying here.
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/families-of-sex-offenders/discussi ons/messages/14877740
Have to say, I was disappointed by how LITTLE replies he got!

Wow! I would quote you but I don't know where to begin.
Suffice it to say that at some point some men, somewhere, sat down and decided what was acceptable and what was not. Thereafter, over many generations (and iterations) this acceptable/unacceptable behavior was reinforced in society and crept ultimately into our laws.
Being products of our society, we mostly develop a hive-like mentality, wanting "to belong" rather than being odd, existing on the perimeter or shunned.
This holds true until at some point we reach "critical mass" and individuals began to rebel against "the norm" and experiment with being different. Those who are different inspire others and eventually create smaller hives of their own.
Some, if not most of these experiments fail, but occasionally one here or two there may take root and become successful enough, that they challenge our perception of what was previously understood to be acceptable.
These changes do not occur over a lifetime.
They happen over dozens of lifetimes and by shudders and jerks of advancement, not by leaps and bounds.
The change is therefore nearly imperceptible. Shadowy goings-on, gradually come into the light and much later merely go unnoticed.
Maybe the most severe damage of all is caused by the repression of what is basically, human nature. In the same sense that water is the most damaging force on the planet.
Where'd I leave my milk and cookies?
"If people like you don't learn from what happened to people like me" -Professor Rohl

Also, I heard that, apart from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies even if all "sexual safety precaution methods" are taken into account, even consensual sex can actually cause some kind of mental damage to some people, yet another weird thing about sex and how two-sided it is!

Have you ever wondered WHY, BESIDES the law, the human emotions and the serious views of society,
sex
, as in, sexual intercourse, is SO incredibly two-sided, meaning that under the right circumstances it can cause great pleasure and happiness, and also be extremely beneficial, but under others, it could cause lifelong suffering, get us into serious trouble, make us hate the world and ourselves and even be seen as bad, if not worse, than death under several circumstances?
Seriously, why IS sex, in our life, and in our species, THIS two-sided, what has made it that way?
And with that in mind, again - BESIDES the law and the morality for it (which, let's face it, wasn't it at least PARTIALLY invented by humans as opposed to existing naturally? And isn't it also a surprise then that, for example, different parts of the world have different laws related to sex - ie age of consent laws just to give one example), does it not SURPRISE anyone how sex can be, as in this movie also, used as a tool of power, manipulation and control, as opposed to love, fun, pleasure, benefits, beauty etc etc etc!
OF COURSE
the fact that I address such question does NOT mean that I, in any way, shape or form "disagree with it", I actually, I think for about 70% understand where humans with all of this are coming from. But sometimes, I feel like I need a bit of extra knowledge for self-empowerment!

You have a good point there and I generally agree with it.
Still, if I was in Michael Douglas' shoes, I would at least try and make a fast runner for it.
Also - I found it interesting by the way, how so many people, here and there, in reviews and on message boards, have argued as to why Mr Douglas would even object such a proposition by the gorgeous Moore and not just go along with the flow and enjoy himself - even though, apart from the fact that it is obvious that a man cannot really enjoy sex under this type of morally uncomfortable position, not to mention that he is MARRIED and with children (imagine him losing his wife in such a particular case scenario), but it is also the fact that she set up this scenario in particular in order to get him into trouble, as opposed to "just wanting sex"!

by
Zombie55
Fri Sep 6 2013 14:50:44
IMDb member since November 2004
Considering how much he did NOT want it, and even almost had his life and career damaged because of it, why couldn't Michael Douglas' character just push her away and yell violently "Get away from me" at her and then make a run as soon as she started to, well, sexually harass him, for a lack of better term?
I'm aware there wouldn't be a movie, then, of course, but still. If he just pushed her away, yelled at her and then run away, he wouldn't be a victim of that situation, now would he?
The intent was to cause the viewer to witness sexual harassment from an opposing point of view.
That is, a male being propositioned, coerced, groped and assaulted against his will, by an aggressive female employer who could make or destroy any future he had with this or possibly any other company in his field of expertise.
A great topic for enthusiastic discussion during dinner and drinks after the movie.
Your point is similar to the opinion some have regarding professional females when put in the same adversarial sexually-compromising position. Why didn't they just say No, or make a scene?
"If people like you don't learn from what happened to people like me" -Professor Rohl

Yes, of course I meant it if he pushed her away EARLIER.

why couldn't Michael Douglas' character just push her away
Well in the end he did and Meredith ends up on the floor whilst he zips himself back up and exits the office.
I guess you're suggesting he should have done it earlier and if he were a saint he probably may have.

Remember Haddaway's song "What Is Love"? The one that goes "What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more". Having watched this film and thought a lot about this scene, I was thinking to myself, maybe if I was in Michael Douglas' shoes and I did NOT want Demi Moore "harassing" me like that, I could also parody Haddaway's song with lyrics like "What is sex? Baby don't beep me, don't beep me. Not now!"
Wouldn't that be fun? (The parody)!

This may all be true. But if I were Michael Douglas and Demi Moore tried to harass me sexually like that, at work, and I did NOT want it, I would've pushed her away at best and then shouted "Stop" in a loud, serious, angry masculine voice and this predicament as such would not happen to me the way it did.
Heck, if necessary, I could even say and explain later on, that it was for her OWN good as well as it was for mine, maybe even philosophize (if only in my mind) along the lines of how business and (unwanted) sexual activities do not mix, or even how sex works and why it is OK under some circumstances and not OK under others etc.
I'd be killing two birds with one stone. It won't even MATTER to me whether her intention was simply a matter of a major urge or a desire to have sex with me (when I don't want it) or if it was all about "power" or whatever. If I really didn't want to do it with her, I would just push her away and yell. That would teach her!

I don't remember if this is in the movie or not, but in the book Sanders mentions how Meredith was seriously fit and could kick his ass.
Ghost dancers slay together and youre just in my grave

because he's not gay, and she's not golda meir.