TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Cruel Intentions / Cruel Intentions 2 [1999]


RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £1.94 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

This modern-day teen update of Les Liaisons Dangereuses suffered at the hands of both critics and moviegoers thanks to its sumptuous ad campaign, which hyped the film as an arch, highly sexual, faux-serious drama (not unlike the successful, Oscar-nominated Dangerous Liaisons). In fact, Cruel Intentions plays like high comedy for its first two-thirds, as its two evil heroes, rich stepsiblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), blithely ruin lives and reputations with hearts as black as coal.

Kathryn wants revenge on a boyfriend who dumped her, so she befriends his new intended, the gawky Cecile (Selma Blair), and gets Sebastian to deflower the innocent virgin. The meat of the game, though, lies in Sebastian's seduction of good girl Annette (a down-to-earth Reese Witherspoon), who has written a nationally published essay entitled "Why I Choose to Wait." If he fails, Kathryn gets his precious vintage convertible; if he wins, he gets Kathryn--in the sack.

When the movie sticks to the merry ruination of Kathryn and Sebastian's pawns, it's highly enjoyable: Gellar in particular is a two-faced manipulator extraordinaire, and Phillippe, usually a black hole, manages some fun as a hipster Eurotrash stud. Most pleasantly surprising of all is Witherspoon, who puts a remarkably self-assured spin on a character usually considered vulnerable and tortured (see Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons). Unfortunately, writer-director Roger Kumble undermines everything he's built up with a false ending that's true to neither the reconceived characters nor the original story--revenge is a dish best served cold, not cooked up with unnecessary plot twists. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com


Cruel and intelligent teenage drama
Review date: 2008-08-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) stars as Kathryn, a manipulative woman who places a bet with her step brother Sebastian that he can't get the principal's stepdaughter Annette into bed.

Based on Choderlos de Laclos' novel, Cruel Intentions brings a dark and sexy tale of lies, manipulation and romance to our screens in a dramatic and diverse way, with superb acting and excellent direction and acting.

The lead three actors, Gellar, Phillippe (Flags of our fathers) and Witherspoon (Walk the line) are all tremendous in their respective roles and do the plot justice by giving sexy and sophisticated performances in one of the sexiest dramas of the 90's.

The plot is very character driven, which was helped along by these great performances. Focusing strongly upon ideologies of love, sex and trust, Cruel Intentions breaks the barrier of conventional teenage films by being serious with strong issues rather than slapstick with no point.

Very consistent and sophisticated is the narrative, and these issues give a little side story and advice to teenager viewers about the do's and don'ts in relationships. This film has convinced me to give the novel a try.

Ryan Phillippe is the star of the show with a very dramatic and calm performance as the lover boy, very sarcastic and smart in his approach to dealing with the opposite sex.

Gellar's performance is remarkable, an intelligent portrayal of Kathryn.
The whole concept of sex is staring at you in the face for the majority of the film, with controversy also showing, making the film a thought provoking film that is an essential watch, and one of the finest acted teenage films of recent years.

9/10

Similar Products

Reviews


overall this is a three star film with a four star ending
Review date: 2008-07-14 Rating: 6 out of 10

The humour isn't laugh-out-loud and the dialogue is nothing special but the story builds up in such a way that you want to keep watching if only in the hope that you will see something bad happen to Sarah Michelle Gellar's character.I've never seen her in Buffy The Vampire Slayer but I think she could slay vampires based on this performance.Reese Witherspoon is great as miss goody-two-shoes who gets pushed to the point where her shoes are likely to end up in someone's behind.Overall a three star film with a four star ending.


Cruel deception
Review date: 2008-06-01 Rating: 6 out of 10

Before anyone thinks I'm against this film or its actors, I'm not. This is a
good film and the actors do a pretty good job with the script they have been
given. First of all its script isn't original, Ok it may have been varied a
little but basically its a remake of "Dangerous Liaisons" which starred Glen
Close, John Malkovich etc.. The original for me anyway was far superior in
its intensity and sometimes very emotionally moving scenes. Also the original
was set in the 18th century which for me anyway added something a little
special to it. "Cruel Intentions" like "Dangerous Liaisons" is a film about
two people who meddle with love which produces dire consequences for the
people involved. It also shows how love can take over the emotions and well
being of even the most cruel and hard individual reducing them powerless
to the emotions they are experiencing. Both films have everything you could
want in a film, intrigue, deception, cruelty, wit and love and overall you'll
be glad you watched it, definitely worth a watch but if you saw the original,
you may not give it the rating others have given it.


Classic, Bold, Witty!
Review date: 2008-05-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film is a modern classic; I've never met anyone who hasn't loved this film from start to finish. Despite being set in Manhattan's Upper East Side, you really do feel like your with the characters, as they're living out this wickedly dirty, quite disturbing story. If you don't have this dvd you really really must buy it, for < £4 you really won't regret it.

Classic 1990s teen movie
Review date: 2008-02-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film is a classic and in many ways is the film that made Reese Witherspoon. The film follows the story of how Ryan Phillipe, her later off screen husband, pursues her and deflowers her. This is not due to love as she believed, but due to a bet he has with Gellar. If he can seduce "true love waits" figure Witherspoon, he gets a car. When Witherspoon finds out, he instantly realises the folly of his ways and attempts to reconcile with her in a particularly jarring ending.

The film's strength is in the exceptionally strong lead roles, with Phillipe, Gellar and Witherspoon putting in flawless portrayals. The film also has an excellent sound track, which will take anyone who is a child of the 1990s back into teen nostalgia. Even people who (gasp) don't remember the 90s will still find this film enjoyable, such as today's older teenagers, as the themes covered are relatively timeless.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Louise Fletcher
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Selma Blair
Ryan Phillippe
Reese Witherspoon

Creators:
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Primary Contributor)
Ryan Phillippe (Primary Contributor)
Roger Kumble (Writer)
Bruce Mellon (Producer)
Christopher Ball (Producer)
Heather Zeegen (Producer)
Michael Fottrell (Producer)
Neal H. Moritz (Producer)
Choderlos de Laclos (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: 4 Front Video
Manufacturer: 4 Front Video
EAN: 3259190693234
Binding: VHS Tape
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-07-22
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 176 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-03-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: Vietnamese (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional