Cruel Intentions (1999)

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, this intermittently successful sudser 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's 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

yummy melodramatic adolescent goodness

I was 14 years old when Cruel Intentions came out, and to my middle-school sensibilities it was absolutely the sexiest, most dramatic, decadent movie I could imagine. Of course now, I can see it for what it is, but I don't really enjoy it any less. Cruel Intentions updates the story of Dangerous Liaisons into a modern Manhattan prep school, and the story translates remarkably well. The youthful cast acquit themselves remarkably well, hitting just the right notes of entitlement and self-doubt. The story is melodramatic, but sharply written, not too long and with just enough mocking self-awareness to keep from being to ridiculousely serious. Cruel Intentions is a teen movie that teeters on the edge of eroticism (i.e. a remarkably chaste lesbian kiss), allowing its target audience to emulate the characters in the way that matters most; by allowing them to play at being grown-ups, while never losing sight of their true immaturity and inexperience. August 29, 2008

umd movie

i was very pleased with the quick delivery and the condition of the merchandise. August 8, 2008

A Favorite From My Teen Years

"Cruel Intentions" fascinated me as a teenager. It was the first time I saw such a sexualized yet still passionately romantic story with such moral ambiguity on film. It was also the first time I saw a story of redemption aimed at my age group, and found myself really sympathizing with Sebastian's character. And even then, I recognized that the soundtrack was fantastic.

However, now looking at this movie as an adult with vastly more film-watching experience, I can't help but think I gave the movie a bit more credit than it deserved. Stylistically it's still stunning, but the writing and acting wasn't as good as I remembered. Many of the scenes from the beginning, all the way to the middle, of the movie fall flat. The infamous Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blaire kissing scene really feels contrived and gratuitous, and a lot of it just doesn't feel like it flows naturally. For the most part, Selma Blaire gives a really weak performance, but that is likely as much a fault of the script as it is her acting.

At this point, in watching the movie, I was scared that I was about to realize that one of my favorite movies from my teen years, in reality, sucks. However, something happened about half way through. The writing caught its stride, the story blossomed and, driven by the beautiful soundtrack, the main character of Sebastian goes through huge character moments that really, really worked well. And the climax and ending scene of the movie simply couldn't be better. Is it as good as I remembered? Certainly not. But it also really is still a strong movie that had a bit of an unbalanced and weak beginning through middle. The second half of the movie and the soundtrack (which is literally the best use of music I've seen in a film) totally make up for that. It's no longer one of my favorites, but I'd still watch it again.

7/10 July 6, 2008

Impressive! Feels like Gossip Girl the Movie.

I didn't expect much from this film. I just picked it out of curiosity, and to my surprise, I enjoyed this movie. It was better than I thought. I felt watching a movie version of Gossip Girl. I am always fascinated by high society, and with all that power, how it can affect one's life.

The movie does have subtle message, but for me, it was jut about learning the art of seduction. :)

Pretty cool. May 24, 2008

Cruel Intentions

Returned the product unopened. Did not care about seeing the blu ray version. I heard from other viewers that the blu ray version has no picture quality improvement.

RR March 18, 2008

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