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Cruel Intentions / Cruel Intentions 2 [VHS] [1999] starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Louise Fletcher

Publisher: 4 Front Video
Release date: 22nd July, 2002
Media: VHS Tape

Format

• PAL

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Editorial 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

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Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - great film

i really liked this film. i think the characters are very good and are played by good and suited actors/actresses. the film had a good storyline and was not too light or heavy. i enjoyed this film and was very surprised by the ending.

Rating: - A great performance from Sarah Michelle Gellar

Okay... so I'm a 16-year-old boy, and I only actually bought this movie because I'd heard of the scene where Sarah Michelle Gellar kisses another girl (incidentally, if you are, like me, a teenage pervert, I can assure you that that scene alone is worth your money for this movie!). But I actually found myself getting caught up in the story.
I'd only seen Sarah Michelle Gellar before in 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', where she played the perfect hero, who didn't smoke, drink or swear at all. So it was a surprise for me to see that her character was a manipulative, coke-snorting nymphomaniac who swore like a sailor. However, she made it work, and she proved that she CAN play a baddie.
Reese Witherspoon. I first heard of her when she made 'Legally Blonde', and automatically dismissed her as a bimbo with no acting ability. Then I saw her Oscar-winning performance in 'Walk The Line', and changed my mind about her. Well, she gives another great performance in this movie, and once again, proves that she's a talented actress.
All in all, it's a good movie. It's definitely not a classic, but, it does what it says on the tin - it's a teen movie with plenty of sex and naughty words.

Rating: - Great movie!!!!!!!

This is definatley my favourite film ever!! Sarah Michelle Gellar is by far my favourite actress ever and this film is hilarious and exciting. It has everything a good movie should have!!!!

Rating: - The Worst Film ever...in 1999

I couldn't leave early as I was away at the very end of a row and would have to disturb everyone. This film summed up the reason that everyone over the age of 21 hate adolescents. John Malcovich and Glenn Close would be turning in their graves if they were dead. I still feel sick nearly 10 years later thinkin about how corny this film was. It's very lucky for this film that they made Miami Vice to knock it off of the bottom spot.

Rating: - Cruel and intelligent teenage drama

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

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