Rating: 
Summary: You have to see the unrated editon!
Review: I have to admit, the unrated edition helped me understand the movie better. I wonder sometimes why they edit-out key scenes that are vital to the whole story. Well, this is the way it should have come out and I am glad it finally did!
Rating:
Summary: VERY EXCITING MOVIE
Review: I thought this was a really good movie. The woman was very beautiul. I got excited watching her.I felt sorry for the man though.
Rating:
Summary: The Worst Packaging Design of the Year
Review: Just picked up the "Unrated" version today (09-18-2001). The movie transfer looked and sounded excellent with plenty of supplemental information and commentaries.However, the packaging design left me wondering what the designer was thinking about. First of all, it is impossible to open the plastic box with the hinges not moving at all. I am sure many people today broke the "stupid" box at the hinges that houses the DVD. At first I tried to open it the normal way with no avil. Then I carefully separate the box into two parts by unhinging it. Now I have the box in two different parts. The second bad design about the packaging is that the DVD doesn't stay in the retainer on the first part (top) of the box. The retainer is just not tight enough to hold the DVD securely. When I tried to place the DVD back in the box, it just keep falling off the retainer that supposedly holds the DVD in place. It is unfortunate that we (the consumer) need to shell out additional money to buy a replacement DVD case. Otherwise, this DVD is highly recommended. The bottom line is that I give the movie contents five stars (* * * * *) and the packaging one star (*).
Rating: 
Summary: Stellar performances, but lacks intensity.
Review: I'll get over the formalities and cut right to the chase: "Basic Instinct" has some great acting by a wonderful cast, and a conceivably good story, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven, who is well-known for his use of style over substance, the mystery and psychological inklings fall increasingly short of suspenseful, leading us up to twist after twist, some of which work, others that founder. His sense of direction is in the right place, but the way in which he takes us where he wants us to go is surprisingly joyless, and without intensity. The film begins, fittingly enough, with a sex scene, in which a former rock star, who is now a prestigious community member in San Francisco, is murdered with an ice pick after intercourse by an unseen blonde woman. This brings detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) to the attention of the sultry author Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), who was last seen with the murder victim. It also doesn't help that the murder is an exact reenactment of a similar event in one of her novels. At first, Curran seems turned off by Tramell's forthrightness in her testimony of her relationship with the victim, and is certain that a lie detector test that proves her innocent is wrong. But as he begins to dig his nails into clues, he also finds himself mesmerized by her, and by the danger he feels in playing head games with her as she does with him. His life begins to take a nose dive: he begins smoking and drinking again, and becomes so infatuated with Tramell that he becomes even more determined to prove her innocent. So does all of this really work? Some elements do, such as the wonderful acting and sometimes witty dialogue exchanges, but others, such as ambiguous clues and lurid sex scenes, do not. The movie is worth it to see the terrific talents of its cast, but take them out of the equation, and what you have is a skin flick spiced up with a Hollywood makeover. The movie's two main stars are its central attractions, featuring some very effective work from Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, who play their parts with a wicked wit and devilish fun. Douglas embodies the obsession in his character like a pro, using emotion and body language to confirm Curran's descent into infatuation. Stone steals the show, not only with her provocative figure shots, but with the excellent wit she employs in her dialogue. Exchanges between the two characters are impressive, if not eerie. The murder mystery is intriguing, for the most part. It keeps us waiting until the ending, to let us know the final answer that will solve everything we've been suspecting. Each clue left to us by the story has two different paths, one that points to another possible suspect as the killer, and one that points to the until-now prime suspect Tramell. The final shot answers this question, but lessens the effect of the picture as a whole because we come to realize just how much the movie toys with us, leading us to believe one thing, and then betraying the trust we have put into Tramell. The movie serves little other purpose other than to show off director Verhoeven's virtuoso style as he invites us on a very lurid trip into obsession. He fills the canvas with over-the-top sex scenes, which do little to enhance the effect of the film. There are scenes that work nicely, such as the interrogation scene, in which Tramell coolly shifts in her chair giving the detectives a clean view of her mid-section; the shock on their faces is priceless. But the movie also contains its fair share of gratuitous sex, which comes close to crossing the boundaries of soft and hard-core erotica. This is more of a turn-off, and may even provoke snickers rather than a serious approach. In summation, "Basic Instinct" has all the good parts of a thriller, but the bad parts outweigh them heavily. The acting is stellar, while the central plot is full of mystery. Too bad that Verhoeven trades in a good deal for cheap pornography and an ending that revokes everything we've been lead to believe from the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: Provocative, deadly, and lovely Ms. Stone!
Review: The movie was very fast-paced and provocative! One of the reasons I watched it was because of Sharon Stone giving her greatist if not deadly & sexually inticing performance as a novelist with a sexual urge that entraps Michael Douglas! A truly beautiful if not dangerous movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Sharon Stone is Beautiful
Review: A perfect face, perfect body and a perfect crotch. The movie did keep me engaged although the dialog is mostly insipid. Reminded me a lot of commercial copy writing. I found that the movie meandered a lot - like TV serials - with a suspect, then a new villain and then again the old villain. Someone had said that the Director's Cut made it clear what was going on. If you need the Director's Cut to understand the plot, then the movie is a failure. Looking back, the only reason I'd watch this movie again is for Sharon Stone's perfect body. I'd keep the sound muted the next time and have the remote handy for fast forwarding thru.
Rating: 
Summary: Underrated
Review: Yes it is famous for the sex. But really, Paul Verhoeven has created an excellent modern Hitchcock yarn. Cheesy at times and overdone at others nevertheless Verhoeven and his cameraman Jan de Bont have done really great things. Steady cam work is brilliant and the dance club scene pulses with more energy and sexuality than any of the nudity crammed scenes in the film. Overlook the surface and you'll find a layered film made with great skill.
Rating:
Summary: uhhh..
Review: i cant belive how many people are puzzled as to who the murderer is. the film is a study of catherine tremells vengence on jean triplehorns character... as verhoven explains at the end of the directors cut, tremell was probobly rejected at college by jean triplehorn.. and manipulating michael douglas to kill her is her ultimate revenge...
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: I don't understand the people who claim they still haven't figured out who the killer in this film. This is no puzzle-the closing scene answered all questions. This film is the true meaning of masterpiece. A brilliant sociopath acts out another pre-planned murder spree-but wait-she finds her match of the moment and enjoys his companionship for the time being. That's what made the film most fascinating. One woman-clearly mad finds this detective who although seemingly normal has at one point in his past been just as mad as she is. They are meant for each other...but she has to be the victor so most likely will kill him. I'm so glad I saw this on the big screen-1 of only a handful of times I've gone to the movies. The writing, the setting, the dialog - all wonderful. Of course Sharon made this film. A true movie star.
Rating:
Summary: Campy over the top mood piece
Review: Sharon Stone (besides Susan Sarandon,Jodie Foster,and Angelina Jolie)creates female characters that actually enjoy sex which is a miracle in film today.Sex in the cinema for the most part is passionless mechanics.Stone is like an electrified Bette Davis,both guts and beauty.I like how the film explores the darker side of sexual attraction but never loses its ridiculousness.
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