Rating: 
Summary: Dark schemes and lost love - what more could a girl ask for?
Review: The reason I liked this movie the most was that it was so refreshing. Although it does feature 'true love' it isn't half as mushy as some teen videos, and Kathryn's viciousness is brilliant - at last, someone who isn't nice! I also really enjoyed trying to work out what was going to happen next and I thought the dialogue was great (I don't think it sounded too mature and, hey, I'm a teenager myself!) I admit the ending is a bit soppy (though not half as bad as some I've seen) but at the time I found it really good. I think it's a bit unfair to attack the movie because the bad guy (or girl in this case) gets her comeuppance because if she hadn't, we'd all have felt cheated (I was cheering at the end!) I thought it was a really great film, though I guess not for little kids due to rude words, sex, etc...
Rating:
Summary: Wickedly Delicious Retelling of a Classic Tales
Review: A wicked, yet devishly delicious retelling of the classic French novel, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," "Cruel Intentions," starts an all young cast, a modern setting, and revenge only as a bunch of well-to-do kids can contrive. Sebastian Valmont (Philippe) wages a bet with his stepsister Katherine (Gellar) that he can deflower the newest girl at their prep school, Annette, (Witherspoon). If he loses, Katherine gets to keep his car. If he wins, Valmont gets to have Gellar, the object of his lust.In his pursuit to win, Sebastian teams up with a very effeminate friend (Joshua Jackson) who helps him blackmail a footbal player hiding in the closet to find out who is badmouthing him to Annette. Mix in Katherine's determination to get even with her ex-boyfriend by ruining the reputation of his new, yet naive girlfriend Cecille (Zelma Blair) by getting her involved with her African-American violin teacher, and you have the recipe for revenge ala Upper East Side, Manhattan. While the film's dealings with such themes as lesbianism, homsexuality, drug use, and racial dating make this a film for mature teenagers and/or young adults, the film nonetheless was one of the best films of 1999 in my opinion. The DVD version, which also contains the original theatrical trailer, associated music videos, and deleted scenes are an added bonus. The ending where Annette gets her revenge is a classic. Keep an eye out for Swoozie Kurtz as Sebastian's therapist, and Tara Reed ("American Pie") as her daughter and the first victim of Sebastian's headgames. Christine Baranski is simply wonderful as Cecille's overprotective mother, and both Philippe and Witherspoon are so convincing as lovers, that their relationship continued even after filming was complete (they're now married and have a young daughter). Whether you rent or buy this film, "Cruel Intentions," will provide you a with a wickedly enteratining drama that stars some of today's up and coming actors.
Rating: 
Summary: Sleazy Intentions; Horrid Result
Review: Hailed as the modern day version of "Dangerous Liaisons", "Cruel Intentions" failed miserably with audiences and critics alike for the hopes of a sleek, sensual update of the classic original. This was merely another teen movie, the only difference being that there are gratuitous sexual references and racy stunts by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair in their infamous screen kiss, tongues and all. Yes, Ms. Buffy herself is quite a promiscuous deviate as Kathryn Merteuil (think Marquise de Merteuil, played by Glenn Close in the stunning original) in this movie, licking her cocaine spoon and gambling with her high-standing reputation as an irrefutably sound and urbane young lady. Then there's Ryan Phillippe as the lead male, Sebastian Valmont (John Malkovich's role as the self-absorbed Vicomte de Valmont), made immediate family of Kathryn by their parents' marriage. He is a blue-blooded spoiled brat who effortlessly takes advantage of younger impressionable girls and flicks them to the curb with nary a regret. He is a charming cad, charting his territory carefully and fooling everyone with his innocuous and well-mannered guise. Kathryn's and Sebastian's relationship with each other is not quite close to platonic, being that their slight sexual attraction to one another gives the audience the willies. However, they soon make a deal, show their civility in a firm handshake and begin to conspire like brother and sister. This is where the premise of the story begins and it starts with the souring of a doe-eyed ingenue named Cecile Caldwell (de Volanges - Uma Thurman's naive portrayal), played by underground talent Selma Blair. Cecile is a gullible youngster whom Sebastian easily seduces and drags on his invisible chain of habitual deception, only to lose his prospect to another indecent and illusory connoisseur. Sebastian's truly immoral prowess doesn't surface until Kathryn picks his seemingly unobtainable goal: a young virgin named Annette Hargrove (the equivalent to Michelle Pfeiffer's Madame de Tourvel). A firm believer in abstinence before marriage with a nationally published essay to prove it, Annette arrives in town visiting relatives and rooming in their lush mansion whilst Sebastian prowls her chambers, working his black magic to rob her of her only virtue. She proves at first to be resilient and opposing to his magnetic appeal, but like all silly girls, eventually falls prey to his false pretenses. In obtaining the trophy of the contest, Sebastian realizes he's not going for the gold anymore but honestly loving Annette instead. In the end, his pride overwhelms his desire to confess his true feelings. Not only does he suffer the agony of defeat, but ultimately he loses what matters most. The only thing I find redeeming about this movie is its hip soundtrack, featuring artists like Blur, Counting Crows, The Verve, and Skunk Anansie. It blends a great deal of talented artists in the alternative genre, giving this immature film a cool, stylish flow. I also enjoyed watching Joshua Jackson ham it up as the flaming gay acquaintance Blaine Tuttle, prodding a macho, closet-gay boyfriend who insists to his college buddies that he's straight as an ironing board. Well, a straight stick is crooked in the water, and so is the vision for this film on all sides of the mirror, especially in the department of direction. Roger Kumble was obviously masterminding with a pre-pubescent slant when he cast this film because both female leads are nearly adolescent in their appearance, highly attractive and visibly well-endowed. There is also no realism involved in any action of this movie and it's highly suggestive of what he thinks teens crave for an ultimate fantasy lifestyle. Sure, I wouldn't mind owning a '56 Jaguar Roadster, but this film is unrealistic in the way it makes its characters seem superhuman and overly mature. Nobody that age acts like that and never will. It's just not palpable. If you want an honest and true version of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with class and sensibility, then opt for Malkovich, Pfeiffer and Close. You definetely won't be smirking when you watch some real adult actors work the camera.
Rating:
Summary: Guilty pleasure....disgracefully so...and I loved it
Review: I was 31 last summer when this came out and my 19-year-old assistant dragged me out to see it. I was a big fan of the original play and the film versions ("Dangerous Liasons" and "Valmont") and the idea of a "teenaged" version just made me annoyed. I had NO DESIRE to see this. Personally, I loathe Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Philippe and thought I would hate every second. HOW WRONG I WAS! This was a phenomenally produced, well-directed, exceptionally well-written, faithfully adapted contemporarization, and I adored every second. I went back to see it again, and must have seen it on HBO a dozen more times. Not to mention the kicking soundtrack. I just ordered it...it was fantastic. The "Bittersweet Symphony" cover at the end was just genius. Yes, kids, Verve did not write that song... And how hot was that scene with Selma Blair and Gellar in the park? I still think Gellar and Philippe can't act to save their lives, but she is a hoot in this piece and he has nothing really difficult to do so I found them both less annoying then usual. This ranks up there with "Wild Things" as the Movie Most Likely to Amaze You With Its Evil Coolness.
Rating: 
Summary: impressive but unsatisfying
Review: For exactly two-thirds of its 97 minute running time, "Cruel Intentions" scores as a nasty-minded, wryly satiric and even mildly courageous teen update of "Dangerous Liaisons." But, like so many movies with one eye cocked towards the boxoffice, "Cruel Intentions" loses its nerve and settles ultimately for comfortable, safe and hopelessly dull conventionality. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar portray a wicked pair of step siblings who operate together to prey sexually upon unsuspecting victims, manipulating others to achieve their goals of personal conquest and revenge. It's refreshing to encounter protagonists who make no excuses for their amorality and instead allow themselves to be completely guided by their own self-serving impulses, totally unmindful of the consequences to others. Their schemes are acted out with a callous gleefulness and self-absorbed relish that raise the film to a level of surprisingly sophisticated satire and audacity. But, when Sebastian encounters his ultimate challenge - a midwestern virgin played by Reese Witherspoon, who has publicly declared in a magazine her decision to wait for true love before offering herself to a man - he falls under her charms and suddenly transforms from coldhearted predator to mushheaded romantic. This is the major problem with the film. Sebastian is valid and interesting as a character as long as he stays within the realm of sly manipulator and acerbic scoundrel. When he is called upon to function as a dashing romantic figure, he loses both credibility and uniqueness - and the film itself goes into a freefall tailspin. For as Sebastian undergoes his sudden conversion, all the sharply satiric wit simply drains out of the film. We're ultimately left with little more than unconvincing melodrama, inappropriately tragic overtures and a silly evildoers-do-not-prosper resolution. What a pity to see yet another in a long line of movies that start out with bright promise, but which finally end up renaging on their initial courageousness, leaving the audience in perpetual frustration.
Rating:
Summary: BiG
Review: This movie is the best teen movie that I ever see. first It has everything that we want to see them in our life beutiful girls beautiful screenshots and clever script that makes people to stay it doesnt like a film that u go and when you come back u find everything same u have to watch it to understand the other occations I watch this movie for 21 times and I keep watching.Its a must bought video...
Rating:
Summary: UnCruel Review
Review: Cruel Intententions isn't jus a movie about Sex and Drugs. It's about love, passion and death. Although not appropriate for younger veiwers, in my opinion it should have been rated PG-13.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Darn Good
Review: I liked this movie, however, it is a bit confusing and hard to follow. Also, since it has been called a "teen flick" some of the lines were a bit unrealistic for teenagers to be saying. Especially in the pool scene. I know that some people say the end (with the car, i wont say more and ruin it...) is cheap, but personally i love it when Catherine is "torn apart" by her felow classmates! I think that a broad spectrum of people would enjoy this movie!
Rating:
Summary: It's a bittersweet symphony I'll listen to again
Review: For all those teens who have wanted to see it, beware. If a female kissing a female repulses you, the fast forward button is probably your friend (although most teenage guys won't find ANYTHING wrong with some lady-lady action). For all those adults with the raised eyebrows, okay you have reason. But there's more to this movie than just the sex premise it suggests. What's behind all that is a great lesson. Although most people don't see it at first, at the core this movie is showing us that being evil and taking advantage of people isn't going to get you anywhere. The premise is that a spoiled little rich kid (played by Ryan Phillippee? I don't think I spelled that right) makes a bet with his beautiful and downright evil stepsister addicted to coke (played by a convincing Sarah Michelle Gellar, with red hair no less). If he can't deflower proud virgin Annette Hargrove (played by Reese Witherspoon in her most suprising and well acted role), the headmaster's new daughter, she gets his car. If he can, he gets her, in bed. There's more to this twisted and twisting story, but that's the story at the core. Of course all the other parts play important roles in this, but I won't give that away. Forget the critics for a moment. There's some pretty good acting for a movie dubbed for 'only teens'. And the story was very well written. Maybe it shouldn't have toted itself as a teen 'Dangerous Liasons' and it wouldn't have gotten half the critisism. Since most teens haven't seen 'Liasons', then this movie should be a good rent. So for all those who have wanted to see it, rent it. At least then you'll get to decide if you like it or not. But I enjoy watching it, not only because of the good acting, and great plot twists, but because it teaches a good lesson. Even though it tries to cover it up.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!
Review: This movie is great for teenagers and is also great for adults to. You have to see this movie to figure it out for yourself!
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