Rating: 
Summary: THE DANGER OF A LITTLE BEAUTY IS...
Review: ...That beauty is sometimes all you get.
Where is the substance?
Amazon has been recommending this movie to me for a while, and while the bananna thing will win this movie some fans, I think this film is much more up the alley of my wife than me. Still, Caterine McCormack is a revelation. And its interesting to watch Naomi Watts trying not to be beautiful.
It bugs me that I found no one to root for in this movie.
I end up feeling like the jerk from the inquisition--let Venice deal with Venice. For all of its--and Miss McCormack's (by the way, its nice to see this lady not getting her throat slashed every once in a while) and yes, the inimitable Miss Watts's beauty--I recommend passing this movie by.
Shakespeare In Love and Elizabeth both do the same basic job as this movie and they do it in a much, much better fashion.
Rating: 
Summary: Breathtaking History
Review: This movie touches a special place in my heart. As a history and art history lover, the richness of the story and the beauty of the film keep me watching it over and over.A true story (see The Honest Courtesean) that takes place in Venice in its most gorgeous era, the film brings the viewer into a world forgotten by many. The art direction and the use of the real palaces in Venice complete the total package. Catherine McCormack is not only beautiful, but a heartfelt actress as well. You may remember her as William Wallace's wife in Braveheart (brunette there). On a final note, if you are headed to Venice, catch this movie for a quick introduction of the Golden Age of this city and an inside look at those who used to roam the halls of the gorgeous palaces you will see lining the Grand Cannal. One of my favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful romance
Review: I have been reading the reviews of this movie and most are very good. I am concerned, however, about some of the poor ones. They seem to mostly complain about the historical inaccuracies. My view is that if you want a history lesson, go the the library. I watch movies to be entertained, and on that score, this movie delivers flawlessly. It is lush and beautiful, moving and romantic. Arguably one of the greatest fantasy romances, the Princess Bride, is based upon real historical figures as well, but because there is no attempt whatsoever to recreate history accurately, no one ever complains. I agree that Dangerous Beauty is not a historically accurate film. For one thing, anyone who fell in the canal waters of Venice during the Renaissance would not only stink, but probably die of dysentery. But this movie is not about history. It's about love and the strength of one woman, a woman who was faced with three choices: (1) to marry a man whom she would not love and be forced to serve him as little more than a slave, not to mention having to be an uneducated ninny, (2) to live in poverty and disgrace as an unmarried woman, or (3) become a courtesan, paid hansomely by the city's rich men to entertain them, allowing her access to education and finery. And while, no, likely the life of a Renaissance courtesan was not as glamourous as here portrayed, I would not want to watch a romance story filled with images of disease and whatever else the afforementioned history buffs want to see. Like all movies, you must suspend disbelief to appreciate the story. We do it all the time for movies like Die Hard, so why not here? Everyone knows there is no such thing as a fantasy romance in real life, yet we love the genre anyway. See this movie because it is a stunningly beautiful, moving, and powerful love story, not because you want an accurate life history of a woman who chose freedom over slavery.
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