Rating: 
Summary: A Truly Beautiful and Heart Warming Movie
Review: I had never even heard of this movie. Thumbing through Roger Eberts movie book, I chanced upon his review (he gave it 3 and a half stars) and decided to take a chance and rented it. After watching it 4 times before returning it to Blockbuster, I bought a copy of the film for myself and one for a friend. You have to have ice in your veins to give this movie 1 star. The story line is heart warming. The sets and scenery are beautiful, the music is beautiful. Catherine McCormick is beautiful in every sense of the word. And the dialogue is rich and fine. Its a shame this movie bombed at the box office. It's probably the best romantic movie I've ever seen and I've been watching movies since the 1930's. If you have a romantic soul, rent or buy this movie, you won't regret it! This movie is 10 times better than Titanic which got an academy award. Hard to believe! I can't imagine why this movie did not get the rave reviews from the critics it deserved. The online reviews from ordinary people on Amazon may yet save this film from obscurity. This is not a so called 'chic flick'. I'm a guy and I loved it.
Rating: 
Summary: XVI th CENTURY VENICE (HOLLYWOOD STYLE)
Review: Two scenes will save DANGEROUS BEAUTY from total oblivion : the " poems and sword " duel between Veronica Franco and Maffio Venier and also Catherine McCormack interpretation of the venetian courtesan during her trial.DANGEROUS BEAUTY is photographed in the Ridley Scott manner and every detail has been so well taken care of that even the corpses of the victims of the plague seem to shine. So do not wait for a history lesson with this movie. The Venice of Fellini's CASANOVA can give you a more accurate vision of this city. In fact, Catherine McCormack's interpretation is the only reason why I've watched this movie until the end. She's really "in" the character and looks truly possessed by poetic inspiration. A postcard DVD.
Rating:
Summary: A PERIOD PIECE AT IT'S BEST
Review: This is one of those movies that 'sticks with you'. Of course Catherine McCormick was excellent in the role of Veronoca Franco but what about Rufus Sewell who played Marco? I think we'll definetly be seeing more of him, that voice would make you melt. If you're looking for romance, humour, spectacular scenery and costumes this is the movie for you.
Rating:
Summary: incredible.
Review: I've read about half the reviews posted here, and so far, not one of them has mentioned what I thought set this movie apart from anything else I've ever seen. This movie is deliciously satisfying. All the actors are relatively unknown but incredibly beautiful (I've never before seen such a cast devoid of ugly people), the costumes are stunning, and the scenery is so breathtakingly beautiful that I couldn't believe such places were real. The story carries you with it (the movie is very well-paced), and its excitement and intensity leave you breathless even after the movie has ended. It is very intelligently written, with a lot of witty banter thrown back and forth, all of it ringing surprisingly true. These characters, so beautiful and priveledged, all seem to also be gifted with immense insight into their world (so different from mine...). Dangerous Beauty is, overall, a very comforting movie, the sort you want to cuddle up with instead of a good book. The story is actually fairly simple: there is no doubt about who is good, who is bad. The movie presents a fairly simplified view of the world, and questions very few of the views it presents, so you find yourself agreeing with everything without really being called on to examine the issues fully. The church is bad, women made wives by arranged marriage who accept their fate are cowardly, married men cannot be blamed for their infidelity. But really, I wouldn't change a thing about this movie. There are too many movies out there already that pull you in every direction, tie you in knots, make you agonize over every issue that mankind was ever faced with. This movie is a wonderful change from all that, a nice world to drift off into for the space of a few hours. Simple, beautiful, and refreshingly, deliciously satisfying, I reccomend this movie to everyone. Quick tip: don't rent it, buy it. You'll save yourself a bundle of money and many trips to Blockbuster.
Rating:
Summary: breathtaking!brilliant!
Review: I was deeply impressed by this movie and Veronica Franco.She shown the essense of what true love could possibly be ,her talents and the courage against the dogma and the male-dominated world.And her feminist consciousness!it was pretty rare at that time.well,it's irritatingly perfect!if you are into feminism, one word for you,go check it out!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: A sumptuous love story set in Venice, this has remained my favorite film ever. The luxurious costumes, tender music, astonishing true story, and the breathless beauty of Catherine McCormack leave you mesmerized. This film did not do well at the box office, but that's because movie-goers like the big stars rather than the intellectual Oscar-contender. Based on the true story of Veronica Franco, a poetess and courtesan in Venice 1500s, 'Dangerous Beauty' tells of her decision to become a free and educated prostitute over an obediant, repressed wife, and what ensued when she fell in love with a man of title and estates. Marshall Herskowitz (dir.) exhibited his brilliant talent and McCormack artfully, and made it more entertaining than any Merchant-Ivory film. McCormack is definitely one to watch in years to come, and I hope we see her in more costume dramas, because she excells. 'Dangerous Beauty' (bad title) is one of the best, and once you see it for the first time, you'll want to watch it over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Danerous beauty indeed
Review: This film truly fits the meaning of a classic. Classic films (or works of art) can always transend a correlation to the audience no matter what era it originated from. The fact that the movie is based on a true story of a woman from the 16th century, doesn't matter. The fact that it can be paralleled to any minority group striving to be accepted as equal does.
Rating:
Summary: Hollywood's View of History
Review: It is amazing the screenwriters were able to depict the battles of good vs. evil, oppressed vs. liberated, the rich vs. the poor, desire vs. duty, man/woman vs. himself all in one movie. Regarding accuracy: the scenery is wonderful, the costumes realistic (young Veronica wears dresses more than once!), and accessories identifying one's political position were accurate. Ms. Bisset is wonderful! She is absolutely beautiful and courageous to play the mother of a blossoming woman. I have also become a new fan of Ms. McCormick. I am amazed that a little make-up and changes in Ms McCormick's facial expressions added years on to her character - wonderful acting. Mr. Sewel portrays Marco in such a way that you are saddened that he is rich and accepts his obligation to such a degree that he must forfeit his happiness for duty. He is gorgeous even as a drunk. (I think he was actually smashed during the filming of the scene. He is just too believably drunk.) McCormick and Sewel have chemistry that is credible and gives the women viewers a reason smile (I am sure the men viewers will love it too). Cousin Mafio, Oliver Platt, is hard to accept at first because of his other movie roles, however, he does a wonderful job of playing the "tag-along" whimsical cousin. (The canal scenes are great!). My suggestion for historians of romance is purchase the movie. Each time I watch the movie I find another "new" experience. Every individual plays a vital role in the development of the main character just as around us shape us. I must admit I shed a few tears and still do when I watch this love story. It forces us to search for answers to the question would and/or could the duties and obligations we embrace in life rob or delay our happiness or have we matured enough to accept the responsibility to ensure content. The movie does not depict the life of Ms. Franco accurate enough to be described as biographical depiction but the changes made were well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: The best. Courage and passion to stand and cheer for.
Review: As with almost all the other reviewers here I have only praise for the movie and scorn for the so-called professional, "knowing" reviewers (head trips all). Beautiful and entertaining. Better swashbuckling fun than an Errol Flynn movie, a great romance story and a cheeringly good story of personal and social courage. This is a story I can see over and over. Not many movies can do that for me. Catherine McCormack's Veronica Franco is a lusty and courageous heroine who you can cheer for across the centuries.
Rating: 
Summary: Beauty, romance, history-finely arranged and superbly presen
Review: Before there was Shakespeare in Love, there was Dangerous Beauty, a costume drama, a wonderful tale, a tragic love story. Brilliant, beautiful, and breathtaking. I was not previously familiar with the book 'The Honest Courtesan" from which the film was based, but my assumption is that the film is in most part based on fact. Another in the fine group of films from Ed Zwick/Marshall Herskovitz, a pair who's trendy and mainstream prime time soap "Thirtysomething" seems a distant memory as titles like this one, "Glory", and "Courage Under Fire" carry their banner. Caroline McCormack is certainly going to be a huge star. She truly has the combination of beauty and intelligence that is so rare, and so valuable in film. From "Braveheart" to "Dangerous Beauty" and beyond-her future success seems destined. Films can be many things to many people, and some will choose to make social commentary, or possibly discount authenticity when looking at a film such as this. I prefer to let the beautiful images and wonderful love story engulf me and leave the microscopic inspection to another forum. To each his own, to me a wonderful movie going experience.
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