DVD : Cruel Intentions [1999]

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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Rating: - overall this is a three star film with a four star ending
The humour isn't laugh-out-loud and the dialogue is nothing special but the story builds up in such a way that you want to keep watching if only in the hope that you will see something bad happen to Sarah Michelle Gellar's character.I've never seen her in Buffy The Vampire Slayer but I think she could slay vampires based on this performance.Reese Witherspoon is great as miss goody-two-shoes who gets pushed to the point where her shoes are likely to end up in someone's behind.Overall a three star film with a four star ending.

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Rating: - Cruel deception
Before anyone thinks I'm against this film or its actors, I'm not. This is a
good film and the actors do a pretty good job with the script they have been
given. First of all its script isn't original, Ok it may have been varied a
little but basically its a remake of "Dangerous Liaisons" which starred Glen
Close, John Malkovich etc.. The original for me anyway was far superior in
its intensity and sometimes very emotionally moving scenes. Also the original
was set in the 18th century which for me anyway added something a little
special to it. "Cruel Intentions" like "Dangerous Liaisons" is a film about
two people who meddle with love which produces dire consequences for the
people involved. It also shows how love can take over the emotions and well
being of even the most cruel and hard individual reducing them powerless
to the emotions they are experiencing. Both films have everything you could
want in a film, intrigue, deception, cruelty, wit and love and overall you'll
be glad you watched it, definitely worth a watch but if you saw the original,
you may not give it the rating others have given it.

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Rating: - Classic, Bold, Witty!
This film is a modern classic; I've never met anyone who hasn't loved this film from start to finish. Despite being set in Manhattan's Upper East Side, you really do feel like your with the characters, as they're living out this wickedly dirty, quite disturbing story. If you don't have this dvd you really really must buy it, for < £4 you really won't regret it.

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Rating: - Classic 1990s teen movie
This film is a classic and in many ways is the film that made Reese Witherspoon. The film follows the story of how Ryan Phillipe, her later off screen husband, pursues her and deflowers her. This is not due to love as she believed, but due to a bet he has with Gellar. If he can seduce "true love waits" figure Witherspoon, he gets a car. When Witherspoon finds out, he instantly realises the folly of his ways and attempts to reconcile with her in a particularly jarring ending.

The film's strength is in the exceptionally strong lead roles, with Phillipe, Gellar and Witherspoon putting in flawless portrayals. The film also has an excellent sound track, which will take anyone who is a child of the 1990s back into teen nostalgia. Even people who (gasp) don't remember the 90s will still find this film enjoyable, such as today's older teenagers, as the themes covered are relatively timeless.