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From Amazon.co.uk
With more than a decade of cinema in Basic Instinct's wake it's fascinating to look back at just how influential Paul Verhoeven's "erotic thriller" has been. The director's endless fight with censorship and unwillingness to kowtow to social mores meant his movies became notorious for graphically depicting sex and violence while pushing contemporary boundaries of taste. This whodunit about a bisexual femme fatale (Sharon Stone in a career-best performance) caused an enormous furore on its release; but after years of generally inferior imitations there's not much in it that seems quite so shocking now. It's perhaps best appreciated in retrospect more for its Hitchcockian style than the steamy sex.
On the DVD: one of the most welcome elements of the disc is an acknowledgement of the film's own influences--from Hitchcock's Vertigo to Verhoeven's own The Fourth Man. The print is far superior to the previous release, looking magnificent in 1:78.1. Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-nominated score sounds terrific in either 5.1 or DTS, as does Verhoeven's thick accent on the first commentary track alongside then Director of Photography Jan De Bont (Speed), who together reminisce on locations and manipulating their actors' performances. A second commentary from feminist critic Camille Paglia is a brave way of putting paid to the gay/feminist community uproar. There are some standard inclusions (trailer, production notes, photo gallery etc) but far more interesting are two mini-documentaries; "Cleaning Up Basic Instinct" shows how and why the TV version was so dull, while "Blonde Poison" focuses on the film's making and marketing. Finally, there are three storyboard comparisons and nine minutes of screen tests for Stone and Tripplehorn. This is the definitive release of an oft-cited modern classic. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
When detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) is assigned to investigate the case of a rock singer murdered with an ice pick, he can't help but notice the similarity between the death and a scene in the latest book by the singer's novelist girlfriend Catherine (Sharon Stone). She insists that she is being framed, but as Nick slips into a torrid affair with her, she begins to look increasingly guilty.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Robertshaw
Format:DVD
This is a brilliant and breathtaking film. The film is infamous for it's graphic erotic scenes, but if you can manage to get through the film without being (ahem) distracted by Sharon Stone, then you will find that the characters are highly developed and fascinating, the plot is complex and intelligent and the delivery is fast, entertaining and absorbing from start to finish.
It's a pity that this film is famous for the wrong reasons. Dare to admit that Basic Instinct is one of you're favourite films and your liable to be sniggered at. This film should not be dismissed as pure eroticism. Admittedly some scenes are graphic but the eroticism is not gratuitous. Overall, i found it to be an intelligent thriller with two superb leads and a great supporting cast. The film is sensational.
It's a pity that this film is famous for the wrong reasons. Dare to admit that Basic Instinct is one of you're favourite films and your liable to be sniggered at. This film should not be dismissed as pure eroticism. Admittedly some scenes are graphic but the eroticism is not gratuitous. Overall, i found it to be an intelligent thriller with two superb leads and a great supporting cast. The film is sensational.
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Mr Ghostface
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all, my rating is basically 5 stars for the movie and 2 for the Blu-ray presentation.
The main reason? The picture. I just don't believe this has been remastered at 1080p. I have original projection reels of this movie in my collection and they still look cleaner and sharper, which they shouldn't. Basic Instinct has incredibly good cinematography, but the Blu-ray image is SOFT. Meaning there must be anti-aliasing happening because the image is not sufficiently detailed to fulfil 1080p. It was really something of a disappointment. Yes, it looks okay, but not for a second is this the best is could look. What's more, it's from Optimum, who usually really are quite good with their material.
The audio is fine, and Goldsmith's beautiful score is not damaged by the poor treatment other aspects of the movie have suffered.
There are no extras. Not even the feature-length Making Of has been included. There is a picture option which allows you to follow their instructions on getting the best picture they believe possible out of this disc. Well, ignore it. You know yourself what looks sharpest and most vibrant, and for me it was NOTHING like what they were suggesting.
I find this release to be a big disappointment, given how popular the film was and, despite it's often sleazy reputation, it really is a finely crafted thriller with lush, warm cinematography, Goldsmith's last great score, great editing and Verhoeven's slick direction. It's too bad the Blu-ray doesn't give it the respect it deserves.
The main reason? The picture. I just don't believe this has been remastered at 1080p. I have original projection reels of this movie in my collection and they still look cleaner and sharper, which they shouldn't. Basic Instinct has incredibly good cinematography, but the Blu-ray image is SOFT. Meaning there must be anti-aliasing happening because the image is not sufficiently detailed to fulfil 1080p. It was really something of a disappointment. Yes, it looks okay, but not for a second is this the best is could look. What's more, it's from Optimum, who usually really are quite good with their material.
The audio is fine, and Goldsmith's beautiful score is not damaged by the poor treatment other aspects of the movie have suffered.
There are no extras. Not even the feature-length Making Of has been included. There is a picture option which allows you to follow their instructions on getting the best picture they believe possible out of this disc. Well, ignore it. You know yourself what looks sharpest and most vibrant, and for me it was NOTHING like what they were suggesting.
I find this release to be a big disappointment, given how popular the film was and, despite it's often sleazy reputation, it really is a finely crafted thriller with lush, warm cinematography, Goldsmith's last great score, great editing and Verhoeven's slick direction. It's too bad the Blu-ray doesn't give it the respect it deserves.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Almost everyone has heard of Basic Instinct. However, its tag of 'erotic thriller' has put many people off watching it. To these people, I would say, get over it, and have a good look at this film, because it is superb. Yes, the sex scenes are very graphic, but the story is so captivating that you'll be able to get past them and anjoy this for what it is... a good suspense thriller.
Sharon Stone stars as Catherine Tramell, a novelist, whose boyfriend is stabbed to death with an ice-pick. This killing was exactly the same as one described in Catherine's latest book. You are then left wondering. Did Catherine recreate the events of her book and kill her lover, or did someone else, someone who wanted to ruin Catherine, carry out the deed in question?
Michael Douglas is the cop invstigating the murder, however, it is only too soon before he is seduced by Catherine. It's suspense all the way until the end, where, even then, you aren't sure, who really is the murderer.
If thrillers are your thing, then go and watch this DVD. A word of warning though. This is not one for kids and teenagers...
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pure neo-noir worthy of deeper delving.
"I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill him the way I described in my book. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Spike Owen
3.0 out of 5 stars
LA Pornographic
These days Basic Instinct is a guilty pleasure film. It's a well-crafted suspense thriller for a while, with a few cop movie cliches thrown in, but then becomes trash. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jack Heslop
4.0 out of 5 stars
UK Blu-Ray is the Director's Cut
OK - I'm a huge Verhoeven fan and I was only ever interested in upgrading my copy of Basic Instinct if I was getting the almighty director's original cut as opposed to the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by T. Schoon
5.0 out of 5 stars
"..VIOLENT, SEXY THRILLER.."
This has to be one of the most famous movies ever made, a real cult classic thriller that is extremely violent and extremely sexy!! Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. Drury
5.0 out of 5 stars
"..CLASSIC GEM OF A THRILLER.."
This has to be one of the most famous movies ever made, a real cult classic thriller that is extremely violent and extremely sexy!! Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. Drury
5.0 out of 5 stars
90s classics
had an enjoyable evening reliving a classic 90s movie. A must for most dvd collections. A must see right to the very end.
Published 20 months ago by Mr
5.0 out of 5 stars
"What are you going to do... book me for smoking?"
God I love this movie. It's everything I remember/love about the 90s, while being completely slick and utterly entertaining. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Universal Soldier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific thriller
Basic Instinct is laced with Hitchcock influence. The music enriches the crime thriller, something akin to Psycho perhaps, certainly in the car journey sequences along that... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ian Hunter
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sleazy Action Yarn
I remember first seeing this film while holidaying in Prague with my brother Anders and his close friend Brahms. Read more
Published on 11 April 2011 by Monsieur Slinky
5.0 out of 5 stars
A historic movie.
One of the movies you should see in your lifetime! The bit where Sharon Stone uncrosses her legs and 'flashes' her pubic hair is really well done, so daring, yet without vulgarity. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2011 by Wanderer75
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