Cruel Intentions [DVD] [1999] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

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.

Cruel Intentions has been slammed by critics, who have unfairly and unfavourably compared it with 1989's Dangerous Liaisons (both films stem from Choderlos de Laclos's novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses). Whereas Dangerous Liaisons is fairly faithful to the original, Cruel Intentions manipulates the plot - throwing a twist in the tail - and relocates the milieu from 18th century France to the present-day Upper East Side of New York, where underneath the veneer of respectability, wealthy teenagers plot each other's downfalls.

Stepsiblings Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont are two such teenagers. They amuse themselves by arranging reputation-destroying paybacks for those who have wronged them, and make wagers on the outcome. The focus of the movie is Sebastian's attempt to make a conquest of the Headmaster's virginal daughter, Annette (who, in a heavy-handed attempt at symbolism, wears white throughout almost the entire film).

However, the movie certainly has some memorable high points, beginning at the very outset where the camera swoops fast and low over what appears to be a grassy park studded with rocks; only after the camera angles away does the viewer realise - with some discomfort - that the park is in fact a graveyard. The opening scenes also introduce the appealing and well-judged soundtrack, which includes artists as diverse as Placebo and Fatboy Slim. The Verve's song, Bittersweet Symphony, is an absolutely perfect 'just desserts' track at the film's conclusion.

These kids are incredibly nasty and vindictive, but owing to the verbosity of the script and the almost total lack of adult chaperones appearing on screen, it is difficult at times to remember that they are only teenagers. In the end though, perhaps we just like to see someone be very, very wicked and almost get away with it.

I have not seen/read Dangerous Liasons, which this brilliant comedy is based on but who cares if this film is nothing like it, it makes an excellent film on it's own. Right from the beginning I was enjoying it, laughing more than I have ever laughed before, marvelling at the cruelness of the characters. In some parts of the film I was not sure whether I was meant to be shocked by the evil Sarah Michelle Gellar & Ryan Phillipe's deeds or whether to laugh outloud. The plot is that two College kids who are step-brother and sister are apparently goodie-goodies but are mean, double-crossing, cruel, spoilt brats who do anything to get representable images to teachers and other kids alike. The story tells of their wager on whether or not the brother can bed the new headmaster's daughter before he gets to the school. If he does, then he gets his hot sister for a night and if not, she gets his car. Dasterdly tricks and sick jokes ensue but this combination makes a very funny film. It is hilarious, get it now!