Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: March 5, 1999
8.4
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 428 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
353
Mixed:
33
Negative:
42
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10
UvulaApr 11, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The opening shot of the film is an extended scene of a graveyard, then the camera turns to follow Sebastian driving past it. This appears to foreshadow his eventual death at the end of the film. Expand
24 of 27 users found this helpful243
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9
RogerSmith97Feb 23, 2011
A Great Movie! Sarah Michelle Gellar Does Great In This Movie!
The Plot Was Written Very Good, The Acting Is Pretty Good, And The Ending Was Very Creative...
Overall A Movie I Could Watch A Few Times :)
43 of 52 users found this helpful439
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9
KivaAug 18, 2013
Wow just wow. This film is excellent I can't say something bad. It has great actors and good music. The plot is excellent and the film is a masterpiece. It is really smart and it is easily watched. i think everyone would love that film.Wow just wow. This film is excellent I can't say something bad. It has great actors and good music. The plot is excellent and the film is a masterpiece. It is really smart and it is easily watched. i think everyone would love that film. Nothing else to say just watch that film. Plus, it's the sexiest film EVER Expand
23 of 32 users found this helpful239
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9
Implore194Jan 10, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best movies of 1999. The acting, plot, & cinematography are brilliant. There are also many twists that enrich the movie and the experience for the viewer. The movie is very erotic yet contains 1 scene of brief nudity. Cruel Intentions is a guilty pleasure and is one my favorites. Expand
12 of 12 users found this helpful120
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9
SolariumJan 12, 2020
Sarah Michelle Gellar + Reese Witherspoon + Ryan Phillippe + Cruel Intentions 1999 = Genius.
12 of 12 users found this helpful120
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9
PerineumJan 14, 2020
Fascinating ----------------------------------------------------------------
12 of 12 users found this helpful120
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9
Appendage7Jan 15, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The scene in which Annette slaps Sebastian was unscripted. Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe were so into their scene that she slapped him unexpectedly, and Phillippe's reaction is genuine. He was so into the scene that right after writer and director Roger Kumble said cut, he went behind the set and threw up. Kumble left the scene in the final cut. Expand
12 of 12 users found this helpful120
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9
ExcommunicadoJan 18, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Annette: You know what your problem is? You take yourself way too seriously.

Sebastian: I do not.

Annette: You should lighten up.

Sebastian: I am lightened, can we drop this?

Annette: Okay.

[Makes a face at Sebastian]

Sebastian: Will you stop that?

Annette: [Continues to make a face )

Sebastian: Stop, it's distracting

[starts to laugh]

Annette: Are you laughing?

Sebastian: [seriously] No.

Annette: No?

[Annette puts her fingers on her head to look like devil horns and she sticks her tongue out at the same time, Sebastian begins to laugh and then regains control]

Annette: Its okay you can laugh, I promise I won't tell anyone
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11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
AviatrixJan 20, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sebastian: What shall we toast to?
Kathryn: To my triumph.
Sebastian: It's not my choice of toast, but it's your call. To your triumph over Annette. [Kathryn laughs] What's so funny?
Kathryn: Silly rabbit. My triumph isn't over her. It's over you.
Sebastian: Come again?
Kathryn: You were very much in love with her. And you're still in love with her. But it amused me to make you ashamed of it. You gave up on the first person you ever loved because I threatened your reputation. Don't you get it? You're just a toy, Sebastian. A little toy I like to play with. And now you've completely blown it with her. I think it's the saddest thing I've ever heard.
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11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
Surpass80Jan 24, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Besides the Missing Scenes on the DVD there are 4 more missing scenes:

In one scene Sebastian can be seen leaving the swimming pool just after Annette left it. We learn now that he wasn't wearing a bathing suit

Another scene shows Kathryn getting mad at her housekeeper, Mai-Lee. Mai-Lee accidently hurts Kathryn while doing her toe nails and Kathryn yells at her in Vietnamese

A third scene is from the end of the movie, when Kathryn and Annette meet each other in the bathroom of Manchester. Only a minor change of dialogue takes place here though

Finally and most interestingly there is the alternate ending scene. Sebastian still gets hit by a car, but not because of saving Annette. He just stops fighting when he sees her standing across the street and gets hit when he crosses it. This scene is probably changed to the version as it appears in the movie because his death is more heroic that way.
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11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
LevitationApr 13, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tara Reid and Joshua Jackson appeared in Urban Legend (1998). ×××××××××××××××××× Expand
11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
Ocular24Apr 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When the taxi hits Sebastian the stopping distance of the car is extremely long for it's speed. In reality from the speed of 40-50 Km/h the car should stop in a few meters presumably not hitting Sebastian. That's because the stunt was made with the car traveling at a modest speed and with almost no braking. Obviously the screeching tire braking sound was added later fact confirmed also by the nonexistence of the braking marks on the road. Expand
11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
oustApr 27, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Revealing mistakes When Annette and Sebastian are in the pool talking, a blocking cross is visible at the bottom of the pool, which both stand on at some point in the scene. Expand
11 of 11 users found this helpful110
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9
Allogism944Jan 28, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Sebastian has just caught Greg in bed with Blaine]

Greg McConnell: This could ruin my career, man...

Sebastian: Your career? Greg, think about your family. Can you imagine the pain and humiliation your father is going to feel when he finds out that his pride and joy is a fudge-packer?

Greg McConnell: Valmont, please! Let's just forget about this...

Sebastian: [Pretends to ponder for a beat] No. Sorry... can't help you there. After all, it is you who's been bad-mouthing me to Annette Hargrove.

Greg McConnell: [Panicking] Annette Hargrove? I don't know what you're talking about!

Sebastian: I'm talking about a letter you wrote some time ago to your old girlfriend, Annette Hargrove, telling her all about me and my sordid secrets. You're the only one who knows her. The truth will save you.

Greg McConnell: I never said a word to her about you! I promise!

Sebastian: Yeah, right.

Blaine: Come to think of it, Valmont, he is probably telling you the truth. The man can barely write out a shopping list, let alone a letter. What was I thinking!
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10 of 10 users found this helpful100
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9
Obstinate177May 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A fantastic update about the rules of seduction

Cruel Intentions was my favorite movie when I was 14, to me it was everything I just wanted to be as a teen, despite how cruel and manipulative Kathryn was, I thought she was the coolest and strongest female character I'd ever seen on film. Now a couple years afterwards I read the book and saw the original Dangerous Liasons with John Malkovich and Glenn Close, I still very much enjoy Cruel Intentions. Like I said, this was just a terrific updated version of the ultimate story of love and betrayal, it was a little Dawson's Creek at moments, but from what angle they went at, it was understandable. It had the biggest stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe, Reese Withersppon, Tara Reid, Joshua Jackson, and Selma Blair. May I say they gave extremely impressive performances, but the best without a doubt goes to Sarah Michelle Gellar, she was just ultimately brilliant as Kathryn Muertiel, the cruelist girl in school who's goal isn't to be the most popular, but to dominate everyone's innocence.

Kathryn and Sebastion are step brother and sister, they have a partnership together to work the school into a total wave of turning the most innocent into the most corrupted. They also have a love for each other, but Kathryn is the only girl Sebastian can't have, it kills him and she teases him constantly over it. Kathryn asks Sebastian if he could help her corrupt the girl that took her boyfriend, Cecil, a naive young girl who is under Kathryn's wing, but isn't aware of her intentions. But the plot thickens when Kathryn finds out that Cecil is in love with her black music teacher which her mother wouldn't like very much. Then Sebastian finds a girl, Annette, who believes that people shouldn't experience the act of love until they are in love. He and Kathryn make a bet while he seduces Cecil, that if he can corrupt Annette, he gets to bed Kathryn. But there's one problem, he might be in over his head when he starts to fall in love with Annette.

Cruel Intentions is a great movie with good, strong performances. For what might have been a typical teen movie, this was just a good idea on where the director made decisions on how to make the story real. It's very romantic, heart breaking, and even has it's dark comedic moments for a little breath of air. I will always recommend this film to anyone, it's a great story. I would also highly recommend to watch Dangerous Liasons along with Cruel Intentions, so you have a little bit of a different variety. You'll find yourself a bit seduced with these movies.
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8 of 8 users found this helpful80
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9
Exemplify78May 17, 2021
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8 of 8 users found this helpful80
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9
Pluto744Jun 22, 2021
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7 of 7 users found this helpful70
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9
Dysphoric22May 13, 2021
⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°..............................
6 of 6 users found this helpful60
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9
Aversion68May 2, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Audio/visual unsynchronised When arriving at Annette's apartment to deliver the package, the doorbell rings before Sebastian touches it. Expand
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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9
Shroud189Jun 27, 2021
♤♡♤♡♡♡♡♤♤♤♤♡♡♡♤♤♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♡
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5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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9
Anisette570Jul 10, 2021
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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9
Vial44May 1, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For legal reasons, writer and director Roger Kumble had to ask all of the actresses auditioning for Cecile how old they were, because of a sex scene between the character and Sebastian in the movie. "So we were bringing in all of these people", he recalled to Cosmopolitan, "and they were all good, but I remember Selma (Blair) came in and I said, 'How old are you?' And she goes (in Cecile's bratty voice) 'How old are you?' And she was so obnoxious, and I couldn't get it out of my head." Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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8
Sosmooth1982Dec 16, 2022
Great movie. It's a pretty raunchy movie. It has a great storyline. Very sad as well.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
Parasol92Aug 11, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Trashy Fun !

What is so interesting about the lifestyles of the upper east side of New York City? Is it the seductive games... the drugs... the lies... I know it is CRUEL INTENTIONS. This is a great film, all the right elements fall in the right places... perfect cast, jokes and drama.

The ending to this film makes the movie if you ask me. And the music is great! Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillipe have great chemistry... The cast gives a fine performance. Yes, its trashy, but its entertaining... it's hip and it's sexy.

Cruel Intentions is not your ordinary teen movie, it has more than what meets the eye. An Entertaining, clever pleasure that every movie lover can enjoy.
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
AbolishAug 24, 2021
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
ImpugnJan 11, 2020
One of the best movies of the last 2 decades. .............................
12 of 13 users found this helpful121
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9
Aerialist277Jun 19, 2021
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5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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9
Carouse97May 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Breaks the barrier of the conventional teenage genre

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.
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8 of 10 users found this helpful82
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10
RindApr 23, 2021
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2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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10
Chassis28May 6, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Sebastian has just caught Greg in bed with Blaine]

Greg McConnell: This could ruin my career, man...

Sebastian: Your career? Greg, think about your family. Can you imagine the pain and humiliation your father is going to feel when he finds out that his pride and joy is a fudge-packer?

Greg McConnell: Valmont, please! Let's just forget about this...

Sebastian: [Pretends to ponder for a beat] No. Sorry... can't help you there. After all, it is you who's been bad-mouthing me to Annette Hargrove.

Greg McConnell: [Panicking] Annette Hargrove? I don't know what you're talking about!

Sebastian: I'm talking about a letter you wrote some time ago to your old girlfriend, Annette Hargrove, telling her all about me and my sordid secrets. You're the only one who knows her. The truth will save you.

Greg McConnell: I never said a word to her about you! I promise!

Sebastian: Yeah, right.

Blaine: Come to think of it, Valmont, he is probably telling you the truth. The man can barely write out a shopping list, let alone a letter. What was I thinking!
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2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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10
Autopsy904Jun 13, 2021
°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°》°
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2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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8
kowalskiAug 28, 2011
Despite the bombs in script, there is something dark and at the same time pleasurable about this movie. Not that it has anything to do with the original movie, much less the book - but does it has to? it might be remade too far off theDespite the bombs in script, there is something dark and at the same time pleasurable about this movie. Not that it has anything to do with the original movie, much less the book - but does it has to? it might be remade too far off the original, but it's not completely lame. Great performances by Baranski, Witherspoon and Gellar plus the amazing soundtrack. Expand
11 of 28 users found this helpful1117
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10
Catenary44Jun 7, 2021
$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.$.
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2 of 9 users found this helpful27
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7
StevenFJun 9, 2013
Questionable acting and some bad script decisions aside, Cruel Intentions is something to be admired for its edgy story and raunchy personification of its characters. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar take centre stage as step brotherQuestionable acting and some bad script decisions aside, Cruel Intentions is something to be admired for its edgy story and raunchy personification of its characters. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar take centre stage as step brother and sister Sebastian and Kathryn, filthy rich teen who pretty much prey on the weak minded for their own pleasure.
Sebastian is the slick and handsome teen who woos and seduces the young women he wants, until he no longer sees them as a challenge and dumps, destroying their reputation in the process. His stepsister Kathryn is the manipulative temptress who gets what she wants whenever she wants it, they decide to place a bet that Sebastian cannot tempt and seduce the new straight A student Annette (Reese Witherspoon), a young girl who has decided not to lose her virginity until she finds love, something Sebastian wants to take advantage of, especially in a film or setting like this where reputation is everything.
Thrown into the mix are a range of other interesting and unique characters, but some who ultimately don't have enough screen time.
Cruel Intentions immediately sets out to impress yet put the viewer on edge with its crude dialogue and sexual tendencies, Ryan Phillippe plays a confident person in Sebastian, but also shows a much deeper and more meaningful side as he gets to know Annette. Reese Witherspoon, as excellent an actress as she is, really doesn't have very much to say, her dialogue seems very constrained throughout the film which limits her talents.
For me, Sarah Michelle Gellar was the weakest part of the film, until the last five minutes. Her acting was completely off and her facial expressions were virtually non-existent, this just isn't the same person we seen in Buffy. Her constant teasing of her stepbrother just became annoying and cringeworthy, not for the the reason of it being her brother, but it was just very unbelievable.
Selma Blair also puts in a decent performance as the airhead teenager Cecile, sought after by her music teacher and manipulated by Sebastian and Kathryn.
A comedy while also painting a dramatic piece in the closing half hour, Cruel Intentions could hit much higher notes, relying too heavily on its leads to carry the film when a strong cast is already there. But still a nice twist on the typical teen dramedy.
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3 of 21 users found this helpful318
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10
MattJacks2003Mar 9, 2019
This movie is SPECTACULAR since Casablanca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 of 23 users found this helpful320
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7
cameronmorewoodNov 12, 2012
What an interesting, provocative, and surprisingly intelligent film I though while watching it. What brilliant performances. All until the last few minutes. I'm warning you, you're not going to like the ending. It sucks bad.
1 of 13 users found this helpful112
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3
reviewfrom19842May 31, 2017
Cruel Intentions is a guilty pleasure. With decent acting, poorly written, and just laughable at some parts make it a quality pleasure .
1 of 49 users found this helpful148
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10
LauraFeb 5, 2006
Excellent. Sarah Michelle Gellar is fantastic in this movie, she's a hell of an actress. And the music in this movie is just perfect.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
10
AymenD.Apr 15, 2006
One of the best movies ever! Sarah Michelle Gellar is stunning as the seductive and bitchy Kathryn. This movie is so sad, but at the same time very satirical. Loved every second of the movie, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar's One of the best movies ever! Sarah Michelle Gellar is stunning as the seductive and bitchy Kathryn. This movie is so sad, but at the same time very satirical. Loved every second of the movie, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar's breathtaking performance! Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
10
JubayerAFeb 26, 2008
Thanks to the producer for producing such a nice film. It has a spirit, that deserves appreciation.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
7
OliverSJul 31, 2008
Relatively good adaptation of the book but Valmont sucks.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
4
adnan_soysalJun 5, 2021
I have watched all three of Cruel Intentions.

For the first and the third one - setting is good - casting is bad - plot is good - story is bad - dialogues are modern cheap thrash. And for the second one, all are poor. But two people make
I have watched all three of Cruel Intentions.

For the first and the third one
- setting is good
- casting is bad
- plot is good
- story is bad
- dialogues are modern cheap thrash.

And for the second one, all are poor.

But two people make great acting.
They are big fun to watch. They outperform all.
They are Sarah Michelle Gellar in the first one, Nathan Wetherington in the third one.
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0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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0
chromateJan 11, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Cruel Intentions" is so atrocious and gross that I felt like I needed to take a shower right afterwards. The entire team of this movie was made up of men, so that explains why the whole thing was shot from the male gaze. Witherspoon gave a good performance with what she was given with: a celibate "Jesus freak" that decided to give it up as soon as she met the disgustingly manipulative and border-line assaulter Sebastian, without looking back. It's obvious that Sebastian's character was intended to be mysterious and broody but there's a simple difference between complex and completely arrogant. With one half of the relationship being a complete **** and the second half being the stereotype for a "sweet and innocent," vulnerable teenage girl, it doesn't make it easy to root for their relationship. The writers don't make a distinct characteristic shift between when Sebastian's intentions are to win the game he set up with his step-sister, and when he actually starts to feel the real feelings. Coming back to Witherspoon's character, despite the inaccuracy of what a real teenager is like, through all the complications you can still tell she's a nice enough person if you unwrap everything. However, you never really get the chance to "unwrap" her character because she's never actually alone. It's clear her character revolves around the way that Sebastian see's her; which is a view point I wish there was less of. Because of never really understanding her true character, it's hard to tell if you want her to be happy or not. All this emptiness in the character and lack of depth is filled with sex scenes that aren't helpful, fulfilling, or benefit the relationship at all. There are a few other disgusting side-plots they threw in; like the step-bro and step-sis (essentially incestual) relationship, and the make-out scene between two girls (basically just purely for fun) which I guess could be classified as queen-baiting in this day n' age. To summarize: this is the biggest **** bag of a movie which they tried to hide behind sensible actors, but didn't work out at all. Expand
0 of 11 users found this helpful011
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