I find it incredibly peculiar how the same novel (Choderlos de Laclos' "Les liaisons dangereuses", but that won't be on the test) can spawn two separate interpretations that are absolutely nothing alike. "Dangerous Liaisons" was a very stylish, classy, hyper-professional and (maybe as a result) also somewhat slow costume drama, while "Cruel Intentions" shamelessly takes the sleazy road and ends up being really entertaining. It's primarily aimed at teens and piles up Hollywood clichés like it's a contest or something, but despite those hurdles it manages to strike exactly the right dark tone. Sarah Michelle Gellar is really good in the Glenn Close role, technically she only gives her villain one dimension but it's a dimension you love to hate. She has acid running through her veins, in fact the whole movie seems a lot more harsh and direct than "Dangerous Liaisons" was. Do I actually prefer this high schooler remake over the original "Dangerous Liaisons"? Well, secretly yes, but to avoid being burned on a pyre I'll just say they're both excellent movies in their own right. "Cruel Intentions" is just a great watch though.

Two wealthy step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to de-flower the new headmaster's daughter (Reese Witherspoon) before the start of term.

Having gone to high school in the latter half of the 1990s, this was one of those films that really defined a generation. All the big stars of the day were in it, and at least one 9Witherspoon) has one on to bigger and better things. At the time I was not aware that this was a remake of a 1980s film. I found it to be brilliant and quite deviously original.

I now know that it is a remake, but think no less of it because of this. In many ways, this film is even more powerful. John Malkovich did a fine job capturing what spoiled aristocrats can do, but it is all the more troublesome what spoiled teenagers can do.

You probably know the story of Dangerous Liaisons, this is basically the same idea portrayed in/as a teen movie. Basically Sarah Michelle Gellar as the horrible Kathryn Merteuil and Ryan Phillippe as Sebastian Valmont are two schemers who pretend to be brother and sister to others, and they have a bet to get their own loves, and the prize is getting together! Kathryn goes for many of the guys, while Sebastian goes for Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair) first, but later gets closer to Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). It seems as though Annette becomes not a scheme, but the real thing! (In real life, the actors married and had two kids) Also starring One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest's Louise Fletcher as Helen Rosemond, Joshua Jackson as Blaine Tuttle, Eric Mabius as Greg McConnell, Sean Patrick Thomas as Ronald Clifford, The Grinch's Christine Baranski as Bunny Caldwell and American Pie's Tara Reid as Marci Greenbaum. Kathryn gets away with so much. But she got what she deserved in the end, when Sebastian dies and the entire school gets a copy of his personal journal revealing all, and all look at her in shame and disgust. This film won Best Female Performance for Gellar, but also (number 2 on The 100 Greatest Sexy Moments) Best Kiss at MTV Movie Awards, deservedly! They were really tonguing and there was the trail of saliva! Sarah Michelle Gellar was number 16 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols. Good!