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snoggedI'm moderately obsessed with Roger Kumble's Cruel Intentions, which honestly put SMG in my most favorite role ever of hers. I have seen both sequels and think they are pretty much terrible. Amy Adams was not suited to the role of Kathryn Merteuil AT all and for the most part, they just feel like rehashes of the original.
Which, you know, technically speaking, Cruel Intentions isn't actually original at all because there are several versions that have been done over the decades. The only difference is those are set in France and up until yesterday, I'd seen none of them.
But then Netflix Instant Streaming came along and offered me a viewing of Valmont (for those interested, please note that this deal expires tomorrow.)
*Annette Bening/Colin Firth and Ryan Philippe/Sarah Michelle Gellar: Without question, both couples have undeniable chemistry. Doesn't matter if they're former lovers or step-siblings, it's seriously smoking hot to watch them interact with each other.
RAWR!
Winner: Tie
*The Bet: This is the running theme throughout both films, but the wagers themselves are a bit different. In the case of CI, Kathryn wants Sebastian's car is she wins and in the case of Valmont, Madame Merteuil wants the Vicount to lock himself away in a monastery and repent his sins. In my opinion, Valmont has the better wager. It packs more of a punch because Valmont literally has to give up sex and women if he loses. I also think it has the better follow-up with Madame Merteuil's suggestion that the bet was just a silly little joke and didn't need to be taken seriously.
Winner: Valmont
*Annette/Madame de Tourvel: Reese Witherspoon knocks this category out of the park. Pretty as Meg Tilly is, she was a ridiculously bland character and it was hard to enjoy her.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
*Cecile/Cecile's Seduction: Fairuza Balk was amazing and adorable in the role of Cecile.
Her naivete and innocence were believable. (She grew up in a convent, for goodness sakes!) I loved the scenes where she pretended to sword fight with Valmont, but most of all, I appreciated the boundaries pushed in the seduction scene. I liked that Valmont continued with the theme of writing letters after he crumpled up her original letter. I appreciated that the cameras drew attention to the way Cecile was rubbing her ankles together on the bed and the way Valmont sat down beside her, pushed her legs down and stroked them while he continued to dictate. The expressions she gave him and the responses he gave her was an intense contrast between virtue and lechery. Although I'll always love Sebastian's "I don't want to kiss you here, I want to kiss you here", I have to give this round to Fairuza and Colin.
Winner: Valmont
*Sebastian's butt: Valmont may have had a shirtless Colin, but Ryan Philippe's butt will be forever etched into my memory.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
*Merteuil's comeuppance: You know what, Valmont really didn't have one. Sure, Cecile went on to marry Merteuil's lover while being pregnant with Valmont's baby and the final scene is Merteuil shrouded in shadows and looking glum. But it's just not as effective as the look on SMG's face when she walks out of the church to the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony and realizes that her reputation has been shot to shit.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
So if you're playing the home version, I'm sure you've figured out the Valmont did not reach the same level of love that I have for Cruel Intentions, but it didn't fare too badly.
It may be a 2 hour and 13 minute film, but watch it anyway.
Which, you know, technically speaking, Cruel Intentions isn't actually original at all because there are several versions that have been done over the decades. The only difference is those are set in France and up until yesterday, I'd seen none of them.
But then Netflix Instant Streaming came along and offered me a viewing of Valmont (for those interested, please note that this deal expires tomorrow.)
*Annette Bening/Colin Firth and Ryan Philippe/Sarah Michelle Gellar: Without question, both couples have undeniable chemistry. Doesn't matter if they're former lovers or step-siblings, it's seriously smoking hot to watch them interact with each other.
RAWR!
Winner: Tie
*The Bet: This is the running theme throughout both films, but the wagers themselves are a bit different. In the case of CI, Kathryn wants Sebastian's car is she wins and in the case of Valmont, Madame Merteuil wants the Vicount to lock himself away in a monastery and repent his sins. In my opinion, Valmont has the better wager. It packs more of a punch because Valmont literally has to give up sex and women if he loses. I also think it has the better follow-up with Madame Merteuil's suggestion that the bet was just a silly little joke and didn't need to be taken seriously.
Winner: Valmont
*Annette/Madame de Tourvel: Reese Witherspoon knocks this category out of the park. Pretty as Meg Tilly is, she was a ridiculously bland character and it was hard to enjoy her.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
*Cecile/Cecile's Seduction: Fairuza Balk was amazing and adorable in the role of Cecile.
Her naivete and innocence were believable. (She grew up in a convent, for goodness sakes!) I loved the scenes where she pretended to sword fight with Valmont, but most of all, I appreciated the boundaries pushed in the seduction scene. I liked that Valmont continued with the theme of writing letters after he crumpled up her original letter. I appreciated that the cameras drew attention to the way Cecile was rubbing her ankles together on the bed and the way Valmont sat down beside her, pushed her legs down and stroked them while he continued to dictate. The expressions she gave him and the responses he gave her was an intense contrast between virtue and lechery. Although I'll always love Sebastian's "I don't want to kiss you here, I want to kiss you here", I have to give this round to Fairuza and Colin.
Winner: Valmont
*Sebastian's butt: Valmont may have had a shirtless Colin, but Ryan Philippe's butt will be forever etched into my memory.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
*Merteuil's comeuppance: You know what, Valmont really didn't have one. Sure, Cecile went on to marry Merteuil's lover while being pregnant with Valmont's baby and the final scene is Merteuil shrouded in shadows and looking glum. But it's just not as effective as the look on SMG's face when she walks out of the church to the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony and realizes that her reputation has been shot to shit.
Winner: Cruel Intentions
So if you're playing the home version, I'm sure you've figured out the Valmont did not reach the same level of love that I have for Cruel Intentions, but it didn't fare too badly.
It may be a 2 hour and 13 minute film, but watch it anyway.