I Decided To Watch This Because
I kept hearing about how great it was. I first seen it at the movies a few weeks after its release. Leaving the show satisfied, I later decided to purchase this video.
Characters
Sebastian (Ryan Philippe) is the main character. He is a "bad boy." His loves - his 1956 Jaguar Roadster, his journal, and sex. A rich boy from New York (and yes - completely full of himself).
Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is Sebastian's half-sister. Student body president of Manchester, she often snorts cocaine from a cross necklace. She is high-class, vindictive, and very sexual. Very sexual with everyone.
Annette (Reese Witherspoon) is the object of Sebastian's desires. A proud virgin, she is also the new headmaster's daughter.
Plot
Sebastian's newest "conquest" - to seduce the pure girl that is staying with his aunt. The catch - she is the headmaster's daughter. The consequences - if he sleeps with her, he gets to finally sleep with step-sister Kathryn, whom he has been after fr quite some time. If he losses - Kathryn gets his Jaguar Roadster. Throw in Kathryn's obsession for her ex-boyfriend Court, who is now dating Cecile - who happens to have a crush on her black music teacher, Ronald, and you've got a whole mess of trouble.
Acting
Gellar does an excellent job of being a stuck up, sex obsessed, cruel person (person would not be the word I would use here, but to be polite). Philippe works well with her. His good looks help give the character to Sebastian. Witherspoon, also, does an excellent job. Her innocent looks combined with the sweetness in her character make for a believable story line.
Great Moments
The best scene in this movie occurs when Annette leaves the house to stay with friends. Sebastian wakes up in the morning and finds out she left. He takes off to find her, and from a friend he learns she is at the train station. It cuts to her walking towards an escalator. She steps on, and begins going upstairs. Then, at the top, stands Sebastian. She reaches him, mentions that she is impressed, and they kiss. It's a good kissing scene too.
So-So Moments
Parts involving Cecile are quite funny. With this being an upper class society, she comes in with no manners, no knowledge of how to act, and she always says the wrong things at the wrong time. The scene where Sebastian pushes her off the bed is hilarious.
Horrible Moments
It starts to drag a bit. The sexual tension between Sebastian and Kathryn does get old.
Overall
CRUEL INTENTIONS combines love, drama, and humor into a movie perfect for college-aged students. I think there is too many sex and drug references for teenagers. Not to ruin it for anyone that hasn't seen it, buta lot of people have walked away from this movie very unhappy with the ending. I, personally, liked the ending - it isn't commonly done, and that's why most don't like it.
Final Thought
Every time I watch it, I get caught up in the story line again and again. I would recommend this.
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