Review of Cruel Intentions

My rating of 6 out of 10 is a generous one. However, my opinion has become quite biased over the course of the past few months. When I first saw this film, I liked it very much--not just because it was a good story but because I considered it an adequate adaptation of a truly exquisite piece of literature. This opinion was poorly based on account that not only had I not actually read the novel, but because my only knowledge of the original story was a blurred memory of the first half of "Dangerous Liaisons" with the glorious Glenn Close. In the opening credits, it is announced that it was adapted from the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos. What it should have said was, "Loosely based on the film "Dangerous Liaisons" by Christopher Hampton based on the play "Les Liaisons Dangeruses" by Christopher Hampton based on the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses."" Cruel Intentions completely misses the point of the book. Sebastian's relationship with Annette is shallow and based entirely upon his lies. His character does not change at all beyond falling in love with Annette and Katharine is a poor adversary. This isn't a grandiose story of a man who changes his life and dies in sincere repentance, it is a pathetic tail of spoiled rich brats who had it coming. If you have no desire whatsoever to understand the meaning and purpose of the story, enjoy this film with my blessings. However, if you have any respect for the dignity of one of the greatest novels ever written, please restrict yourself to the film "Dangerous Liaisons" or be content with the book and/or play.