Customer Reviews

Dangerous Liaisons (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From an earlier review...

"Great Potential Ruined By Mediocre Actors"

Oh, now THIS is rich...

THREE Oscar-nominated performances, and one of those is an example of "mediocre" acting? Gimme a break.

This is without doubt a fine film... Wicked, delightful, and delicious even for this guy's guy (forget that "chick flick" nonsense, any man who doesn't wish to take Malkovich's place in "educating" a very young Ms. Thurman is delusional). Five stars, a modern classic.

Superb cinematography, acting, costumes, dialogue, etc. Highly recommended.

All the actors in this movie are at some of their bests. The scenery and costuming if a awe inspiring. This movie will have you thinking about it for days after you have seen it, you will want to see it again and again, and each time you will love it more then the previous time.

I first saw this on VHS a few years ago, and remember being stunned by the great acting, the rich costumes, fine settings, not to mention the sheer depravity of the tale; easily 4-5 stars. Then, purely by chance this year, I bought a copy of Untold Scandal, not realising it was a Korean version of the same story. Wow! Folks, this is how it should be done.
Intrigued, I dug out my old tape and watched it again. The performances still stand up, but the film-making looks jerky, crude, graceless. Still worth watching? Yes; but get hold of Untold Scandal too. You won't be sorry.

This is truly a terrific film. Straight from the pages of the play's script and expertly played by Close, Pfieffer, Malkovich, and Reeves. So well played. these actors all divinely understood their characters and it shows. The film work is top notch. This is a clean, unfettered flick. Watch and enjoy.

"Dangerous Liaisons" is, by far, one of the best films ever made! I love everything about this movie from the story to the actors portraying the charcters. I think Glenn Close and John Malkovich were cast perfectly in their roles of scheming, manipulative aristocratic people who have nothing better to do than seek revenge and cruelly ruin people's lives.

I would definitely suggest this film to anyone! Younger people may not find this period piece very appealing, so for them I would suggest "Cruel Intentions," which is based on the same story. Anyone who wants to be immersed in an incredible tale of love, hate, deceit, cruelty, and revenge should watch this film!

The book is amazing and the movie is a decent interpretation of it. The reason though that this movie gets 5 stars from me is because John Malkovich is INCREDIBLE. So smooth, seductive, and beautiful. The remainder of the class comes in at a close 2nd. Buy the movie to see these actors at their true form.

This is a movie that I could easily watch 100 times over... The acting is simply superb. All of the characters come off so multi-faceted.. Are they good? Are they bad? Are they all victims of circumstances? It's hard to say.

I love this movie because it makes me FEEL and it makes me THINK.. Goodness, how it frustrates me, but it does capture me. It is a really compelling film.

I am someone who watches movies for the characters more than the story-- I like to see them, and empathize with them. If you understand what I mean by that, then you'd probably like this film, because it is driven completely by the characters. Who they are and what they do determines what happens, and you cannot help but get pulled in. GREAT GREAT performances by John Malkovich and Glenn Close, as the scheming and manipulative former lovers, and by Michelle Pfeiffer, as the innocent woman they set out to corrupt..

DANGEROUS LIAISONS is a fantastic character study of the twisted and obsessed. The classic novel translates perfectly to the screen in this adaptation by Christopher Hampton which was taken from his acclaimed stage play.

Glenn Close is mesmerising as the seductive and manipulative woman who challenges the cruel Valmont (John Malkovich) to seduce her naive niece (Uma Thurman). However, Valmont also wishes to seduce and disgrace a remote beauty (Michelle Pfeiffer), totally uncaring and unaware of the tragic outcome that will envelope them both.

The stellar cast also includes Keanu Reeves (THE MATRIX, PARENTHOOD), Swoosie Kurtz (LITTLE GIRLS IN PRETTY BOXES, REALITY BITES) and veteran Mildred Natwick (THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY).

The DVD transfer is gorgeous and has a dynamic 5.1 sound mix that shows off the beautifully dramatic score by George Fenton.

Remade as VALMONT (starring Colin Firth and Fairuza Balk) and CRUEL INTENTIONS (starring Ryan Phillippe).

This is an excellent film. The book is even better. This brings me to my second point, which that it was written by Choderlos de Laclos, who never seems to be mentioned in connection with this movie. Get the book - you won't regret it.

That's how it starts. All fun and games. Something to do to prevent boredom. Then, wham-bang, how nasty can you get. For those that like a little evil in their lives, this is the film to watch.