Customer Reviews

Rules of Attraction [Blu-ray] [Import]

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

The attraction of this movie is limited. While there were enjoyable moments, these were far and few between. The most enjoyable parts of the movie were usually the ones involving Ian SOmerhalders character, just because they were funny, and RicharDdick. While the whole time jumping thing was an intresting idea, it made the movie and narrative a choppy mess. SOme of the observations made by the movie about college life and just about the way people think/behave in general were amusing... they weren't conveyed in the most digestible package.

At the end of the film I found myself mostly happy the film was over and glad I only spent a few bucks to rent it rather than see the movie in the theater.

Wow. What a waste of time. Since there wasn't much of a plot, I'll assume the point of the movie was to glamorize sex, drugs, and suicide. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy all those things when they're done well, but this was just trying too hard to be "hard". Jessica Beil as a coke [addict]? James Van-der-Beek as the psycho thrill-seeking drug dealer? Oh my, what will their parents think? This was a big laugh as much as anything. Being unintentionally funny, and having a good soundtrack were the only good points to this. The sad part is knowing that some 16 year old is going to watch this and think it's cool. I mean the sex and drugs are one thing, but there were two suicide scenes because people couldn't "hook-up" with their crushes. Even if the shock-value was the thing this was going for, it was just done wrong. If you want that type of film, rent "Kids". It's alot more realistic.

Roger Avery approaches the material with a funny, light, high energy touch, not
asking us to take Brett Easton Ellis's nihilism too seriously.

Consequently, a film where every character is deeply flawed and
narcissistic is never boring, and often full of a visceral energy. It
even has moments where it becomes moving. And many of the
showy style tricks work perfectly with the excesses of the story.

Yes, on a few occasional the style is distracting, and a few elements are too familiar
and on the nose (Faye Dunaway and Swoozie Kurtz as boozy moms who
choose not to see how screwed up their kids are, the extra shallow
treatment of the gay character. etc).

I can understand how this might put some viewers off.
But overall I felt like this didn't get a fair shake from critics. I enjoyed
watching it, was never bored, and was even made to think. How many
films can you say that about?

Fun soundtrack and a good Tomandandy score too.

You may love it, you may hate it, but it's inventive and brave
enough to decide for yourself.

this movie was awesome it did a great job of showing the characters emotion and expressing what college life (even if it is a pretty wild version) is really like. This movie does a great job of showing the same event through other people's point of view finally a movie that understands that life has more than one point of view

After watching this film, I wondered "what was the most obnoxious part of this movie"? Was it at the drug dealer's house? Was it the gay guys' dinner with their mothers? Or maybe it was the overly long and inflated "whirlwind" tour of Europe through the eyes of, perhaps, the most despicable person in this film?

All of these characters are deplorable and shallow. One reviewer said they felt sorry for the girl who was sending the purple letters! Why? She does herself in for a guy that she doesn't even know and has made no attempt to talk to!! Following their lives leaves the viewer feeling empty. They are all emotionally and ethically bankrupt. Why should we care about these characters? What is the point here?!

It is truly sad that Brett Easton Ellis has gotten rich writing pathetic drivel such as this. He has truly hoodwinked a lot of people who are easily shocked. Richard Avary and Ellis is a good combo though-- because both are masters at creating exploitative, sensationalist garbage with no heart.

2 stars for the acting only.

Directed by Roger Avary ''The Rules of Attraction'' is one of the worst movies of 2002 and there have been a couple.

The movie stars James Van Der Beek from ''Dawson's Creek'' as Sean Bateman, a drug dealing slanking student who basically by his own words is a ''social vampire'' someone who leeches of others, and sinks his fangs to those naive and weak enough around him. The best example is near the beginning where Sean is telling us through a couple of brief flashbacks about the pathetic situations he has been involved in. He then seeks to forgot about his problems like some individuals by consuming himself with alcohol and then finding a cheap girl to sleep with. His prayers get answered when he meets a young blonde who is obviously a little drunk as well. Anyhow fast forward 5 minutes and then we are introduced to a whole slew of pathetic characters. There is the homosexual character of Paul (Ian Somerhalder) who basically likes to sleep with any boys around him. I doubt think gays would have liked this character either. I have seen in many films vile heterosexual characters but dare I say it, Paul is the first vile homosexual character Ive seen in film (another good reason that the movie shouldn't have been made let alone a novel)

Supposedly this horrible movie was taken from a novel by Bret Easton Ellis and I could only shudder to think how bad the book is if the movie of this calibur is taken from a novel. In fact looking at another site it doesn't quite know how to qualify the movie. It has the movie itself listed as a Comedy/Drama/Romance/Thriller? lol

Back to the movie, we see a couple of the stupid situations Mr. Bateman is in. Apparently he has a drug pimp (some weak little 17 yr old white boy) who think he is a big shot because he carries a gun. Anyhow, this pimp wants money from Sean (apparently they have some sort of partnership going where this guy gets his own cut of the drug money). Sean can't pay the money but he comes with a way to get it by swindling a couple of rich preppies who want to get high....lol

Then there comes this sick twist in the film, Paul sexually loves Sean and Sean is interested in this girl Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon) supposedly because she is pure and sweet (which is not what I heard in the novel).
Anyhow, Sean Bateman well to put in a blunt is real nilist, he likes to turn everything into crap plain and simple. The movie itself takes one direction (to sicken us with one hideous character after the next and shows their selfish stupid actions)
and pretty does until the very end. Speaking of which, the ending itself is written on the wall halfway, it's not surprising, it's a sad ending to a sad vile film.

''The Rules of Attraction'' also has done nothing for the cast either, James Beek hasn't done a movie in 2 yrs and none of the other actors except maybe Kate Bosworth who has a short role as Kelly (friend of Lauren) has gone anywhere.

The only good thing that I think comes from watching such a stupid movie as this, is that it shows that even in 2002 American directors still seek to make incredibly bad movies hoping that audiences will dig them, they won't and I didn't dig this movie at all.

Another horrible movie with James Van Der Beek which started a couple of years ago with his weak movie ''Varsity Blues''.

I did get the blues watching this movie (pun intended). Van Der Beek is just not a good actor at all, all he has is good looks but not much acting depth. So stay away from this movie. Dont fork any money into buying it, but if you still want to see how bad it is rent it.

The movie reminded me of Pulp Fiction in some ways.The way the scenes are somewhat out of order,yet this was a very good movie.It shows college life and the teens in it.It shows an intresting love triangle all connected to Shawn (James Van Der Beek).This movie has some ironic twists but is overall intresting.

It's not often that you get to see a film in which everyone is mis-cast, but Rules of Attraction is one of those moments. Sean and Lauren are the worst choices in this one, with Van Der Beak stretching to distance himself from his squeaky clean past, and Lauren just seeming much more weird and aloof than she was in the novel. And don't even get me started on that hatchet job haircut. Biel and the girl who played Lauren should have flip-flopped roles as the Lauren in the novel seemed more akin to her. Paul and Victor are just annoying, the portrayal of the drug dealer is way too overboard, and Fred Savage as the junkie playing the clarinet-I mean c'mon! Scenes added on, like the hotel room dance to George Michael's "Faith," show director Roger Avery's overindulgence. And all those super close-ups....UGGGGGH!!!! Just terrible souless film-making. If I were Bret Easton Ellis I'd be pissed at this hatchet job of a film based on a far superior novel.

This is James Van Der Beek's best film. The characters are outrageous , but realistic. The movie truly reflects the college experience for some. The music score is well integrated with the action scenes.

The Rules of Attraction is one of the most clever movies I have seen in a long time. It has a very interesting and amusing plot. And it's funny; I found myself laughing out loud repeatedly throughout the movie.

The basic theme of the movie is love. Well...love and drugs.

Direction is great. In my opinion it's better than Kill Bill 1 or 2. I strongly recommend this movie to everyone. It's a great laugh and wonderful movie. A must see.