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Cruel Intentions |
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Perverse, obscene and deeply offensive.
That's no overstatement when describing
Cruel Intentions, the fourth screen
adaptation of Les Liaisons
Dangereuses, Pierre Laclos' novel of
sexual skulduggery. But this version is
especially irresponsible. By casting young
stars from TV's Buffy the Vampire
Slayer and Dawson's Creek, this
sleazy remake is clearly targeted at teens.
Young viewers are introduced to
Sebastian and his stepsister Kathryn,
soulless, spoiled rich kids with an insatiable
appetite for sex and ruining people's lives.
She wagers that Sebastian can't bed the
virginal Annette, a Christian girl vocal in her
support of abstinence (sadly, he wins the bet).
Meanwhile, Kathryn introduces innocent
Cecile to erotic encounters, starting with a
lesbian kiss and ending with an impassive
Sebastian tutoring Cecile on oral sex and
intercourse. There's also a thread of deceit
spun by a gay teen who speaks frankly about
his sexual past and is shown in bed with
another man.
Obscenities are harsh and
frequent—particularly the f-word and abuses of
Jesus' name. Disrespect for Christianity also
extends to Annette's faith being mocked and
Kathryn snorting coke from a cross she
wears.
A few principled notes (Sebastian literally
laying down his life for Annette, or Kathryn's
guile being exposed and reviled) are all but
drowned out by the rest of this lurid symphony.
Cruel counsel such as "Practice makes
perfect. My advice would be to sleep with as
many people as possible" is unhealthy and
immoral. Don't let these young schemers
seduce teens.
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