A scandalous tale adaptated for the big screen- Dangerous Liasons. (Dangerous Liaisons (DVD))

Member Name: Jcapulet

Product:	Dangerous Liaisons (DVD)
Date:	21/01/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cast, amazing all round production.

Disadvantages: None.

I feel so fickle writing these reviews sometimes as everything must seem like my favourite !! But if this had to go onto any of my lists it would be on my 'seen a million times but still enjoy' list. It has a wonderful mix of revenge, jealousy and poetic justice about it and is based on the novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" (which I have never read so I'm unsure just how faithfully this movie keeps to the original storyline !!)

The main characters are the ridiculously arrogant and uber sexy Vicomte de Valmont (played by John Malkovich ), the pious and misinterpretated Madame de Tourvel ( played by the beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer, ) the bitchy and revengeful Marquise de Merteuil ( played by Glenn Close ), the easily led and innocent (-ish ) Cecile de Volanges (played by Uma Thurman) and the nice-but-dim Danceny ( played by Keanu Reeves.)

The story is a mangled web of lies, deceit, revenge, love and passion. Vicomte de Valmont has a love/passion for the Marquise de Merteuil and between the two of them they plan some revenge and challenges. For the Marquise de Merteuil she wants revenge on her ex husband and arranges for Vicomte to seduce her ex husbands wife-to-be ( Cecile de Volanges ) for utter humiliation. Vicomte has a challenge of his own however and that is to seduce the beautiful but pious Madame de Tourvel who is a woman famous in society for loyalty to husband and to God. However, whilst these 'games' are being 'played' Vicomte falls in love with Madame de Tourvel and vice versa, whilst Cecile falls in love with Danceny whilst being sexually educated by Vicomte. Marquise de Merteuil however is non-to-pleased that her once love/sexual equal Vicomte has fallen in love and goes about trying to end things. Her meddling does not stop there however and her actions result in a duel between Danceny and Vicomte. The movie ends on a poetic justice moment when Marquise de Merteuil is hounded from society for her actions and life will never be the same for many of the characters for one reason or another. Writing reviews is tricky when you don't want to give too much away !!

This movie is by far the best adaptation of the basic story and I think it's because it's in keeping with the original era of the novel. You can pick up a copy for about a fiver these days which is a bargain for such a great film and is rated a 15 which is about right due to scenes of a sexual nature etc. All in all, it's a classy cast and adaptation with lots of twists and turns to keep you enterained.

Summary: Almost Shakespearean-like for its story of love, passion, revenge and betrayal.