Basic Instinct

Starring:Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Denis Arndt, Leilani Sarelle, Bruce A. Young, Chelcie Ross, Dorothy Malone, Wayne Knight, Daniel von Bargen, Stephen Tobolowsky, Benjamin Mouton, Jack McGee, Bill Cable, Stephen Rowe, Mitch Pileggi, Mary Pat Gleason, Freda Foh Shen, William Duff-Griffin
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Studio: Live / Artisan
Product Type: DVD
Average customer rating:
- Follow your instinct...
- outrageous
- Sharon Stone is so confident in her character as Catherine Trammel in this film...
- "Ice pick" me, please!
- A good thriller with a lot of sex scenes
|
Basic Instinct - Director's Cut (Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sharon Stone , George Dzundza , Jeanne Tripplehorn , and Denis Arndt
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mystery
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mind Games
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Arndt, Denis
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Douglas, Michael
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Dzundza, George
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Knight, Wayne
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Malone, Dorothy
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McGee, Jack
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mouton, Benjamin
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pileggi, Mitch
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ross, Chelcie
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rowe, Stephen
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sarelle, Leilani
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tripplehorn, Jeanne
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Young, Bruce A
| ( Y )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Verhoeven, Paul
| ( V )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
All Lions Gate Titles
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Ultimate Editions
| Fully Loaded DVDs
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)
- Sliver (Unrated Edition)
- Fatal Attraction (Special Collector's Edition)
- A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
- King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)
ASIN: B000E5N684
Release Date: 2006-03-14 |
Customer Reviews:
Follow your instinct..........2007-07-03
After years and years of hearing about this movie, I recently purchased it at a local Wal*Mart. Let me say this, do not underestimate this movie!
Although it may not be as shocking or cutting-edge as it was back in the day; this movie still provides a lot of substance from the original intention. The acting is superb. There is honest chemistry between Douglas and Stone; each play off of each other's strengths making it come off as genuine and not forced at all. The supporting characters also add essential realism and help develop the story even further. Within the characters, each has their own distinct personality and the viewer gets to know them pretty well by the end of the story. The characters are dramactic when called for, but also provide subtle comic relief when needed as well.
The directing however, is what makes this movie so well good. Everything from the script (kept relatively in its original form) all the way to the lighting and the way that affects how the viewer reacts to certain scenes. As for the nude/sex scenes; I believe they were done in a way that enhances the story and/or develops the characters further; not done just for the sake of doing them.
As I mentioned don't let this movie fool you. It is very well crafted and provides some good suspense and entertainment. After years of avoiding it, I'm glad I finally own it!
outrageous.......2007-04-05
It is a outrageous film. Sharon Stone is simply exotic. The argument is good. The photography excellent.
Sharon Stone is so confident in her character as Catherine Trammel in this film..........2007-03-20
Sharon Stone is so confident in her character as Catherine Trammel in this film, and portrays some of the best sex and orgasm I've seen in a blockbuster movie before. It is fun to see all the explicit scenes of sex, nudity and violence all rolled into one movie. The story unravels with perfect rhythm, keeping your senses titillated all along the way. It is timeless in its' plot, the murder mystery that even at the end never seems to be solved completely. The viewer is left seduced, allured, and looking back on the different scenes and characters trying to figure out exactly what just happened.
Michael Douglas does a terrific job in his role as detective Nick Curran. He's on top of his game one moment, and the next completely clueless, giving in to the pleasures of drinking and smoking after months of sobriety.
"Ice pick" me, please!.......2007-03-07
Sharon Stone in one of her better roles! Her underlying coldness as Catherine Trammel surfaces between scenes where she makes you empathetic, particularly when she wants you to think she's vulnerable.
But underneath that calm and calculating mind is a suspected pathological killer and writer, plus bisexual to boot!
I enjoyed the scenes of what was suggestive of San Francisco, but have a hard time figuring how Michael Douglas' character as Nick always seems to find a convenient parking spot in front of his building! If you've ever been to the foggy city, you know that's a rare. Adding to the confusion is the scene at the dance club, which is a replica of New York's Limelight Club set in a church...what the heck is that doing is SF?
I did find the sets of Trammel's homes to be quite accurate. The Divisadero mansion is something you'd expect to find in that area. The seaside home though was actually filmed on location in Carmel, even though it was suppose to suggest Marin. Aside from that, if you didn't realize that fact, you would have never thought otherwise (except some areas of Marin are not close to water).
The ending fades that happened several times was annoying, but it did keep you guessing...was she really the murderess or not?
The Ultimate Edition that is unrated shows a tad more nudity, particularly in Michael Douglas' case, but overall adds nothing too significant to the storyline.
Wouldn't it be better to see more of Stone and the infamous interview process? That in itself is the gem of the movie.
A good thriller with a lot of sex scenes.......2007-02-17
This film keeps you on your tows from the start. It does start with an interesting, very explicit bedroom scene, with an unexpected twist at the end. What follows is one of the best detective stories in recent years, with a loot of humour and plenty of sex, for which the film is really famous for. Sharon Stone makes quite an appearance, dressed or undressed, but either she, or the director of the film, or both, seem to have a fixation on smoking to an irritating degree. Now as to the director's cut, I am not so sure that it adds much over the previous ten-year anniversary two disc edition. It is certainly worth watching and at its present price, a real bargain. If you are thinking of buying the sequel, don't bother. It does not even come close to the original.
Average customer rating:
- Next-gen smut
- Overrated
- BASIC INSTINCT A MUST HAVE ON BLU-RAY DISC
|
Basic Instinct [Blu-ray]
Starring: Peter Appel , Denis Arndt , Julie Bond , William Duff-Griffin , and George Dzundza
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
General
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Drama
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Horror
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Mystery & Suspense
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
- Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
- Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
- Deja Vu [Blu-ray]
- Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
ASIN: B000O5B4C4
Release Date: 2007-05-29 |
Description
Michael Douglas stars as Nick Curran, a tough but vulnerable detective. Sharon Stone costars as Catherine Tramell, a cold, calculating and beautiful novelist with an insatiable sexual appetite. Catherine becomes a prime suspect when her boyfriend is brutally murdered - a crime she described in her latest novel. Obsessed with cracking the case, Nick descends into San Francisco's forbidden underground where suspicions mount, bodies fall and he finds within himself an instinct more basic than survival.
Customer Reviews:
Next-gen smut.......2007-06-28
I had this classic on DVD, but I had to update of course. Michael Douglas's higher resolution middle-aged assets and Sharon Stone's younger assets are all on display in fine 1080p, complete with wrinkles and imperfections. Very fun movie still after 15 years. Can we say that about the stars' assets in 2007, though? The movie could look sharper, but there's only so much you can do with a movie from 1992.
The DTS HD audio track is excellent. All the moans, gasps, and curses are in a better bitrate (I guess?). The extras are in standard definition, I believe, but it's no big deal. Never watched them anyway.
Now bring on Showgirls, MGM!
Overrated.......2007-06-12
Basic Instinct is a beautifully created film with a compelling story with enough twists and psychological bends to captivate you. Yet the sotry is bogged down with gratuitous sexual encounters that do not propel anywhere. The acting of Michael Douglas in this film was distractingly bad. He was pissed off throughout the film for no apparent reason, even in the love scenes. Sharon Stone player her character very well, a cold, manipulating and very attractive woman. Of course there isn't very many scenes without her exposing herself. The movie seems to rest on her nudity, not her acting. Overall, the movie seems to elevate the gratuitous sex over the actual plot. So while I was being drawn into the story, the movie also pulled me away from it leaving me desiring more form the story.
BASIC INSTINCT A MUST HAVE ON BLU-RAY DISC.......2007-06-01
Basic Instinct has been released several times on DVD, but this is the first incarnation on High Definition disc. This BLU-RAY disc will probably be the best presentation of this film on video. Director Paul Verhoeven's raw, sexy, gory thriller is his best American film. The beautiful Sharon Stone gives her finest performance, and Michael Douglas, Jean Tripplehorn, George Dzundza are excellent. Composer Jerry Goldsmith contributes a magnificent score.
Only available on BLU-RAY HD with great picture and sound this disc is a knockout!
Average customer rating:
- Diarrhetic Pyschological Thriller
- Not as good as the first one but worth a look
- David Thewlis is all the money!
- This "one of the WORST movie of the year" wasn't too bad
- Sharon Stone is too old to be in this role
|
Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)
Starring: Stan Collymore , Sharon Stone , Neil Maskell , David Thewlis , and Jan Chappell
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mystery
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Rampling, Charlotte
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Thewlis, David
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Jones, Michael Caton
| ( J )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Sony Pictures Titles
| Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Basic Instinct - Director's Cut (Ultimate Edition)
- The Sentinel (Widescreen Edition)
- Firewall (Widescreen Edition)
- 16 Blocks (Widescreen Edition)
- The Matador (Widescreen Edition)
ASIN: B000FS9UKI
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Amazon.com
Despite its inevitable fate as a critically reviled box-office flop, Basic Instinct 2 sure has a funny way of holding your attention. It's not just Sharon Stone's trash-talk and occasional nudity that keeps you watching, but also the way she gamely earns every cent of her $14 million paycheck, vamping like a real pro in her second outing as mystery novelist and alleged serial killer Catherine Tramell. Now living in London, Catherine sets her lethal sights on Michael Glass (David Morrissey), the control-freak psychiatrist assigned to evaluate her as a risk-addicted suspect in the "accidental" killing of a star soccer player. Turns out Catherine's just getting started (or is she?), and that's bad news for Glass's ex-wife, a tabloid journalist, and the Scotland Yard detective (David Thewlis) who's desperate to put Catherine in jail. With plenty of sex, murder and salacious dialogue, BI2 is certainly never boring, especially with the morbid fascination of seeing the once formidable Stone torpedo her career in a sequel that took 14 years (and countless drafts of screenplays and at least one high-profile lawsuit) to bring to the screen. She's still impressively hot at age 47, prompting critic Roger Ebert to observe, "the Catherine Tramell role cannot be played well, but Sharon Stone can play it badly better than any other actress alive." So, while this ill-fated sequel falls just short of being a guilty pleasure (if only because Morrissey is no match for Michael Douglas in the 1992 original), it's enjoyably absurd and slickly produced, and the hot-tub scene is guaranteed to wear out the freeze-frame function on a lot of DVD players. For some viewers, that's reason enough for multiple viewings.--Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Diarrhetic Pyschological Thriller.......2007-06-18
Basic Instinct 2 is directed by Michael Caton-Jones (This Boy's Life, Rob Roy). The original film was in my eyes a lot better than most even gave it credit for, but that movie was handled by hit or miss Director Paul Verhoeven. History suggests that Caton-Jones has consistently directed more quality films than Verhoeven. So the sequel, on the surface anyway, doesn't seem like such a bad idea despite it happening so many years later. There was something incredibly inviting about Sharon Stone's Catherine Trammel in the first movie. It was edgy and well done, which is a sum combination superior to the individual strengths. Many have suggested that this is the worst film of 2006 and I try hard to approach a viewing indifferent to such assertions. After all, people hailed Crash as the best film of 2005 and I didn't buy into that hype. I'm going with the sheep here though. Basic Instinct 2 is the worst film of 2006.
In a nutshell, we reconvene in London with Catherine Trammel as the film's protagonist. Catherine is suspected of playing some role in the death of her boyfriend who was apparently drugged before a fatal car crash into the ocean. After being released from the authorities she decides to hook up with a psychiatrist named Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey). The mind games, sexual tension and murder ensue.
The most important reason this film failed critically and only lasted about two weeks in American theaters is because of Sharon Stone's performance. It really pains me to say that. It is easy to target her age her but that is a slightly misguided criticism. Sharon looks great for her late 40s in my opinion but her performance suggests a lack of confidence in her own ability to be as sexual as Trammel was in 1992. First of all, it's not an easy task to duplicate that performance in the first place, but Stone's failure might expose her as a one-dimensional actress recycling a role she is no longer capable of delivering. It's not her looks that are not sexy; it's her attitude and her paper thin performance that lacks the confidence to be even remotely compelling. I would even propose that her performance affected the confidence of everyone working this film. It's entirely possible that the success of the movie depended on Sharon Stone almost exclusively. Being a huge fan of the first movie, I sincerely wanted her to pull it off. To Stone's credit, the task at hand was a difficult one.
Basic Instinct 2 also doesn't contain nearly the edge that the first film did. That isn't to say it was necessary to do so. In fact, some aspects of the first film could certainly be deemed gratuitous and this sequel is notably missing the copious amounts of nudity that the first film contained, for better or worse. Perhaps there was a conscious effort to be less gratuitous and there is of course some merit to that attempt. But they failed in not being gratuitous as well because the dialogue in this sequel is at times unnecessarily filthy. In fact, it seemed like someone intentional added sexual references to the end of some sentences just for the hell of it. The dialogue was also laughably bad at times and the actors of course struggled in delivering some lines convincingly.
The other big flaw is the story in general. It's not horrible, it's just too convoluted and the movie really dragged at times. To be blunt, it was really boring for the most part and just didn't hook me in. I love to recognize notoriously bad films that hook me in just for being so poor; like Mac and Me, Dungeons and Dragons, Plan 9 From Outer Space or Manos, but Basic Instinct 2 isn't even as memorable. It's bad like Gigli or Death to Smoochy was bad. It is forgetfully bad. I almost had to take notes just to recall some key points for this review.
Not as good as the first one but worth a look.......2007-05-15
I've always had a special place in my heart for the first Basic
Instinct movie. Back in the early 90s, you didn't have instant internet
access like you have today. So the easiest way for adolescent males to
look at naked female bodies was to head over to your local video store
and rent any one of the broad selection of outdated low budget
movies that were available to you. Needless to say those films were not
exactly top of the line material. But then came along Basic Instinct, a
film loved by male teens whose hormones were running amok, adults
looking for an exciting thriller, or just curious what all the fuzz was
about, and film critics alike. Basic Instinct was special because it
was not only sexually provocative (remember the interrogation and
bondage scenes) but also had a strong cast, a good storyline, well
developed characters, beautiful photography, fast cars and a nice
setting. It was a violent police thriller in which the central
character and main draw was a pantiless femme fatale with a taste for
all things extreme and directed by the accomplished Paul Verhoeven, a
Dutchman famous for making harsh films with a touch of sexual
provocation.
Fast forward to Basic Instinct 2. Whereas Catherine Tramell was the most intriguing figure in the first movie, she was surrounded by other equally well developed characters. Nick Kurran was the borderline cop, played by Michael Douglas, who became obsessed by the beautiful and dangerous Tramell, Jeanne Tripplehorn portrayed the jealous co-worker and Leilani Sarelle was Sharon Stone's lesbian love interest, which was pretty revolutionary in early 90s mainstream cinema.
The sequel shows Catherine Tramell living in London and that's about
it. Caught in her web this time around is Kevin Franks, played by Stan Collymore, a boring psychologist whose life is influenced by equally uninteresting women: the sexually unsatisfied ex-wife, a mother figure and mentor and some kind of love interest. I suspect the cliché London setting and subsequent cast of unknown actors was done for financial reasons. There is not a whole lot to say about the story. The movie starts off with a famous soccer player getting killed while he's making love to Catherine, who is doing 110 miles an hour in downtown London. Tramell is the main suspect and is persued by an overzealous police officer and defended by psychologist Franks who becomes obsessed with his hot patient.
The opening scene is immediately the most exciting sexual scene in the whole movie. There is one other where Collymore has sex with his would-be girlfriend but that's a poor reproduction of Michael Douglas letting his
suppressed sexual appetites rage havoc on Jeane Tripplehorn. The other
erotic scenes are pretty lame, especially after such extreme opening credits and taking into consideration Catherine Tramell's sexy outfits. Why would anyone want to go see an erotic thriller whose love scenes are tamer than a Britney Spears concert? Stil, Sharon Stone does look as beautiful and seductive as she did in the first film. However, whereas in the early 90s Catherine Tramell wore sexy outfits, made even more exciting because it was obvious she didn't wear anything underneath them, she was still pretty elegantly dressed. Her clothes in the sequel are designed for the sole purpose of turning men on. So all in all, I conclude that director Michael Caton-Jones has pretty much exploited the sexually provocative aspect of the first movie (but not in a very good way, unless the unrated version features a lot of spicy cut scenes) and neglected all of the other aspects that made Paul Verhoeven's film so special. Is it any coincidence he's since gone on to direct the critically acclaimed Blackbook and Basic Instinct 2 was nominated for worst film of 2006?
So, if you were an adolescent male in the early 90s, whose sexual fantasies where forever influenced by Miss Tramell or if you just like Sharon Stone, who looks as good as ever, go check this film out, even if it's just for nostalgia's sake. If it's an exciting crime story you're looking for, better go watch one of the other erotic thrillers Basic Instinct paved the way for, like Body of Evidence, Disclosure or Sliver.
David Thewlis is all the money!.......2007-04-26
Basic Instinct 2 was a bit of a disappointment, considering the success of the first film and the presence of Sharon Stone and David Thewlis among others, though by no means is it a terrible movie.
Catherine Tramell is back only this time she's in England. The string of murders is not that far behind...
In short, the acting is pretty good (though nothing great), the setting is average, while the dialogues and the plot are below average.
The major setbacks are in relation to:
1) The rather weak plot and especially the weak dialogues, for which the writers are to blame. It gets to be quite slow and boring at times...
2) Indira Varma was not that great as Denise. Just as bad were the actors playing the minor roles.
3) When it comes to eroticism it doesn't really hit the mark like the original.
It seems as though the actors/directors/producers went to England on vacation separately. While there they met up with each other at the hotel lounge over drinks, and then decided, on the spot, to make the best of their stay by doing a quick and easy film on the side for some extra cash/spending money.
Though the potential for a good movie was definitely there it fails to take off, primarily due to the writers.
In a nutshell, it's an ok movie and that's about it; no masterpiece here...
This "one of the WORST movie of the year" wasn't too bad.......2007-04-12
For some reason I can't totally dismiss the film. As unimaginative as it was, I still had a blast with it. Sharon Stone may be 48 but carries herself very well. I admire her for having the balls to try and pull this one off. And guess what? She kind of does and still has some sex appeal left even at nearly half a decade. Her voice is lower, she has to wear a lot of make-up, but Catherine Tramell is still in there begging to come out. She still looks better than half the stars in Hollywood half her age, and reigns as the "Queen of Mean" (maybe even more so after hearing what all she's done after being famous). Catherine's new fixation with auto-erotic asphyxiation is simply a vanity project for Stone which she holds on to very well.
As crazy as this sounds, I did have a hard time buying a shrink would fall for her. But then again in the first installment, why would a homicide detective? David Morrisey as Dr. Andrew Glass looks good, but at times would look sort of stiff in some of his frames looking like he was trying to get into character. David does all he can to make sure his character is more subtle than the cocksure Michael Douglas San Francisco detective from the original. It's a more restrained journey, but he's English and a psychologist. In a way it's a nice contrast to the first. I also wondered how in the world did they get Charlotte Rampling and David Thewlis? They both turn in their usual fine performances providing exactly what the script demands of them.
It very well may be a hoot to call it "the worst film of the year" or "top pick for a Razzie", but in the final analysis it mildly entertained me and kept my attention on other affairs. "Basic Instinct 2" is still a fun adult erotic thriller that is not as great as the first, but not nearly as bad as Stone's turn in the Halle Berry "Cat Woman" flick. Because at least there she looks good, and happy to be back on silver screen. You might still follow your instincts and try to not see/buy this disc but I would simply recommend this movie as a rental unless you really need this add-on to your collection.
Sharon Stone is too old to be in this role.......2007-04-11
I watched 10 minutes of this movie and had to turn it off. Sharon Stone is just too old to be beliveable in this role. She still looks good for her age, thanks to the plastic surgery, but she's 50 years old! I was embarrased for her.
Average customer rating:
- Basic Instinct
- "Nice Girl"
- A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation
- Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching...
- I need an icepick.
|
Basic Instinct
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sharon Stone , George Dzundza , Jeanne Tripplehorn , and Denis Arndt
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Arndt, Denis
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Douglas, Michael
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Dzundza, George
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Knight, Wayne
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Malone, Dorothy
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McGee, Jack
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mouton, Benjamin
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pileggi, Mitch
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ross, Chelcie
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rowe, Stephen
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sarelle, Leilani
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tripplehorn, Jeanne
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Young, Bruce A
| ( Y )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Verhoeven, Paul
| ( V )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
4-for-3 All DVDs
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Lions Gate Titles
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mystery & Suspense
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mind Games
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Fatal Attraction (Special Collector's Edition)
- Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)
- Disclosure
- Indecent Proposal
- Sliver (Unrated Edition)
ASIN: B0000JCFPE
Release Date: 2003-12-16 |
Product Description
Michael Douglas stars as Nick Curran, a tough but vulnerable detective. Sharon Stone costars as Catherine Tramell, a cold, calculating, and beautiful novelist with an insatiable sexual appetite. Catherine becomes a prime suspect when her boyfriend is brutally murdered - a crime she had described in her latest novel. Obsessed with cracking the case, Nick descends into San Francisco's forbidden underground where suspicions mount, bodies fall, and he finds within himself an instinct more basic than survival.
Special Features*:
16.9 Newly remastered Widescreen
5.1 Newly remastered English Dolby Surround
2.0 English Dolby Digital Audio
"Blonde Poison" - Documentary on the making of the film
"Cleaning up Basic Instinct" - A montage comparing the TV version to the theatrical version
Commentary with feminist critic Camille Paglia
Photo Gallery
Digitally Mastered
Storyboard Comparisons
Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Production Notes
Cast and Crew Information
English, French and Spanish subtitles
System Requirements:
Starring: Micael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, and Jeanne Tripplehorn
Directed By: Paul Verhoeven
Running Length: 127 minutes, color
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format
Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
The take-no-prisoners sex thriller from 1992 now stands as a milestone in the career of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven Basic Instinct is an undeniably stylish and provocative study of obsession. In the role that made her a star (and showed the audience a little more skin than she intended), Sharon Stone plays the cleverly manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell who snares San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) with her insatiable sexual appetite during the investigation of her boyfriend's murder. Tramell is the prime suspect, but the plot twists and turns until Curran is trapped in a dangerous cycle of dead ends and unsolved murders, never sure if Tramell is committing the crimes or if it is some other, unknown suspect. With a plot that keeps viewers guessing, Basic Instinct is the work of a director who is clearly in his element. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Basic Instinct.......2007-05-19
At the time this came out, I was only 11 years old so I really couldn't see it until acouple years later after sneaking it on when I was 13 years old.
I was very stunned, mostly because I'd never seen a film that hot before (of course being 13 lol), even though I did (like this film) snuck on Total Recall a year eariler by the same director.
I never understood why people were so mixed by the film, none of the scenes shown in the film,like the murder at the beginning and the numerous graphic sex scenes which didn't bother me like they did alot of other people.
I believe like everyone else does that this was a part that Sharon Stone was born to play. She was perfectly cast in the role of Catherine Tramell (probably the screens best femme fatale ever) if they'd had got someone else for that role it wouldn't have been as effective as it was.
It was kinda werid seeing Michael Douglas in the kind of role after growing up watching him in Romancing The Stone and The Jewel Of The Nile,but it was great and interesting to see different range he as an actor.
Paul Verhoeven is a director who loves to take chances and is not afriad to show the audiences certain scenes or subject matter which might disturb or flat out piss the viewers off. And that's why he's one of my favourite directors.
Basic Instinct was (and still) is a great thiller to watch and a film which is still held by people (like me) as the sexiest film ever made.
"Nice Girl".......2007-04-26
An excellent film that has in effect become a classic, Basic Instinct, brings to the screen a murder mystery involving a police detective and a sensual multi-millionaire writer.
The setting is San Francisco and detective Curran is investigating the gruesome murder of a man found dead in his bed after what seems to have been a passionate and steamy night. The investigation reveals a purely sexual relationship between the deceased and a striking novelist whose life seems to be intertwined with various deadly accidents and mysterious deaths. Things become rather complicated when her latest novel's hero oddly resembles detective Curran...
Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone and Jeanne Tripplehorn (both of whom are GORGEOUS!), Mitch Pileggi (X-Files), George Dzundza, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows!
The film combines a great cast, a great mystery, and some very realistic and very erotic sex scenes (for a change).
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music (!) are all wonderful!
In short, Basic Instinct is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection (if you haven't done so already)!
A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation.......2007-01-11
I'd got this as a present for Christmas, although my mum already had it, but she has a thing for Michael Douglas. *Bleurgh* I'd never had much of an incline to watch it with my mum, and after watching it, I've decided it's probably not a good idea to watch it with my mum!
Basic Instinct has two major horrible points for me. Any scenes featuring Michael - which was the majority of the film unfortunately - shaking his bare booty. I'd already been scarred for life by that image in Fatal Attraction, and you do see a lot more of it in this film. Not pleasant.
My other horrible point, but not so much a horrible point, more of a statement, is of course, the infamous leg crossing scene. I'd never really seen it in any clips or anything, but had heard enough about it. Surprisingly, it happens quite early on in the film. I thought it would have happened at least half way through. This scene was unbelievable. It probably spawned a generation of men who remember having some pleasure to that scene. But my quibble, as a woman, is there's not much there to see! It's more letting your imagination run wild. For me, there wasn't much interest, but I can imagine there are plenty of pre-teen/early teenage boys out there, who have watched that scene over and over. The first shot you see the crease of her legs in the middle (nothing more), and the second shot, you definitely don't see much more than the very top, and it doesn't look like she shaved! That's it though. All the hype about that one scene. There was also a huge hoo-ha that Sharon CLAIMS she had no idea Paul Verhoeven was filming that particular area in the interrogation scene, and when she saw the rushes, she slapped him, and ordered him to remove it. Without that scene, I don't think the film would have got so much publicity, and might have died a death. Paul Verhoeven denies the above ever happened. But I like the fact that at the start of the scene, the policemen are in charge, then she opens her legs, and they turn into drooling idiots. Talk about turning the tables.
I was instantly put off by how much I hated that scene, and was about to change my mind, but decided to keep watching. It did happen quite early on. I was quite shocked at how GRAPHIC the bedroom scenes were. I mean it's nothing on what goes on online these days, but for me, it looked so realistic. (So glad I didn't watch it with my mum, I would have been blushing!) They were extremely realistic, which added a different element to the film. Some bedroom scenes are so faked (or body doubles), or there's zero chemistry between the actors but this seemed very realistic, although I've seen better than Michael Douglas.
The actors were all very good. I liked Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, she was more superior to Sharon's and she should have had more screen time, she's always excellent in anything she does (although I do get muddled up between her & Parker Posey.) Sharon did a good job of her role, and made it so much more than the stereotyped vixen it could have been.
Although it was slightly long for my liking, it was still good, but it could have done with a very small amount of editing, just to make it run smoother. There were occasional moments when I was looking at my watch, or looking at the display to see how long it had left.
If Basic Instinct had been a book first - now THAT could have been interesting. A book about someone writing a book that then happens in real life ... Ooh, I'm confused.
It's an absolutely amazing story too. Much better than the murder-by-numbers I was expecting. There were so many twists and turns, and on a second viewing (yes there will be!), there will be quite a few clues to spot. I definitely think the director was playing games with the viewers in this, as it constantly jumps back and forth and keeps you second-guessing about who the killer really is. Even now, after watching the film, reading various posts on IMDB, and reading other reviews, I'm still undecided as to who the killer was. I think there are at least a couple of characters in the frame, but at one point during the film, you are led to believe there's a third who could possibly be the killer.
The score was excellent too. At points I didn't notice it - which is always the best score in my opinion, rather than one full of stingers. I have heard one part of the score before, the part over the first bedroom scene between Michael & Sharon, yes it was good, but it's so much better when you see the scenes that accompany it. It makes it that more powerful than just the music by itself.
I was very impressed with Basic Instinct, and will definitely be watching it again, just to satisfy my curiosity about the clues littered throughout the film, which I think there are plenty of. I also definitely want to watch it again, to try and figure out the killer definitely is. I'm not sure how to end my review, how to sum it up. I'm intrigued to see comparisons to "The Fourth Man", also by Paul Verhoeven, so that might need to go on my list of DVDs to get. But I definitely suggest if you haven't seen this movie, you snap it up. It's an excellent movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching..........2006-12-18
Everyone who has seen the film, discover that the story runs into an intense sexual chess game between a San Francisco detective ('But you said you liked men to use their hands.') and a vivid writer ('No. I said I liked Johnny to use his hands.')
Catherine (Sharon Stone) loves coke and Jack Daniel's... She is enigmatic ('How does it feel to kill someone?'), cool ('I like men who give me pleasure.'), frank ("What are you going to do? Charge me with smoking?") penetrating ("I've always had a fondness for white silk scarves"'), in complete command of herself... Her character holds men in her grip... To each uncrossing of legs, she masters every type of attraction...
Catherine is a bisexual heiress, who teases, tempts and commands... She refuses to let us know that she's a true threat... She creates one of the classic Femme Fatale by leading us up to twist after twist, weaving outcomes of situations to her advantage...
Nick (Michael Douglas) is the vice cop who drinks, and does a little cocaine... He accidentally shot two tourists in the line of duty... He is a troubled policeman who knows all about homicidal impulse... He is torn between two skilled women at psychology... One of the women is an evil manipulator... We can sense that Nick knows which one is the supposed killer... Nick insists he will be strong enough to take her down...
The third intriguing character of Verhoeven's "Basic Instinct" is Roxy (Leilani Sarell). She is Catherine's lesbian lover... Roxy is the menacing blonde of the black Ferrari, who seems not to get jealous, but to get excited... We see her wearing pants and a jacket, and dancing with another woman... Roxy let Nick sees Catherine with two men, one of them is a big, body-built black guy...
And there is another interesting character who deserves wide attention: the police psychologist who helps Catherine understand homicidal impulse... Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is a very good-looking, dark-haired woman, who has been involved in a love affair with a policeman...
Basic Instinct's photography borrows a range of angles from Hitchcock... The score, by Jerry Goldsmith, is wonderful... The film is wildly considered a controversial and popular erotic thriller...
I need an icepick........2006-07-26
Do you know why sex is always the downfall of men? Because even when their lives are in danger, they still have to pull out their wanker. That sums up Michael Douglas's character's stupidity here. I mean, for the entire film he suspects her of being a cold-blooded killer yet he allows himself to sleep with her and fall in love with her. He's so stupid. I don't know any "magna cum laude p***y" worth getting an icepick in the throat.
But seriously, it's a movie where the sex scenes are actually integral to the plot. That alone makes it at least 4 stars. Seriously. The sex scenes are like suspense scenes. Each time they make love you're waiting for the icepick.
This movie is also complex. To this day, people still debate as to whether the ending was really as simple as "she killed them all." Was Dr. Elisabeth Garner really as innocent as initially perceived? She seemed to have some issues and a few skeletons in her closet that could have been explored further.
Average customer rating:
- Basic Instinct 2 - not basic enough
|
Basic Instinct 2 - Risk Addiction [Blu-ray]
Starring: David Morrissey , Charlotte Rampling , Sharon Stone , David Thewlis , and Heathcote Williams
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray
All Sony Pictures Titles
| Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
General
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Mystery & Suspense
| Blu-ray
| Formats
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Underworld - Evolution (Blu-ray)
- Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
- Ultraviolet [Blu-ray]
- Species [Blu-ray]
- XXX [Blu-ray]
ASIN: B000FS9UKS
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Customer Reviews:
Basic Instinct 2 - not basic enough.......2007-03-09
Movie moves along too slow. Plot is weak. Without a view of a young or older Sharon Stone's vagina in 1080P , this movie offers little
Average customer rating:
- Diarrhetic Pyschological Thriller
- Not as good as the first one but worth a look
- David Thewlis is all the money!
- This "one of the WORST movie of the year" wasn't too bad
- Sharon Stone is too old to be in this role
|
Basic Instinct 2
Starring: Stan Collymore , Sharon Stone , Neil Maskell , David Thewlis , and Jan Chappell
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mystery
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Rampling, Charlotte
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Thewlis, David
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Jones, Michael Caton
| ( J )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Sony Pictures Titles
| Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Basic Instinct - Director's Cut (Ultimate Edition)
- The Sentinel (Widescreen Edition)
- Firewall (Widescreen Edition)
- 16 Blocks (Widescreen Edition)
- The Matador (Widescreen Edition)
ASIN: B000FS9UK8
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Amazon.com
Despite its inevitable fate as a critically reviled box-office flop, Basic Instinct 2 sure has a funny way of holding your attention. It's not just Sharon Stone's trash-talk and occasional nudity that keeps you watching, but also the way she gamely earns every cent of her $14 million paycheck, vamping like a real pro in her second outing as mystery novelist and alleged serial killer Catherine Tramell. Now living in London, Catherine sets her lethal sights on Michael Glass (David Morrissey), the control-freak psychiatrist assigned to evaluate her as a risk-addicted suspect in the "accidental" killing of a star soccer player. Turns out Catherine's just getting started (or is she?), and that's bad news for Glass's ex-wife, a tabloid journalist, and the Scotland Yard detective (David Thewlis) who's desperate to put Catherine in jail. With plenty of sex, murder and salacious dialogue, BI2 is certainly never boring, especially with the morbid fascination of seeing the once formidable Stone torpedo her career in a sequel that took 14 years (and countless drafts of screenplays and at least one high-profile lawsuit) to bring to the screen. She's still impressively hot at age 47, prompting critic Roger Ebert to observe, "the Catherine Tramell role cannot be played well, but Sharon Stone can play it badly better than any other actress alive." So, while this ill-fated sequel falls just short of being a guilty pleasure (if only because Morrissey is no match for Michael Douglas in the 1992 original), it's enjoyably absurd and slickly produced, and the hot-tub scene is guaranteed to wear out the freeze-frame function on a lot of DVD players. For some viewers, that's reason enough for multiple viewings.--Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Diarrhetic Pyschological Thriller.......2007-06-18
Basic Instinct 2 is directed by Michael Caton-Jones (This Boy's Life, Rob Roy). The original film was in my eyes a lot better than most even gave it credit for, but that movie was handled by hit or miss Director Paul Verhoeven. History suggests that Caton-Jones has consistently directed more quality films than Verhoeven. So the sequel, on the surface anyway, doesn't seem like such a bad idea despite it happening so many years later. There was something incredibly inviting about Sharon Stone's Catherine Trammel in the first movie. It was edgy and well done, which is a sum combination superior to the individual strengths. Many have suggested that this is the worst film of 2006 and I try hard to approach a viewing indifferent to such assertions. After all, people hailed Crash as the best film of 2005 and I didn't buy into that hype. I'm going with the sheep here though. Basic Instinct 2 is the worst film of 2006.
In a nutshell, we reconvene in London with Catherine Trammel as the film's protagonist. Catherine is suspected of playing some role in the death of her boyfriend who was apparently drugged before a fatal car crash into the ocean. After being released from the authorities she decides to hook up with a psychiatrist named Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey). The mind games, sexual tension and murder ensue.
The most important reason this film failed critically and only lasted about two weeks in American theaters is because of Sharon Stone's performance. It really pains me to say that. It is easy to target her age her but that is a slightly misguided criticism. Sharon looks great for her late 40s in my opinion but her performance suggests a lack of confidence in her own ability to be as sexual as Trammel was in 1992. First of all, it's not an easy task to duplicate that performance in the first place, but Stone's failure might expose her as a one-dimensional actress recycling a role she is no longer capable of delivering. It's not her looks that are not sexy; it's her attitude and her paper thin performance that lacks the confidence to be even remotely compelling. I would even propose that her performance affected the confidence of everyone working this film. It's entirely possible that the success of the movie depended on Sharon Stone almost exclusively. Being a huge fan of the first movie, I sincerely wanted her to pull it off. To Stone's credit, the task at hand was a difficult one.
Basic Instinct 2 also doesn't contain nearly the edge that the first film did. That isn't to say it was necessary to do so. In fact, some aspects of the first film could certainly be deemed gratuitous and this sequel is notably missing the copious amounts of nudity that the first film contained, for better or worse. Perhaps there was a conscious effort to be less gratuitous and there is of course some merit to that attempt. But they failed in not being gratuitous as well because the dialogue in this sequel is at times unnecessarily filthy. In fact, it seemed like someone intentional added sexual references to the end of some sentences just for the hell of it. The dialogue was also laughably bad at times and the actors of course struggled in delivering some lines convincingly.
The other big flaw is the story in general. It's not horrible, it's just too convoluted and the movie really dragged at times. To be blunt, it was really boring for the most part and just didn't hook me in. I love to recognize notoriously bad films that hook me in just for being so poor; like Mac and Me, Dungeons and Dragons, Plan 9 From Outer Space or Manos, but Basic Instinct 2 isn't even as memorable. It's bad like Gigli or Death to Smoochy was bad. It is forgetfully bad. I almost had to take notes just to recall some key points for this review.
Not as good as the first one but worth a look.......2007-05-15
I've always had a special place in my heart for the first Basic
Instinct movie. Back in the early 90s, you didn't have instant internet
access like you have today. So the easiest way for adolescent males to
look at naked female bodies was to head over to your local video store
and rent any one of the broad selection of outdated low budget
movies that were available to you. Needless to say those films were not
exactly top of the line material. But then came along Basic Instinct, a
film loved by male teens whose hormones were running amok, adults
looking for an exciting thriller, or just curious what all the fuzz was
about, and film critics alike. Basic Instinct was special because it
was not only sexually provocative (remember the interrogation and
bondage scenes) but also had a strong cast, a good storyline, well
developed characters, beautiful photography, fast cars and a nice
setting. It was a violent police thriller in which the central
character and main draw was a pantiless femme fatale with a taste for
all things extreme and directed by the accomplished Paul Verhoeven, a
Dutchman famous for making harsh films with a touch of sexual
provocation.
Fast forward to Basic Instinct 2. Whereas Catherine Tramell was the most intriguing figure in the first movie, she was surrounded by other equally well developed characters. Nick Kurran was the borderline cop, played by Michael Douglas, who became obsessed by the beautiful and dangerous Tramell, Jeanne Tripplehorn portrayed the jealous co-worker and Leilani Sarelle was Sharon Stone's lesbian love interest, which was pretty revolutionary in early 90s mainstream cinema.
The sequel shows Catherine Tramell living in London and that's about
it. Caught in her web this time around is Kevin Franks, played by Stan Collymore, a boring psychologist whose life is influenced by equally uninteresting women: the sexually unsatisfied ex-wife, a mother figure and mentor and some kind of love interest. I suspect the cliché London setting and subsequent cast of unknown actors was done for financial reasons. There is not a whole lot to say about the story. The movie starts off with a famous soccer player getting killed while he's making love to Catherine, who is doing 110 miles an hour in downtown London. Tramell is the main suspect and is persued by an overzealous police officer and defended by psychologist Franks who becomes obsessed with his hot patient.
The opening scene is immediately the most exciting sexual scene in the whole movie. There is one other where Collymore has sex with his would-be girlfriend but that's a poor reproduction of Michael Douglas letting his
suppressed sexual appetites rage havoc on Jeane Tripplehorn. The other
erotic scenes are pretty lame, especially after such extreme opening credits and taking into consideration Catherine Tramell's sexy outfits. Why would anyone want to go see an erotic thriller whose love scenes are tamer than a Britney Spears concert? Stil, Sharon Stone does look as beautiful and seductive as she did in the first film. However, whereas in the early 90s Catherine Tramell wore sexy outfits, made even more exciting because it was obvious she didn't wear anything underneath them, she was still pretty elegantly dressed. Her clothes in the sequel are designed for the sole purpose of turning men on. So all in all, I conclude that director Michael Caton-Jones has pretty much exploited the sexually provocative aspect of the first movie (but not in a very good way, unless the unrated version features a lot of spicy cut scenes) and neglected all of the other aspects that made Paul Verhoeven's film so special. Is it any coincidence he's since gone on to direct the critically acclaimed Blackbook and Basic Instinct 2 was nominated for worst film of 2006?
So, if you were an adolescent male in the early 90s, whose sexual fantasies where forever influenced by Miss Tramell or if you just like Sharon Stone, who looks as good as ever, go check this film out, even if it's just for nostalgia's sake. If it's an exciting crime story you're looking for, better go watch one of the other erotic thrillers Basic Instinct paved the way for, like Body of Evidence, Disclosure or Sliver.
David Thewlis is all the money!.......2007-04-26
Basic Instinct 2 was a bit of a disappointment, considering the success of the first film and the presence of Sharon Stone and David Thewlis among others, though by no means is it a terrible movie.
Catherine Tramell is back only this time she's in England. The string of murders is not that far behind...
In short, the acting is pretty good (though nothing great), the setting is average, while the dialogues and the plot are below average.
The major setbacks are in relation to:
1) The rather weak plot and especially the weak dialogues, for which the writers are to blame. It gets to be quite slow and boring at times...
2) Indira Varma was not that great as Denise. Just as bad were the actors playing the minor roles.
3) When it comes to eroticism it doesn't really hit the mark like the original.
It seems as though the actors/directors/producers went to England on vacation separately. While there they met up with each other at the hotel lounge over drinks, and then decided, on the spot, to make the best of their stay by doing a quick and easy film on the side for some extra cash/spending money.
Though the potential for a good movie was definitely there it fails to take off, primarily due to the writers.
In a nutshell, it's an ok movie and that's about it; no masterpiece here...
This "one of the WORST movie of the year" wasn't too bad.......2007-04-12
For some reason I can't totally dismiss the film. As unimaginative as it was, I still had a blast with it. Sharon Stone may be 48 but carries herself very well. I admire her for having the balls to try and pull this one off. And guess what? She kind of does and still has some sex appeal left even at nearly half a decade. Her voice is lower, she has to wear a lot of make-up, but Catherine Tramell is still in there begging to come out. She still looks better than half the stars in Hollywood half her age, and reigns as the "Queen of Mean" (maybe even more so after hearing what all she's done after being famous). Catherine's new fixation with auto-erotic asphyxiation is simply a vanity project for Stone which she holds on to very well.
As crazy as this sounds, I did have a hard time buying a shrink would fall for her. But then again in the first installment, why would a homicide detective? David Morrisey as Dr. Andrew Glass looks good, but at times would look sort of stiff in some of his frames looking like he was trying to get into character. David does all he can to make sure his character is more subtle than the cocksure Michael Douglas San Francisco detective from the original. It's a more restrained journey, but he's English and a psychologist. In a way it's a nice contrast to the first. I also wondered how in the world did they get Charlotte Rampling and David Thewlis? They both turn in their usual fine performances providing exactly what the script demands of them.
It very well may be a hoot to call it "the worst film of the year" or "top pick for a Razzie", but in the final analysis it mildly entertained me and kept my attention on other affairs. "Basic Instinct 2" is still a fun adult erotic thriller that is not as great as the first, but not nearly as bad as Stone's turn in the Halle Berry "Cat Woman" flick. Because at least there she looks good, and happy to be back on silver screen. You might still follow your instincts and try to not see/buy this disc but I would simply recommend this movie as a rental unless you really need this add-on to your collection.
Sharon Stone is too old to be in this role.......2007-04-11
I watched 10 minutes of this movie and had to turn it off. Sharon Stone is just too old to be beliveable in this role. She still looks good for her age, thanks to the plastic surgery, but she's 50 years old! I was embarrased for her.
Average customer rating:
- Basic Instinct
- "Nice Girl"
- A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation
- Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching...
- I need an icepick.
|
Basic Instinct
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sharon Stone , George Dzundza , Jeanne Tripplehorn , and Denis Arndt
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Racy
| By Theme
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Murder & Mayhem
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Murder
| Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mind Games
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Arndt, Denis
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Douglas, Michael
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Dzundza, George
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Knight, Wayne
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Malone, Dorothy
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McGee, Jack
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mouton, Benjamin
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pileggi, Mitch
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ross, Chelcie
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rowe, Stephen
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sarelle, Leilani
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tripplehorn, Jeanne
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Young, Bruce A
| ( Y )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Verhoeven, Paul
| ( V )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Top Sellers
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Lions Gate DVDs Under $10
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Lions Gate Titles
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
4-for-3 All DVDs
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mystery & Suspense
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Fatal Attraction (Special Collector's Edition)
- Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)
- Disclosure
- Indecent Proposal
- Sliver (Unrated Edition)
ASIN: 078401020X
Release Date: 1997-08-27 |
Amazon.com
The take-no-prisoners sex thriller from 1992 now stands as a milestone in the career of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven Basic Instinct is an undeniably stylish and provocative study of obsession. In the role that made her a star (and showed the audience a little more skin than she intended), Sharon Stone plays the cleverly manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell who snares San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) with her insatiable sexual appetite during the investigation of her boyfriend's murder. Tramell is the prime suspect, but the plot twists and turns until Curran is trapped in a dangerous cycle of dead ends and unsolved murders, never sure if Tramell is committing the crimes or if it is some other, unknown suspect. With a plot that keeps viewers guessing, Basic Instinct is the work of a director who is clearly in his element. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Basic Instinct.......2007-05-19
At the time this came out, I was only 11 years old so I really couldn't see it until acouple years later after sneaking it on when I was 13 years old.
I was very stunned, mostly because I'd never seen a film that hot before (of course being 13 lol), even though I did (like this film) snuck on Total Recall a year eariler by the same director.
I never understood why people were so mixed by the film, none of the scenes shown in the film,like the murder at the beginning and the numerous graphic sex scenes which didn't bother me like they did alot of other people.
I believe like everyone else does that this was a part that Sharon Stone was born to play. She was perfectly cast in the role of Catherine Tramell (probably the screens best femme fatale ever) if they'd had got someone else for that role it wouldn't have been as effective as it was.
It was kinda werid seeing Michael Douglas in the kind of role after growing up watching him in Romancing The Stone and The Jewel Of The Nile,but it was great and interesting to see different range he as an actor.
Paul Verhoeven is a director who loves to take chances and is not afriad to show the audiences certain scenes or subject matter which might disturb or flat out piss the viewers off. And that's why he's one of my favourite directors.
Basic Instinct was (and still) is a great thiller to watch and a film which is still held by people (like me) as the sexiest film ever made.
"Nice Girl".......2007-04-26
An excellent film that has in effect become a classic, Basic Instinct, brings to the screen a murder mystery involving a police detective and a sensual multi-millionaire writer.
The setting is San Francisco and detective Curran is investigating the gruesome murder of a man found dead in his bed after what seems to have been a passionate and steamy night. The investigation reveals a purely sexual relationship between the deceased and a striking novelist whose life seems to be intertwined with various deadly accidents and mysterious deaths. Things become rather complicated when her latest novel's hero oddly resembles detective Curran...
Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone and Jeanne Tripplehorn (both of whom are GORGEOUS!), Mitch Pileggi (X-Files), George Dzundza, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows!
The film combines a great cast, a great mystery, and some very realistic and very erotic sex scenes (for a change).
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music (!) are all wonderful!
In short, Basic Instinct is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection (if you haven't done so already)!
A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation.......2007-01-11
I'd got this as a present for Christmas, although my mum already had it, but she has a thing for Michael Douglas. *Bleurgh* I'd never had much of an incline to watch it with my mum, and after watching it, I've decided it's probably not a good idea to watch it with my mum!
Basic Instinct has two major horrible points for me. Any scenes featuring Michael - which was the majority of the film unfortunately - shaking his bare booty. I'd already been scarred for life by that image in Fatal Attraction, and you do see a lot more of it in this film. Not pleasant.
My other horrible point, but not so much a horrible point, more of a statement, is of course, the infamous leg crossing scene. I'd never really seen it in any clips or anything, but had heard enough about it. Surprisingly, it happens quite early on in the film. I thought it would have happened at least half way through. This scene was unbelievable. It probably spawned a generation of men who remember having some pleasure to that scene. But my quibble, as a woman, is there's not much there to see! It's more letting your imagination run wild. For me, there wasn't much interest, but I can imagine there are plenty of pre-teen/early teenage boys out there, who have watched that scene over and over. The first shot you see the crease of her legs in the middle (nothing more), and the second shot, you definitely don't see much more than the very top, and it doesn't look like she shaved! That's it though. All the hype about that one scene. There was also a huge hoo-ha that Sharon CLAIMS she had no idea Paul Verhoeven was filming that particular area in the interrogation scene, and when she saw the rushes, she slapped him, and ordered him to remove it. Without that scene, I don't think the film would have got so much publicity, and might have died a death. Paul Verhoeven denies the above ever happened. But I like the fact that at the start of the scene, the policemen are in charge, then she opens her legs, and they turn into drooling idiots. Talk about turning the tables.
I was instantly put off by how much I hated that scene, and was about to change my mind, but decided to keep watching. It did happen quite early on. I was quite shocked at how GRAPHIC the bedroom scenes were. I mean it's nothing on what goes on online these days, but for me, it looked so realistic. (So glad I didn't watch it with my mum, I would have been blushing!) They were extremely realistic, which added a different element to the film. Some bedroom scenes are so faked (or body doubles), or there's zero chemistry between the actors but this seemed very realistic, although I've seen better than Michael Douglas.
The actors were all very good. I liked Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, she was more superior to Sharon's and she should have had more screen time, she's always excellent in anything she does (although I do get muddled up between her & Parker Posey.) Sharon did a good job of her role, and made it so much more than the stereotyped vixen it could have been.
Although it was slightly long for my liking, it was still good, but it could have done with a very small amount of editing, just to make it run smoother. There were occasional moments when I was looking at my watch, or looking at the display to see how long it had left.
If Basic Instinct had been a book first - now THAT could have been interesting. A book about someone writing a book that then happens in real life ... Ooh, I'm confused.
It's an absolutely amazing story too. Much better than the murder-by-numbers I was expecting. There were so many twists and turns, and on a second viewing (yes there will be!), there will be quite a few clues to spot. I definitely think the director was playing games with the viewers in this, as it constantly jumps back and forth and keeps you second-guessing about who the killer really is. Even now, after watching the film, reading various posts on IMDB, and reading other reviews, I'm still undecided as to who the killer was. I think there are at least a couple of characters in the frame, but at one point during the film, you are led to believe there's a third who could possibly be the killer.
The score was excellent too. At points I didn't notice it - which is always the best score in my opinion, rather than one full of stingers. I have heard one part of the score before, the part over the first bedroom scene between Michael & Sharon, yes it was good, but it's so much better when you see the scenes that accompany it. It makes it that more powerful than just the music by itself.
I was very impressed with Basic Instinct, and will definitely be watching it again, just to satisfy my curiosity about the clues littered throughout the film, which I think there are plenty of. I also definitely want to watch it again, to try and figure out the killer definitely is. I'm not sure how to end my review, how to sum it up. I'm intrigued to see comparisons to "The Fourth Man", also by Paul Verhoeven, so that might need to go on my list of DVDs to get. But I definitely suggest if you haven't seen this movie, you snap it up. It's an excellent movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching..........2006-12-18
Everyone who has seen the film, discover that the story runs into an intense sexual chess game between a San Francisco detective ('But you said you liked men to use their hands.') and a vivid writer ('No. I said I liked Johnny to use his hands.')
Catherine (Sharon Stone) loves coke and Jack Daniel's... She is enigmatic ('How does it feel to kill someone?'), cool ('I like men who give me pleasure.'), frank ("What are you going to do? Charge me with smoking?") penetrating ("I've always had a fondness for white silk scarves"'), in complete command of herself... Her character holds men in her grip... To each uncrossing of legs, she masters every type of attraction...
Catherine is a bisexual heiress, who teases, tempts and commands... She refuses to let us know that she's a true threat... She creates one of the classic Femme Fatale by leading us up to twist after twist, weaving outcomes of situations to her advantage...
Nick (Michael Douglas) is the vice cop who drinks, and does a little cocaine... He accidentally shot two tourists in the line of duty... He is a troubled policeman who knows all about homicidal impulse... He is torn between two skilled women at psychology... One of the women is an evil manipulator... We can sense that Nick knows which one is the supposed killer... Nick insists he will be strong enough to take her down...
The third intriguing character of Verhoeven's "Basic Instinct" is Roxy (Leilani Sarell). She is Catherine's lesbian lover... Roxy is the menacing blonde of the black Ferrari, who seems not to get jealous, but to get excited... We see her wearing pants and a jacket, and dancing with another woman... Roxy let Nick sees Catherine with two men, one of them is a big, body-built black guy...
And there is another interesting character who deserves wide attention: the police psychologist who helps Catherine understand homicidal impulse... Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is a very good-looking, dark-haired woman, who has been involved in a love affair with a policeman...
Basic Instinct's photography borrows a range of angles from Hitchcock... The score, by Jerry Goldsmith, is wonderful... The film is wildly considered a controversial and popular erotic thriller...
I need an icepick........2006-07-26
Do you know why sex is always the downfall of men? Because even when their lives are in danger, they still have to pull out their wanker. That sums up Michael Douglas's character's stupidity here. I mean, for the entire film he suspects her of being a cold-blooded killer yet he allows himself to sleep with her and fall in love with her. He's so stupid. I don't know any "magna cum laude p***y" worth getting an icepick in the throat.
But seriously, it's a movie where the sex scenes are actually integral to the plot. That alone makes it at least 4 stars. Seriously. The sex scenes are like suspense scenes. Each time they make love you're waiting for the icepick.
This movie is also complex. To this day, people still debate as to whether the ending was really as simple as "she killed them all." Was Dr. Elisabeth Garner really as innocent as initially perceived? She seemed to have some issues and a few skeletons in her closet that could have been explored further.
Average customer rating:
- Basic Instinct
- "Nice Girl"
- A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation
- Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching...
- I need an icepick.
|
Basic Instinct (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sharon Stone , George Dzundza , Jeanne Tripplehorn , and Denis Arndt
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mind Games
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Arndt, Denis
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Douglas, Michael
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Dzundza, George
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Knight, Wayne
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Malone, Dorothy
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McGee, Jack
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mouton, Benjamin
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pileggi, Mitch
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ross, Chelcie
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rowe, Stephen
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sarelle, Leilani
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stone, Sharon
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tripplehorn, Jeanne
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Young, Bruce A
| ( Y )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Verhoeven, Paul
| ( V )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Top Sellers
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Lions Gate Titles
| Lions Gate Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Used DVDs
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
| Action & Adventure
| African American Cinema
| Animation
| Anime & Manga
| Art House & International
| Classics
| Comedy
| Cult Movies
| Documentary
| Drama
| Educational
| Fitness & Yoga
| Gay & Lesbian
| Horror
| Kids & Family
| Military & War
| Music Video & Concerts
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Mystery & Suspense
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Special Interests
| Sports
| Television
| Westerns
Mystery & Suspense
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( B )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
- Fatal Attraction (Special Collector's Edition)
- Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)
- Disclosure
- Indecent Proposal
- Sliver (Unrated Edition)
ASIN: B00005N91B
Release Date: 2001-09-18 |
Amazon.com
The take-no-prisoners sex thriller from 1992 now stands as a milestone in the career of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven Basic Instinct is an undeniably stylish and provocative study of obsession. In the role that made her a star (and showed the audience a little more skin than she intended), Sharon Stone plays the cleverly manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell who snares San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) with her insatiable sexual appetite during the investigation of her boyfriend's murder. Tramell is the prime suspect, but the plot twists and turns until Curran is trapped in a dangerous cycle of dead ends and unsolved murders, never sure if Tramell is committing the crimes or if it is some other, unknown suspect. With a plot that keeps viewers guessing, Basic Instinct is the work of a director who is clearly in his element. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Basic Instinct.......2007-05-19
At the time this came out, I was only 11 years old so I really couldn't see it until acouple years later after sneaking it on when I was 13 years old.
I was very stunned, mostly because I'd never seen a film that hot before (of course being 13 lol), even though I did (like this film) snuck on Total Recall a year eariler by the same director.
I never understood why people were so mixed by the film, none of the scenes shown in the film,like the murder at the beginning and the numerous graphic sex scenes which didn't bother me like they did alot of other people.
I believe like everyone else does that this was a part that Sharon Stone was born to play. She was perfectly cast in the role of Catherine Tramell (probably the screens best femme fatale ever) if they'd had got someone else for that role it wouldn't have been as effective as it was.
It was kinda werid seeing Michael Douglas in the kind of role after growing up watching him in Romancing The Stone and The Jewel Of The Nile,but it was great and interesting to see different range he as an actor.
Paul Verhoeven is a director who loves to take chances and is not afriad to show the audiences certain scenes or subject matter which might disturb or flat out piss the viewers off. And that's why he's one of my favourite directors.
Basic Instinct was (and still) is a great thiller to watch and a film which is still held by people (like me) as the sexiest film ever made.
"Nice Girl".......2007-04-26
An excellent film that has in effect become a classic, Basic Instinct, brings to the screen a murder mystery involving a police detective and a sensual multi-millionaire writer.
The setting is San Francisco and detective Curran is investigating the gruesome murder of a man found dead in his bed after what seems to have been a passionate and steamy night. The investigation reveals a purely sexual relationship between the deceased and a striking novelist whose life seems to be intertwined with various deadly accidents and mysterious deaths. Things become rather complicated when her latest novel's hero oddly resembles detective Curran...
Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone and Jeanne Tripplehorn (both of whom are GORGEOUS!), Mitch Pileggi (X-Files), George Dzundza, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows!
The film combines a great cast, a great mystery, and some very realistic and very erotic sex scenes (for a change).
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music (!) are all wonderful!
In short, Basic Instinct is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection (if you haven't done so already)!
A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation.......2007-01-11
I'd got this as a present for Christmas, although my mum already had it, but she has a thing for Michael Douglas. *Bleurgh* I'd never had much of an incline to watch it with my mum, and after watching it, I've decided it's probably not a good idea to watch it with my mum!
Basic Instinct has two major horrible points for me. Any scenes featuring Michael - which was the majority of the film unfortunately - shaking his bare booty. I'd already been scarred for life by that image in Fatal Attraction, and you do see a lot more of it in this film. Not pleasant.
My other horrible point, but not so much a horrible point, more of a statement, is of course, the infamous leg crossing scene. I'd never really seen it in any clips or anything, but had heard enough about it. Surprisingly, it happens quite early on in the film. I thought it would have happened at least half way through. This scene was unbelievable. It probably spawned a generation of men who remember having some pleasure to that scene. But my quibble, as a woman, is there's not much there to see! It's more letting your imagination run wild. For me, there wasn't much interest, but I can imagine there are plenty of pre-teen/early teenage boys out there, who have watched that scene over and over. The first shot you see the crease of her legs in the middle (nothing more), and the second shot, you definitely don't see much more than the very top, and it doesn't look like she shaved! That's it though. All the hype about that one scene. There was also a huge hoo-ha that Sharon CLAIMS she had no idea Paul Verhoeven was filming that particular area in the interrogation scene, and when she saw the rushes, she slapped him, and ordered him to remove it. Without that scene, I don't think the film would have got so much publicity, and might have died a death. Paul Verhoeven denies the above ever happened. But I like the fact that at the start of the scene, the policemen are in charge, then she opens her legs, and they turn into drooling idiots. Talk about turning the tables.
I was instantly put off by how much I hated that scene, and was about to change my mind, but decided to keep watching. It did happen quite early on. I was quite shocked at how GRAPHIC the bedroom scenes were. I mean it's nothing on what goes on online these days, but for me, it looked so realistic. (So glad I didn't watch it with my mum, I would have been blushing!) They were extremely realistic, which added a different element to the film. Some bedroom scenes are so faked (or body doubles), or there's zero chemistry between the actors but this seemed very realistic, although I've seen better than Michael Douglas.
The actors were all very good. I liked Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, she was more superior to Sharon's and she should have had more screen time, she's always excellent in anything she does (although I do get muddled up between her & Parker Posey.) Sharon did a good job of her role, and made it so much more than the stereotyped vixen it could have been.
Although it was slightly long for my liking, it was still good, but it could have done with a very small amount of editing, just to make it run smoother. There were occasional moments when I was looking at my watch, or looking at the display to see how long it had left.
If Basic Instinct had been a book first - now THAT could have been interesting. A book about someone writing a book that then happens in real life ... Ooh, I'm confused.
It's an absolutely amazing story too. Much better than the murder-by-numbers I was expecting. There were so many twists and turns, and on a second viewing (yes there will be!), there will be quite a few clues to spot. I definitely think the director was playing games with the viewers in this, as it constantly jumps back and forth and keeps you second-guessing about who the killer really is. Even now, after watching the film, reading various posts on IMDB, and reading other reviews, I'm still undecided as to who the killer was. I think there are at least a couple of characters in the frame, but at one point during the film, you are led to believe there's a third who could possibly be the killer.
The score was excellent too. At points I didn't notice it - which is always the best score in my opinion, rather than one full of stingers. I have heard one part of the score before, the part over the first bedroom scene between Michael & Sharon, yes it was good, but it's so much better when you see the scenes that accompany it. It makes it that more powerful than just the music by itself.
I was very impressed with Basic Instinct, and will definitely be watching it again, just to satisfy my curiosity about the clues littered throughout the film, which I think there are plenty of. I also definitely want to watch it again, to try and figure out the killer definitely is. I'm not sure how to end my review, how to sum it up. I'm intrigued to see comparisons to "The Fourth Man", also by Paul Verhoeven, so that might need to go on my list of DVDs to get. But I definitely suggest if you haven't seen this movie, you snap it up. It's an excellent movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching..........2006-12-18
Everyone who has seen the film, discover that the story runs into an intense sexual chess game between a San Francisco detective ('But you said you liked men to use their hands.') and a vivid writer ('No. I said I liked Johnny to use his hands.')
Catherine (Sharon Stone) loves coke and Jack Daniel's... She is enigmatic ('How does it feel to kill someone?'), cool ('I like men who give me pleasure.'), frank ("What are you going to do? Charge me with smoking?") penetrating ("I've always had a fondness for white silk scarves"'), in complete command of herself... Her character holds men in her grip... To each uncrossing of legs, she masters every type of attraction...
Catherine is a bisexual heiress, who teases, tempts and commands... She refuses to let us know that she's a true threat... She creates one of the classic Femme Fatale by leading us up to twist after twist, weaving outcomes of situations to her advantage...
Nick (Michael Douglas) is the vice cop who drinks, and does a little cocaine... He accidentally shot two tourists in the line of duty... He is a troubled policeman who knows all about homicidal impulse... He is torn between two skilled women at psychology... One of the women is an evil manipulator... We can sense that Nick knows which one is the supposed killer... Nick insists he will be strong enough to take her down...
The third intriguing character of Verhoeven's "Basic Instinct" is Roxy (Leilani Sarell). She is Catherine's lesbian lover... Roxy is the menacing blonde of the black Ferrari, who seems not to get jealous, but to get excited... We see her wearing pants and a jacket, and dancing with another woman... Roxy let Nick sees Catherine with two men, one of them is a big, body-built black guy...
And there is another interesting character who deserves wide attention: the police psychologist who helps Catherine understand homicidal impulse... Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is a very good-looking, dark-haired woman, who has been involved in a love affair with a policeman...
Basic Instinct's photography borrows a range of angles from Hitchcock... The score, by Jerry Goldsmith, is wonderful... The film is wildly considered a controversial and popular erotic thriller...
I need an icepick........2006-07-26
Do you know why sex is always the downfall of men? Because even when their lives are in danger, they still have to pull out their wanker. That sums up Michael Douglas's character's stupidity here. I mean, for the entire film he suspects her of being a cold-blooded killer yet he allows himself to sleep with her and fall in love with her. He's so stupid. I don't know any "magna cum laude p***y" worth getting an icepick in the throat.
But seriously, it's a movie where the sex scenes are actually integral to the plot. That alone makes it at least 4 stars. Seriously. The sex scenes are like suspense scenes. Each time they make love you're waiting for the icepick.
This movie is also complex. To this day, people still debate as to whether the ending was really as simple as "she killed them all." Was Dr. Elisabeth Garner really as innocent as initially perceived? She seemed to have some issues and a few skeletons in her closet that could have been explored further.
Average customer rating:
- Basic Instinct
- "Nice Girl"
- A brilliant movie, tarnished with a reputation
- Finding the identity of a killer is always fascinating, no matter what you're watching...
- I need an icepick.
|
Basic Instinct (Collector's Edition - Unrated)
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sharon Stone , George Dzundza , Jeanne Tripplehorn , and Denis Arndt
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Suspense
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fatal Attraction
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Femme Fatales
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mind Games
| By Theme
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Arndt, Denis
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bargen, Daniel Von
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
 |