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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 27468
Released: September 17, 2002 |
| Our Price: $8.87 |
| Used Price: $8.87 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Based on the classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this delectable thriller stars Colin Firth (Bridget Jones's Diary) and Oscars® nominee* Annette Bening (American Beauty) as embittered aristocrats who weave a wicked web of cruel intentions and savage seductions. Directed by Oscar® winner** Milos Forman, Valmont is a darkly amusing period drama that issimply a piece of high entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter). In 18th-century France, a cruel and calculating playboy, Valmont (Firth), makes a malicious wager with the equally wicked Madame de Merteuil (Bening): Valmont must dishonor the married Madame de Tourvel (Meg Tilly) by sleepingwith her. If Valmont succeeds, he gets the privilege of Merteuil's bed as well. But when Valmont sets out on his task, the unexpected happens...he falls in love with Tourvel! And now Merteuil will stop at nothing to destroy Valmont's newfound passion. *1990: Supporting Actress, The Grifters; 1999: Actress, American Beauty *1975: Director, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; 1984: Director, Amadeus
Description of Valmont:
Talk about too little, too late. A year after Stephen Frears's marvelous Dangerous Liaisons, Milos Forman released this film, based on the same material: the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Shot at the same time but held so as not to compete, it suffered by comparison. The story--about a pair of aristocrats, former lovers, who wager that the man cannot seduce a particularly chaste woman--is still awash in lust and intrigue. But, while Forman's craft was exceptional, his cast couldn't match the power of its predecessor. In particular, Colin Firth, as the game-playing title character, lacked the snaky charm of John Malkovich, and Meg Tilly couldn't compare to the tragic beauty of Michelle Pfeiffer. Annette Bening, though born to play a vixen, seemed callow and insubstantial next to the sinister depths of Glenn Close. --Marshall Fine
Valmont Reviews:
yet another adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuseset - not the best one at that 
2009-07-13 - A Cruel Intentions/Dangerous Liaisons story, this is yet another adaptation of the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuseset. This movie is set in Baroque France about a pair of former lovers scheming to destroy an innocent girl, a married woman, and a few aristocrats. Annette Bening is downright evil, but rightfully spectacular, however, Colin Firth is the one to watch in this film. In the last decade, Firth has become typecast as a brooding gentleman, and is constantly replaying his portrayal of Mr. Darcy; it follows, that to see him in any other role, one must turn to his earlier work and find much broader, darker, more challenging performances (such as the one in this film, in his portrayal of the title character).
Better than Dangerous Liaisons! 
2009-06-16 - Valmont has more heart and soul that DL. While DL gave me the creeps, I enjoyed Valmont and can watch it over and over. While I wouldn't mind at all seeing the DL characters go to the guilliotine, I felt more for the Valmont characters. Perhaps the acting was not quite as rarified as the snobbish critics might have liked, but I considered Colin Firth much more believable as the heartless charmer than the slithery Malkovich.
BETTER THAN DANGEROUS LIASONS
2009-04-17 - The historical setting of this first class film is beautifully executed, and the acting, dialogue, and music are all exemplary. Lessons about life abound in this movie as selfish and insensitive individuals ultimately pay for their transgressions and mistakes. This film is set around the 1730's, which is considerably earlier than the time frame for Dangerous Liasons, and Valmont is also superior in character development and motivation. A beautiful movie of a special historical era with an outstanding cast and musical score.
dvd
2009-02-13 - I am trying to convert vhs to dvd and it was great to find this one. It is my all time favorite compared to the other film made to resemble this one. (I will not mention the title). This is the best one!
Much more enjoyable!
2008-12-15 - This is one of my all time favorite movies and the Editorial Review is in my opinion way off the track. Dangerous L. was sarcastic and bitter - a cast of vile characters that left a bad taste in your mouth. Besides who would ever believe that somebody as ugly as John M. could possible seduce any woman - a real miscast. Now this movie treats the same somewhat sordid story of the bored French aristocracy in a completely different way. Colin Firth is completely believable and utterly charming as Valmont. Even so a schemer and seducer the director also shows the the softer, more vulnerable side of the main character - which gives him humanity, so lacking in the first movie with John M. I also completely disagree about the Meg Tilly versus Michelle Pfeiffer character. Meg delivers an outstanding performance and her fragile beauty can be heartbreaking. The movie also has humor, completely lacking in the other adaption. The cast here is outstanding - I highly recommend THIS adaption - forget about Dangerous L.
