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DVD Review

Average marks tell the tale of this DVD.  Not particularly bad in any way, but wholly unremarkable at the same time.  Clarity and sharpness were fair, but not nearly in the league of many films.  Contrast and sharpness were generally lacking while colors were a bit soft overall.  The audio track is a true 5.1 mix, but it is unimpressive.  It is clear, but seems to lack power and punch, especially when played alongside newer (better mixed) releases such as Twister or The Matrix.  The menu sets are really very bland, possibly closer to a 2 rating, but the background pictures are nice, and the menus are consistent, if a bit dull.  The production notes are a bit of a joke -- while they do contain some interesting trivia, the DVD only contains two screens of such "notes".

For the most part, the extras are standard DVD features, but the inclusion of multiple subtitles and at least one foreign audio tracks helps.  Quite interesting to me was the inclusion of the DVS (Descriptive Video Service) track, an English audio track that is intended to assist the visually impaired.  Basically, a voiceover narrates the actions onscreen, while letting all important film audio come to the surface.  It is quite interesting and amusing to listen to this track -- it's closed-captioning for the ear. 

Movie Review

Basic Instinct earned a quick reputation as a movie that pushed the extremes of onscreen sex within an "R" rating.  Containing everything from a glimpse of a penis, to black-lit cum stains, to breasts, several sex scenes, a near-rape and the now infamous "crotch shot", this movie was written off by many as nothing more than a shock-value flick.

If you are distracted by the many graphic scenes, you may agree that this is nothing more than a soft-porn flick with a plot, but if you are able to look past the graphic scenes you just may enjoy a suspenseful psycho-sexual thriller.

Basic Instinct watches much like a good novel -- it is filled with detail and suspense.  There is a tension within the viewer -- one cause in part by the inevitable onscreen sexual tensions, but also by the deepening sense of mystery and suspicion within the film. 

Our hero is Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), a cop who is recovering from alcohol and drug problems, just to name a few.  The murder of a former rock-star fits the storyline of a novel by Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone).  Stone gives an exceptional performance in this film as a cold, calculating and brilliant novelist with a strange obsession.  Almost immediately we can see a strong attraction between Tramell and Curran. 

The suspense deepens as Curran gets continuously closer to the truth and to danger.  This is a worthwhile film, so long as you are not easily offended by extremely strong sexual themes and scenes.  You will likely find yourself drawn in to an emotional suspension of disbelief.