patrick powell I first came across Dutch director Paul Verhoeven when I saw Robocop in the late 1980s, and I found his sly, quietly satirical humour appealing. I didn't catch Basic Instinct when it first came out in the early 1990s, to all-round notoriety for 'that scene' and was generally panned by the critics, and the next Verhoeven film I caught was Black Book, which did not impress me much at all. I thought it was cheesy and derivative and ordinary. As for Starship Trooper and Total Recall, I haven't been there yet, but plan to in the next few days. But Black Book rather put me off Verhoeven.Last night I watched Basic Instinct and the admiration was back, though not just for the quiet, satirical humour, but for the man's utterly successful recreation of film noir. He has it off to a T: everything, from the convoluted plot, the snappy 'cool' dialogue', the incessant, urgent background score and, of course, the irresistible femme fatale who you just know is a total wrong 'un but, like the male lead, just can't help falling in love with. In addition, and more subtly, he has the camera perpetually moving, nothing is static, which makes for far more interesting shots, but which also adds to a certain intrigue.I caught the uncensored version which features rather a lot of sex. I gather the cinema release was rather more restrained and I have to say I don't think the film particularly gains from the extended sex scenes. Some might prefer more rather than less of Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone writhing this way and that, but to be frank I can take it or leave it. I'm not at all offended, but there is a suspicion it is all just a little gratuitous. But what the hell.The convoluted plot is, of course, entirely ludicrous and utterly implausible, and once you get a moment to reflect - though that moment is quite delayed by the enjoyment of Verhoeven's success in carrying it all off - it doesn't really bear scrutiny at all. But as is oddly the way with these films, Basic Instinct has somehow won you over - especially if you like, as I do, all those hard-bitten film noir - and you just think 'oh, what the hell'. 'Why would so-and-so go to all that trouble just to...?' - oh, what the hell. It's that kind of film.The critics didn't much like it and had it not had Michael Douglas as one of the leads, they all suggest would have been banished to B-movieland. But the fact is, it did (have Michael Douglas as a lead) and it wasn't.Especial mention must, though, go to Sharon Stone for her performance and, game lady that she so obviously is, 'that shot' (you know, the one which so excites adolescent boys). I also caught her in Scorsese's Casino in which her performance won here an Oscar, and I'm not at all surprised that she was honoured (she was nominated for her role here, but didn't win). There is in Basic Instinct - although not in Casino - an amused, detached quality to everything she does which is wholly appealing, but which doesn't undermine the film but add to it.So there you have it: if you like film noir - melodrama squared, snappy lines and all the rest - go for it. By me, at least, Basic Instinct comes highly recommended.PS Even the - equally ludicrous - final shot of the whole film which pretty much makes a nonsense of all that's gone before can't be faulted. As I say, one of Verhoeven's attractive qualities, for me at least, is his quiet and understated satire.

residentevil6901 I was almost 19 when this came out and my friends and I were so excited to see it as we were looking forward to the great sex scenes it had. Of course we loved it and this has become a guilty pleasure movie for me ever since. I now love it for everything else besides the sex scenes. It's a great thriller with great acting from every one involved. Sharon Stone was perfect for this role and I really love the way Michael Douglas plays his part. Tripplehorn looked the best I've ever seen her in this and Denis Arndt is great as Lieutenant Walker.I've read a lot of arguing over the years as who the real killer ended up being with many people believing it was Catherine. The movie definitely leaves it open to interpreting it all on your own and it's like the bible where you can read a passage but get different meaning out of it. I always took it like Dr Garner was working with Catherine or Dr Garner was working alone and Catherine was just going along with it. The whole Ice Pick under the bed part at the end I felt was there to leave you guessing. I like it being Dr Garner as the killer.

Irene van Dobbenburgh The suspense and building of tension is off the charts in this Paul Verhoeven movie. As a fellow Dutchman I am proud of his work! The erotic feel throughout the movie is very appealing, as well as the intellectual conversations.I saw the movie in the cinema and it was mind-blowing. Not one dull moment because of the mysterious Catherine Tramell. The flirting and courting between the two lead characters is very sexy. The jealousy and mind games are nice to watch as well as the raw emotions that cause death and betrayal. A masterpiece that fitted Sharon Stone as a glove. Her best work I think. The movie music is just right and adds to the mysteriousness.A must-watch movie that has survived a lot of controversy!

Anthony Iessi Basic Instinct is campy, schlock-cinema. I was embarrassed throughout the entire film. It's a film set in 1992, written like a cheap knockoff of an Edward G. Robinson 40's film noir, laced with f- bombs. If a throwback was the point, maybe they should've done a much better job. All this film had going for it, and precisely why it was a popular in the 90's was Sharon Stone's sex appeal. She's a beautiful woman, yes. She crossed her legs... OOOOOH HOW SCANDALOUS. Were people really this amused back then?