I know Balzac is a french novelist, the English dub just caught me off guard and it made me laugh and I decided to share that laughter with you IM SORRY IM AN IDIOT TRYING TO SPREAD JOY

"...He talks about he's a feminist, so he's obviously gonna do something fucked up...". Okay. You earned your like and comment with that line. Based Canadian lady.

I kinda want a movie about the two guys that make money by pretending to be bully and bullied and getting punched in the face by dudes trying to impress girls. They just hustle while weird and convoluted high school romances happen around them.

So let me get it straight. The niece of the headmaster comes up with an idea for a "fundraiser" that's an expensive school musical, get her father, the headmaster brother, to direct it. Then all three of them chose her cousin, the director's niece, the headmaster daughter, to play the main character over the super famous, national level famous actress and no one sees any real problem with that????

The thing about Dangerous Liaisons is that although Valmont sees the errors of his ways eventually, he HAS to die in the end. It is his moral punishment for being cruel and manipulative his entire life. Watering it down to "he learned his lesson and all is well" doesn't really work. And if you think that it's too much for a movie about teenagers, then don't do a remake with teenagers.

I love how nonsensical the social media element is in these movies. Can't the writers ask their children? Or anyone??

I saw an interview with Bill Hader about the latest season of Barry, discussing a scene where one of the characters has to work as a writer on a show for a Netflix-like or Hulu-like streaming site. He was saying that it's common at those places to have a show with a bunch of young creative writers, and then the execs decide they need someone with seniority to oversee the writing room, and they hire some old hack who worked on a sitcom 15 years ago. This explains so much, I feel, about why these shows/movies are so all over the place.

At this point, Netflix original producitons only exist to give Amanda free video material.

Me, an actual polyamorous person: "Boy, I wish there was more polyam rep in movies!" Movies like this: "You want a cheating bisexual girl in a love triangle that somehow magically turns into a triad?" Me: *screaming* 😭 PLEASE for the love of god stop equating bisexuality and polyamory to cheating! Anyways thanks Amanda as always for telling us about this trash! It's so funny to hear your descriptions of this stuff.

“She wants a spankin but I know what it’s feels like to be hurt” When I tell you I burst out laughing 😂 These are actual lyrics

“He talked about being a feminist, meaning he definitely do something fucked up” I should have seen it coming 😂😂

the most unbelievable thing to *me* is that they need to raise funds for the surgery of a kid in a country with universal healthcare omfg! (unless it's some sort of unnecessary beauty surgery which, from what Amanda says, doesn't seem to be the case?)

Hi! I'm a french literature student. I've studied Balzac pretty much every year of my life since middle school, and never once thought about the "ballsack" thing, it is now ruined for me forever and I can't wait to get to lit class next week! Thanks Amanda

The 'putting rare books in danger' seems to start becoming A Thing in YA stuff. I watched a review of a book that attempted to write After better (Better is even the title) and the male lead STEALS THE FEMALE LEAD'S FIRST EDITION COPY OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE TO READ IT, BARELY STARTS IT BECAUSE HE'S A NEANDERTHAL AND THEN HAS THE BRIGHT IDEA TO RETURN IT TO HER DURING HEAVY RAIN, UTTERLY RUINING IT. And the female lead gets angry... For a few seconds then goes back to thirst over the Cro-Magnon SOB.

That's how you know Tristan is rich, he made a charity event that costs almost all the money they would make

I used to go to poetry night at a local cafe and “she wants a spanking, but I know what it’s like to be hurt” sounds like something I would have heard there that would have received a lot of unironic snaps 😬😬😬

Just from the fact it’s a Netflix adaptation alone, I know this show is next levels of What-The-Fuckery.

This was done SO much better with "Cruel Intentions." Yes, it could be ridiculous and took itself TOO seriously at times, but it understood the source material far more than this dreck.

As a French speaker who unfortunately watched the movie let me say that first the actress of Céline is a famous influencer she is not an actress (like Addison ray for ex) also she doesn’t rap to him in the car. She was making fun of he’s way of speaking bc she’s « not like other gen zs 🤪 » so she just talked to him in slang she wasn’t raping.

After their stock crash, Netflix would rather finance trashy teen movies instead of helping independent filmmakers.

Book note: That is (meant to be) a first French edition of the second volume of Proust's À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (popularly called "Remembrance of Things Past" in English, although more accurately translated as "In Search of Lost Time"), and the English title would be "In The Shadow of Young Girls In Flower" (ICK!!!) although it's usually translated as "Within a Budding Grove" (also gross in context). Valuation depending on condition (and that is a good prop) ranges from $10,000 to over $250,000 US, based on recent Sotheby's sales. So, yeah, both creepy and INSANE. The more you know.

"Well, _Cruel Intentions_ is not bad, but you know what it's lacking in my humble opinion? Rap musical numbers... and also orgies, but mostly the rap" _ The makers of this movie, apparently

"New show on Netflix is terrible" Me: notify me when that terrible changes to good. It has been making trash frequently, nothing new

I remember, still closeted, stumbling upon late night cable runs for Cruel Intentions and only recalling that girls kiss. But I do really enjoy Dangerous Liaisons (1988), the 2003 South Korean adaptation (Untold Scandal), and the 2012 Chinese adaptation (Dangerous Liaisons). That should be proof enough that non-English versions of this story can be great! Edit 1: Is this basically the plot of She’s All That, like a little? Edit 2: In the world of Elite and Euphoria, isn’t this all sort of tame? Is a current-day adaptation going to be scandalous anymore?

6:40 The Voice is kind of a big deal in France haha It's starting to be a little bit old as a show but it's still huge to make it to the first auditions and be on TV basically :) It was weird to see who plays Celene actually on screen because she is a influencer in France called Paola, she started on YT at quite a young age. She's been the face a a few big fashion brands - and now she seems to try and diversify her carrieer with acting. We'll see how it develops !

May I point out that I HATE the „your first time is definitely going to suck“ trope?! Because, no, it isn’t! It’s always portrayed as this cute, romantic moment, when the (obviously experienced) guy warns the girl (oftentimes while they’re about to have sex) that this will hurt a lot, even though she is perfectly calm and relaxed and enjoying herself and he isn’t ramming into her like some murderous lunatic?? Of course, your first time might be less enjoyable than expected, especially when you’re both inexperienced or really nervous beforehand and it’s important to know what might happen - but this „you must fear your first time, because someone will pierce your skin open and you will bleed a fuckton“ is just plain wrong and it pisses me off to no end. I was nervous as fuck because I knew all the stories and prepared myself mentally, only to be surprised to find out that it doesn’t have to be that way and it can be good for both partners without hurting in between.

When you said that the minion and the other dude both forgave Charlotte I actually found myself thinking that a poly triad would be a perfect ending for them. Lo and behold! Okay maybe not a wedding, but still, that they even thought to put the three of them together makes me a little happy.

I'm sorry but are CP laws different in France. Like...would sharing (distributing) all those videos of all those teenagers having sex not be... Y'know... VERY illegal on so many levels. I wish more movies pointed that out. I get that it happens (in high school) and all over the world but like REMIND people that it counts as sharing CP and they can be punished accordingly. The ending was just a cherry on top.

in this day and age i dont feel like the whole "ruining a girl's reputation" storyline works. people with vaginas are allowed to have sex now. cruel intentions worked a lot better bc purity culture still mattered a lot more in the 90s/early 00s and the characters werent social media celebrities. they were all, like, young republicans in prep school. the knd of thing where if the girls reputation is ruined in high school the press will find out when her future husband runs for congress.

Oh come on, Amanda! It's not that unreasonable to gift a teenager a first edition of Proust. The kids are just WILD for "A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu" these days. Summarizing Proust is fast becoming the next Tiktok trend!

I honestly really want to see a the whole “sex bet thing” but after so long of flirting the cool kid later discovers that the person they’re pursuing is aro/ace and then cool kid and the nerd just start building their friendship and the cool kid realizes how awful their old friends we’re. ✨

I watched a similar one which was SO BAD and just like 365 but with teens and my first thought was: omg I need Amanda to watch it but don’t want her to suffer like me 😅😂

Love that you said clearly that kissing someone without consent isn`t a joke! My view on consent was BUSTED and I am so happy I got to learn propper consent now. No one gotta kiss me without my consent!

If it’s wrong to watch Amanda lose her mind while watching this, I don’t want to be right. Also, “she wants a spanking but I know how it feels to be hurt will be my new favorite lyrics”😂

Why is it whenever these movies go “social media is evil,” they don’t go into like “hey, one time a bunch of people accused a trans lady of being a serial killer because she was dancing in her basement” or how a bunch of kids think they’re experts because they watch criminal minds?

To answer your question YES! The Voice is a big deal here (aka france) and Balzac is a really weird name for a dog hahahah but this movie sounds cringe af! Looking forward to not watching it xD

Anyone else who really wants Amanda to review Heartstopper? I recently watched it and I absolutely love it and would love to see Amanda make a video about it. And besides, I think she could use some really sweet, wholesome content after all the bad, toxic relationship movies and shows she’s watched and reviewed.

Looks like he gave her the second volume of Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past. Kinda weird if you assume she hasn’t read the first volume Swans Way, which is likely since she’s a teenager and Proust is kinda heavy. But I guess if you want your characters to seem quasi-cultured you just go for the first result that pops up when you google “greatest novel ever written.”

At least Cruel Intentions was fun and it had Sarah Michelle Gellar looking super attractive as Kathryn, even if her character was this kind of horrible person. Also, the ending with Sebastian is kind of hilarious because it's so over the top.

Balzac = "Ball-sack"? 🤣 Ça c'est une liaison dangereuse!

Cruel intentions is a delight, especially the climax of the film that seems to come out of nowhere. It always makes me chuckle instead of feeling sad. And that soundtrack? Amazing, like you said. This one, with all of the rap? No thank you

Hi from France! I won't see the movie cause… you made your case, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses as a teen movie looked like a disaster to me (if people are reading the book after liking the movie, it will be… well, interesting) . But here's a few insights : - "Balec" is short for "Bat les couilles" which means (in a vulgar way) "Don't fuc*ing care" I'd say, to keep it vulgar (the original literaly mentions balls, this time for real) - The Voice France is quite big, yes. Talent/Singing shows succeed each other over the years, The Voice being the current one. And The Voice has grown quite a following and winners go on tours. It's not like huge huge, but it's quite popular. I don't think you would recognize any contestant, even as a fan, but maybe winners. - Balzac is indeed a famous novelist, and frankly I don't think anyone (I know English quite well and never thought it) has ever tried to pronounce it in English and saw that (but funny nonetheless) - Yes we have Disneyland Paris ! Like just outside of Paris. Your video was so funny, thanks for the laugh!

I liked cruel intentions so much as a teen but fun fact in German it’s called Eiskalte Engel - Ice Cold Angels 😅

It pleases me to see you react to French content even though it would have probably been better for you to react to quality content 💀 I watched this movie three days ago and I was in awe of how bad it was, they actually picked influencers as actors and the screenplay is just mediocre to say the least. They’re really treating teenagers and young adults as stupid people unable to appreciate something that’s well built and clever. Now time for some explanation : Celene’s username is a wordplay on the name of the French author Honoré De Balzac and the idiom “s’en battre les couilles” (to beat / hit one’s balls) shortened to “je m’en balec” which means to have no interest whatsoever in [insert whatever you’re thinking of]. The Voice is a pretty big deal here, a lot of its contestants have well established carriers now (I can quote Louane, Slimane or Kendji). Lastly, it might be childish of me but I laughed every time you pronounced Balzac as ball sack. Thank you for the vid!

I know it’s literally based off cruel intentions but the thought of someone getting off so much on corrupting an impressionable person or manipulating someone’s morals so that they feel dependent and needy for you physically is just so gross. Something only a truly twisted person would come up with and actively pursue. Not once while doing ts does he think hey maybe DONT. reminds me of the mindset of a killer.

It’s a universally acknowledged fact that the worst movies make the best commentaries. I had and have no intention of watching this movie, but listening to you talk about it was vastly entertaining.👍🏻👍🏻

This, Persuasion and Resident Evil. Man, I know that Netflix is flipping back to see how many beloved things could ruin in one month.

FRANCE HAS HEALTHCARE WHY DOES THE OPERATION NEED FUNDING????

About the party, Vanessa spiked the punch bowl. That's why everyone is like that by the end of the party. You don't see her drinking anything and there's a scene of her going around with her phone, recording everything (that's how she got the video of Charlotte with Oscar and that girl).

Can you make a video on prime video's the summer I turned pretty? It's surprisingly great especially for a teen romance show.

I would honestly watch a Cruel Intentions video if you ever felt like doing one!

As a fan of both the original 1989 film and Cruel Intentions, I can honestly say that I have absolutely no plans on watching this. I can’t believe that the French screwed up one of their classics so horribly!!!! Like what happened to the Madame Merteuil/Katherine character? She’s the driving force of the movie!! I’m good. Thank you for sacrificing your time and sanity for us

As someone obsessed with French literature, I see "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" or mentions of Balzac (even if he's in dog form), I click no matter how bad the adaptation(s) may be 👀

2:02 why these movies think we care about a character's social media following?

This recap was absolute gold. I don't think I've laughed as much as I did in a while. Holy shit, those lyrics. I just can't.

so many of these comments have really thoughtful points comparing this movie with the source material and other adaptations, but I'm still laughing about "I can hear you tiptoeing around my bimbo, you dumbf*ck" because it took me so completely by surprise and I think we can all agree, that's art.

My favorite part about watching Amanda's reviews is how quickly she disintegrates from calm intro to WTF!! mode. I love it!

genuinely was cringing until it ended with a polyamorous relationship did they have to get teenage married??? no that's weird but im here for a throuple

I read "team ronance" by accident and I was trying to understand why you didn't like people shipping Robin and Nancy from stranger things, my new glasses can't come any faster

Here in Brazil, we had a miniseries based on Les liaisons dangereuses in 2016 on network TV, called "Ligações Perigosas," set in 1920s Rio de Janeiro. Personally I thought it was very good, but it generated polemic for a scene that was supposed to be about seduction, but was made as abuse. In 2018, there was a Korean version, called Tempted, which I am almost done with, I also thought it was good, and much lighter than the other versions I saw.

Everyone knows the cure for a concussion is naked spooning

I like the Glen Close version and a another version I saw in class called Valmont. Plus I thought Cruel Intentions did a good job adapting the book for a modern audience and the characters fit well so did the Upper East side location this one does not look good lol. The motivations of both the betters don’t really fit with the novel. Love the laughing over Balzac and yeah I wouldn’t bet the beach house too

As someone who read the play version of Les Liasons Dangereuses for a college theater class, I was horrified as soon as I read the title of the video.

So, apparently my phone was listening while I was watching this video. I got a targeted ad for a knitting tote bag that had “Ballsack” on it 😂

I cant stress out enough how good is the Glenn Close / john Malchovich version. I loved the book and rewatching that movie a good once a year. Cruel intention is one of my fav guilty pleasures movie too.

15:47 They did a good job on translation, at least. "Balec" is a slang abbreviation of "(je m'en / on s'en) bas les couilles" which is a foul expression meaning "I don't care" (in a much more rude way).

How could they do this when we already have the best modern interpretation in Cruel Intentions

Amanda has the best shirts on KZfaq

The best adaptation is with John Malkovich And Gleen Close, a masterclase in acting

There's a k-drama called Tempted that's also based off the same book, I watched this cause i figured it couldn't possibly end up that bad with a plot like that, and let's just say i think tempted was a much better modern version of it now

I have never seen Cruel Intensions, but I worked in a cinema and we always had movie soundtracks playing in the Foyer. I remeber one of them being that movie and loving every single song on it. So I agree. Amazing music in this soundtrack, unforgettable.

Charlotte is the school director's daughter and I think he refused to sleep with Ms Merteuil so she's trying to get revenge by breaking his daughter's heart or something. So it's not really gratuitous, she is trying to get revenge.

No, Amanda, I'm old and think of the Glenn Close version. 😂 Though I also grew up with and adore Sarah Michelle Gellar and she's amazing in Cruel Intentions.

This whole story could have started with the school play where Charlotte is given the lead role over super famous actress Vanessa, giving Vanessa the motivation to want revenge. And it still could have ended with the premier of the school play. But for reasons… they went in another direction.

Netflix is slipping into awfulness fast, Umbrella Academy Season 3 was a mess and the low quality stuff they always posted is getting worse, don't even get me started about the amount of good shows they cancelled. The same people than greenlit stuff like this cancelled "I'm Not Okay With This" for fucks sake.

So far I am not regretting my decision to drop Netflix. Every review I watch about a Netflix movie or series; I do not regret it.

Uma Thurman In dangerous liaisons was a big stepping stone in my gay awakening when I was a teenager, and I thirst for her still, but I can’t watch it now knowing how young she was. But still, a banger, 10/10, would time travel back to 2011 to watch it again.

Amanda, what did you think about The Grey Man? It´s an action movie that dropped on Netflix with Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas. Haven´t heard anything really good about it but it´s Netflix´s most expensive movie and the directors did Infinity War and Engame.

I didn't realize this was a new video and was confused because there were no comments

You should watch "les 7 vies de Léa" it's a new series on netflix and it's great, i don't usually watch french shows but i loved this one

Thank you Amanda I just watched this ridiculousness last night and I so happy you just posted about it!

I always learn so much, thank you Life Advice With Amanda.

When I watched this movie one of my first thoughts was that I hope Amanda reviews it. I'm so excited to see that you did!

Maybe because is for Honore Balzac, one of the most famous french writers, that revolutionise the conventions of his time, like Dangerous Liaison, his books were full of drama, of romances that always ended in misery or couples that cheated each other, that very controversial were there was no divorce in marriage, and the people have this entrench idea that husband and wife should be faithful to each other, tragically, Balzac never find actually love in his life, he die before he could marry and have children, his mother was strict and despised his book, Gerard Depardieu did a miniseries about him, but that was before I realise that Depardieu was a horrible person.

Spoiled rich kids? The French? How do I leave?

26:31 I think that is the funniest thing I have ever heard The way he’s so sincere 😭

You are so much braver than I could ever be... I am French and I would not have even considered watching this ever... but you did it and all the way through. Also yes "the voice" is pretty big here. It must be like season 15 by now, they do also a kids version... I never really cared for it to be honest.

If you like Cruel Intentions for the music, def check out the musical! There’s a fun camrip of a live performance of it on KZfaq.

New to the channel from Aussieland. Great work - ripping this rubbish a new one so we don't have to. Loads of content. Bravo!

First of all, Cruel Intentions is a masterpiece and a bittersweet classic 🙏 Secondly, If I would have somehow managed to watch THIS on my own, I'd never understood that it was a Cruel Intentions rip-off :D good lord what was that, it's like a fever nightmare And also, are you planning on doing a video on the latest Resident Evil show? I have so many questions and I NEED EXPLANATIONS :D Thanks for the video! 😻

Good life advice Amanda. Thank you for giving us this “ gem” to laugh through lol

Btdubs, the book by Choderlos de Laclos (have fun pronouncing that too) is a masterpiece. Bitterly unsettling. Wonderfully written. I may be sensitive but when I finished it, it instantly became one of my favorites!

Why is it so hard to follow the source material?! Sis, the answers are *RIGHT* therrreeee 😭😭

26:24 and somehow it gets worse, it cuts to triston rapping again🤣🙏

I absolutely love it when instead of watching something I probably wouldn't enjoy, I can just watch you ranting about it and have loads of fun

Screaming into the Void: STOP. FETISHIZING. AND ADULTIFYING. *CHILDREN*🤦🏾‍♀️... PLEASE 🥺???

Cruel Intentions is a film I like to call a guilty pleasure lol it's so fun!!

Balzac is also a cafe chain in Kingston ON, if you want a hot cup of Balzac or some merch. They had a Margaret Atwood blend too so you know it's Canadian

As a person who doesn't live in France, I found out with Google that The Voice is a big deal in France, most recently wrapped it's 11th season, not as many as the US version which has a whopping 21, due to being on twice a year (not this past television season though), with a 22nd season set to premiere this fall in the US.

IDK, spoiled rich kids having an impractical, cost-ineffective fundraiser idea that, due to them being spoiled and rich, they are allowed to do, seems like one of the more realistic parts of this.