Basic Instinct

One of the highlights of this features-packed disc is a hilarious segment that compares the theatrical version of Paul Verhoeven's controversial 1992 erotic whodunit with the butchered TV version. With DVD, of course, viewers can skip instantly to the now-infamous police interrogation scene, in which Sharon Stone, as femme fatale Catherine Tramell, gets a leg up on her increasingly sweaty questioners, not to mention the sex scenes, even more explicit in this unrated version. The disc contains two audio commentaries (neither, unfortunately, with Stone or Michael Douglas): one with Verhoeven and cinematographer Jan de Bont; the other with the insufferable Camille Paglia, who is given to pronouncements such as: "the mystery remains over the subject of woman." Also included is a revealing "making of" documentary that includes a balanced account of the gay community's much publicized protest of the film. On the down side, Joe Eszterhas's over-heated script, top-loaded with gratuitous profanities, is about as subtle as that iconic ice-pick the murderess yields, and none of the supporting cast is credible (Wayne Knight and Jeanne Tripplehorn are especially guilty parties). But this stylish film, a pop culture phenomenon that spawned a rash of imitators, is still very dear to me, if only for the country bar scene (Chapter 18): the house band's lead singer is my brother. Recommended, overall. (D. Liebenson)[DVD Review—Mar. 21, 2006—Lions Gate, 128 min., not rated, $19.98—Making its fourth appearance on DVD, 1992's Basic Instinct (Ultimate Edition: Unrated Director's Cut) sports the same nice transfer as the last DVD release with the only new extras being a brief intro by star Sharon Stone, and a 13-minute conversation with Stone, although the commentary track with feminist Camille Paglia is missing. Bottom line: if you own the earlier edition with the Paglia commentary, there's no reason to upgrade.]