Well Deserved Praise

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Just so...so bad

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The niece of Washington DC forensic psychologist Alex Cross has gone missing in Durham, North Carolina. It is outside his jurisdiction but he goes down to assist with the investigation. It turns out that she was one of eight young women to go missing in the area. Three of them have turned up dead, including one who was found just after Cross got to the area. The local police think they are dealing with a serial killer but Cross isn't so certain; he believes that they are dealing with a 'collector' he is keeping his victims alive and only killed certain of them because they did something to offend him. Not long afterwards he strikes again, this time kidnapping Kate McTiernan, a young doctor. He drugs her and tells her his 'rules' however she manages to escape. This gives Cross and the police a breakthrough; the drug used on her is traced to a plastic surgeon in California, where it emerges a similar series of disappearances has occurred… is this the work of one man working both coasts or two men competing with or encouraging each other?In the years after 'The Silence of the Lambs' serial killer films became rather popular with each trying to have its own unique twist on the genre. Here the twist is that the villain is a serial kidnapper rather than a serial killer… yes he has killed but that isn't his primary motivation. Like most such films the villain is known by a nickname, this time the self-titled 'Casanova'. The fact that he keeps his victims alive does make a refreshing change and also serves to increase the tension as once a murderer has killed somebody the treat is over. There are some good twists along the way before our protagonists have their inevitable confrontation with the villain. It isn't surprising that Morgan Freeman does an impressive job as Alex Cross; he seems to be good in every film he appears in. He is ably supported by Ashley Judd who gives a spirited performance as Kate McTiernan. The settings add to the atmosphere, notably the location where Casanova keeps his victims; the cellar of a long-gone plantation house deep in a forest. Overall I wouldn't say this is a great film but it is well worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.

Based on James Patterson's best selling novel of the same name, "Kiss The Girls" is a profoundly disturbing story about an investigation into a series of kidnappings. The villain is a creepy psychopath, a serial rapist and a killer who kidnaps young women and is then deluded enough to think that he can win their affection. An eerie atmosphere prevails throughout and some interesting characters, tense moments and unexpected developments ensure that the action remains thoroughly engrossing right through to the movie's gripping climax.Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) is a Washington D.C. police detective and forensic psychologist who travels to Durham, North Carolina when his niece, Naomi (Gina Ravera), becomes the latest in a series of young women who have recently disappeared. He soon discovers that the missing women have all been kidnapped by a man who calls himself Casanova and one of his captives has been killed and left in a forest tied up to a tree. Cross is relieved to discover that the murder victim isn't his niece but very soon after, a local young doctor called Kate McTiernan (Ashley Judd) is also kidnapped from her home.Cross is a cool and methodical character who, after studying the available information, comes to the conclusion that Casanova is actually a collector rather than a serial killer and is probably only murdering the women who persist in disobeying his orders.Kate McTiernan is a feisty person whose pastimes include kick-boxing. She's initially kept in a drugged state by her captor and when she recovers consciousness, finds herself in an underground cell where she can hear the voices of the other unseen captives. Shortly after, she manages to make her escape when she bravely jumps from a very high cliff and has to be rescued from the river below before having to spend some time recuperating in hospital. When her recovery is complete, Kate and Cross decide to work together to hunt down Casanova. Despite the useful information that Kate is able to contribute to the investigation, their task becomes more complicated when some new clues unexpectedly point them in the direction of Los Angeles."Kiss The Girls" is well-made, visually impressive and has a consistent sense of impending danger. The dialogue is good and occasionally amusing, for example when the unhelpful Durham Police Chief tells Cross to "make yourself at home but don't mess around in the kitchen". It also has a very talented cast and two lead performances which are excellent both individually and in the way that they complement each other. Morgan Freeman is faultless as the intelligent investigator and Ashley Judd conveys her character's combination of courage and vulnerability very convincingly. Freeman and Judd interact naturally and the scenes in which Kate is abducted and later escapes from her captor's hideout, provide some of the movie's best moments.

Currently rated at 6.5 on IMDb. Too many poor movies in the range 5.5 to 6.5. And some truly abysmal ones.This is not a poor movie. It has it's flaws, particularly the handwriting discovery towards the end - just not believable. But all round this is a good movie. Don't discard it based on the current IMDb rating. It is definitely worth watching. Both Freeman and Judd turn in great performances, as does Cary Elwes. Jeremy Piven and Tony Goldwyn put in their usual competent work, but they only appear briefly. The storyline has some nice twists, too. There are lots of good reviews here if you want to know more about the film. Mine is just to encourage you to not dismiss it out of hand.

Over the opening credits, a breathy-voiced serial killer recalls his first sexual fantasies. Presently, in Washington DC, we meet boxing trainer Morgan Freeman (as Alex Cross), who is summoned during a session with his young students. Also revealed as a police detective and doctor, Mr. Freeman learns his niece has become the latest victim of a serial killer known as "Casanova" (named after the famous Italian lover). Meanwhile, in a North Carolina forest, our hooded serial killer stalks and kills a scantily clad college sophomore. She had not been compliant enough for her captor. As wisely surmised by Freeman, the serial killer is really a "collector" of beautiful women – he keeps them as sex slaves in an underground cavern..."Kiss the Girls" starts out with an intriguing story, taken from the successful novel by James Patterson. What made it captivating in the book looks cluttered and confusing on screen, however. There are too many moments when you ask, "How the heck did that happen?" as characters often appear trapped in their own awkward actions. The inability of authorities to discover the villain's lair due to acrobatic amnesia given beautiful Ashley Judd (as Kate McTiernan) is one example. At another point, one vulnerable character asks someone we know is sinister to hand her a "big chopping knife" to cut some little carrots. The next two lines could have been, "What big teeth you have!" and "The better to eat you with, my dear!"...The fascinating duality of the villain doesn't double the terror like it should. There are a few allusions, but we don't see the truly evil actions being described – the direction is more mildly erotic than horrific or suspenseful. Although it would be departing from the original work, it might have been nice to see more of a partnership between Freeman's detective helpers Cary Elwes (as Nick Ruskin) and Alex McArthur (as Davey Sikes). There is a glimpse of Mr. McArthur in a car near the end which makes you wonder if another tryst was possible. Yet, this brief shot of the McArthur becomes another "What the heck did that mean?" moment. Still, Freeman and the others perform skillfully, as does the production crew.***** Kiss the Girls (9/10/97) Gary Fleder ~ Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Cary Elwes, Tony Goldwyn