XCritic Reviews

Two

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:23:40 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Straight Feature/Drama
Director: Randy Spears
Cast: Stormy Daniels, Carly Parker, India Summer, Randy Spears, Derrick Pearce, Marco Banderas, Sascha, Marcus London
Length: 127 min
Production Date: 04/2008

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Well Done All Around
Professionally put together and very slick, the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image looks excellent here. The transfer is terrific, with a great balance in the lighting and a nice control of colors and contrasts. The fleshtones look excellent and the direct...Read the entire review

Damaged Goods

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:10:28 CDT

Rent It.

Genre: Vignette/Comedy
Director: B. Skow
Cast: Monique Alexander, Rucca Page, Makali Channel, Chayse Evans, Alex Gonz Charles Dera, James Deen, Sascha, Jerry
Length: 135 min
Production Date: 10/2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Sloppy But Still Professional
While there is a noticeable off the cuff quality to the shooting style (this must be B. Skow's idea of wackiness) the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image still looks pretty good here. The transfer is bright and shiny, with some expert lighting and a n...Read the entire review

Belladonna's Evil Pink Vibrator - Bumpy

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:56:24 CDT

Recommended.

At the still young age of 27, Mississippi-born Michelle Anne Sinclair, aka Belladonna, is nothing short of a supersized sex mogul. She's a certified porn legend with a huge fanbase - male and female - supporting her massive catalog of hardcore histrionics. Specializing in anal, and anything that can be crammed up or manipulated into her sexy poop chute, she has turned the once taboo act into a commercial cash cow calling card. Naturally, years in the industry can take a toll on the talent, and as with many high profile adult stars, the spunky little actress has moved behind the camera. She now owns and operates Belladonna Entertainment with her partner and husband, Aiden Kelly, yet as with all self-imposed retirements (she walked away last year, concerned over the spreading of STDs and herpes) however, she is currently back before the lens, letting is all hang out.

Of course, this doesn't k...Read the entire review

Belladonna's Evil Pink Ass Tickler - Bumpy

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:54:30 CDT

Recommended.

Personal Touch Vol. 1: Toying With Pleasure

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:56:10 CST

Highly Recommended.

Genre:Straight Feature/Instructional
Director: JaymeWaxman
Cast: JaymeWaxman, Syren, Mia Smiles, Alexa Lynn, Rachel Luv, Veronica Rayne, ChrisCannon, Jake Vegas
Length: 119min
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Well Done All Around
Professionallyput together and very slick, the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image looksexcellent here. The transfer is terrific, with a great balance in the lightingand a nice control of colors and contrasts. The fleshtones look great and thedirection really delivers. On the sound side, everything is easily discernible,and the music makes an impact but is not too intrusive.

Ext...Read the entire review

Smoking Interviews 2

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:52:37 CST

Rent It.

Genre:Straight Feature/Interviews/Fetish
Director:Julie Simone
Cast: SinammonLove, Luccia, Victoria Sinn, Dick Nasty, Jeremy Steele, Rod Fontana
Length: 100min
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Amateurish and Very Early '90s
Dark and ratherlimited in its production values, we get some of the most amateurish visualsimaginable for a 2007 adult DVD. The 1.33:1 full screen image is flat,lifeless, and very bland. The colors are muted, and the lack of details istroubling. Clearly created on the cheap for a specific market, this is Internetbroadcast quality video. Luckily, the musical score is sensational. It's muchbetter than the dialogue, which is almost indecipherabl...Read the entire review

The Sexual Adventures of Little Red

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:49:02 CST

Recommended.

Genre:Straight Feature
Director:Louise Moire
Cast: AngelDark, Claudia Rossi, Jennifer Love, Jessica Sanchez, Keana Moire, Nella, SaraTwain, Silvia Saint, Suzie Diamond, JC Sonogod, Levy Ewil, George Uhl, Cage,Wen Lewis, Neeo, Denis Marti, Ivan Dan
Length: 155min
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Just Like a Big Screen Hollywood Production
Offered in a colorful yet grainy 2.35:1 anamorphicwidescreen image, The Sexual Adventuresof Little Red looks just like a legitimate big screen blockbuster. The setsare spectacular in their real life abandoned factory dynamic, and theperformers look good, even despite their piss pour personal fashion sense.There is som...Read the entire review

Sexual Disorder

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:44:33 CST

Recommended.

Genre:Straight Feature
Director: WillRyder
Cast: MyaLuanna, Nadia Styles, Aubrey Addams, Lisa A. Daniels, Riley Shy, Donny Long,Kurt Lockwood, Lee Stone, John West, Chris Charming
Length: 135min
Production Date:2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Bright and Very Colorful
Captured in a wonderfully luminous 1.33:1 full screentransfer, director Ryder's camera does a great job of keeping the fucking inframe. The compositions are the standard point and shoot sex stuff, but there'sa nice balance between medium shots and close-ups, and the fleshtones don'tappear freakish or optically odd. Sonically, the Dolby Digital Stereo deliversersatz eletronica and l...Read the entire review

Brea Bennet Pocket Ass

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:47:45 CST

Recommended.

In the realm of realistic sex toys, there are two basicstyles the stimulator and the simulation. Vibrators, beads, and remotecontrol rabbits are designed to specifically aid in arousal. They affix anunusual touch to the standard sensual experience, and provide a technologicalboast to occasional human fumbling. Those foam rubber replicators, on the otherhand, are supposed to heighten the fantasy fodder required to work the wood.From ersatz tits to complete neoprene nether regions, the substitute partnerperforms a necessary function in the world of boudoir balling. Without beingrude, let s just call it the diligent yet dateless ideal.

In order to remove some of the stigma, the adult industryhas commissioned real porn stars to model for these lonely guy/gal specials.One of the newest comes from Brea Bennett. The featured actress and noveltynamesake i...Read the entire review

Seasoned Players

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:47:33 CDT

Highly Recommended.

Genre:Straight Feature/MILF
Director: TomByron
Cast: VeronicaRayne, Cheyenne Hunter, Lisa Sparxxx, Angelica Sin, Kendra Secrets, Tom Byron
Length: 119min
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Well Done All Around
Treating the title as part talk show, part fuck-a-thon,Byron s 1.33:1 full screen image is excellent. The colors are expertlycontrolled, and the flesh tones really deliver especially when the actors areslicked with sweat. The backdrops are basic and we get some exteriorinterference during the Q&A material, but for the most part, this isprofessional looking porn. As for sound, it s hard to fuck up direct to micrecording. The interviews ...Read the entire review

MILF School 5

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:46:47 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: MILFFeature/Gonzo
Director:Steve Rogers
Cast: LakeRussell, Christina Skye, Missy Vonage, Savanna James, Liz Taylor, J-Mac, JustinYoung, Da Captain (Adam)
Length: 119min
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell Not Bad for a Catch and Grab Production
This camcorder creation, frequently whiting out when thebrightness of the Florida sun hits the lens (this is a Miami based production),runs the gamut from good to goofy during the course of each sequence. Rogershas a good eye for composition, and some of his set-ups really rate highly onthe risqu meter. Still, there is a small amount of grain and some color issuesin the 1.33:1 full screen...Read the entire review

Nina Hartley's Guide to Stripping For Your Partner

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:43:56 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Instructional/Straight Feature
Director: ErnestGreene
Cast: NinaHartley, Marco, Marie Love, Evan Stone, Justine Joli
Length: 75mins
Production Date:2007

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell- Professional and Crystal Clear

While it won t win any awards forartistic merit, the visual elements of Nina Harley s Guide toStripping for Your Partner are very good indeed. The 1.33:1 fullscreen image is colorful, well lit, overflowin...Read the entire review

Dillan's Day Off

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:42:53 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: StraightFeature
Director: PattiProductions
Cast: DillanLauren, Lexi Love, Hillary Scott, Kris Slater, Rick Masters, John West, JustinMagnum, Scott Nails
Length: 95mins
Production Date:2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell- Dark, and a Little Sleazy at Times

It s amazing what a lack ofprofessional lighting (or perhaps, mediocre DVD mastering) can do to a fuckfilm. When the brightness is balanced and maintained, everything looks on theup and up. But let t...Read the entire review

Kill Jill 2

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:40:36 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Straight Feature
Director: Caesar Bonobo
Cast: Mya Luana, Shyla Stylez,Lindsay Meadows, Roxy DeVille, Derrick Pierce, Jean Val Jean, Van Damage,Stephen St. Croix
Length: 102 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Nothing Really Spectacular orSpecial

It's Hustler, it's a standard industry feature, all of which means it's nothingto write home about, either stylistically or visually. Director Bonobo doesapply a widescreen feel to his framing, and the DVD delivers a decent 1.78:1anamorphic image. But the colors are occasionally muted and the contrasts arenot as crisp as one would like. Still, the exte...Read the entire review

For Once a Whore and Ever a Whore

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:39:24 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Straight Feature
Director: Jewel De Nyle
Cast: Candy Manson, Katarina Kat, Tera Wray, Adriana DeVille, StaciThorn, Brooke Belle, Joey Ray, Dale Dabone, Claudio, Tommy Pistol, Van Damage
Length: 105 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Glamorous andGroin Grabbing
One of the more intriguing thingsabout the new digital medium is the way filmmakers are manipulating it, takingit and, in the process, redefining the language of film. Over the last decade,porn has gone from simple set-ups and occasional awkward angles to fluid POVshots and a real sense of intimacy. Ms. D Nyle offers all this in her colorful1.33:1 full screen image...Read the entire review

Jurassic Pork

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:57:43 CDT

Highly Recommended.

Genre: Mega Compilation
Director: Various
Cast:: Way too Many to Mention
Length: 240 mins
Production Date: Various

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - A Cornucopia of Cinematic Styles
With 22 scenes covering over a decade of porn production, Jurassic Pork is a veritable smorgasbord of visual variables. Some of the scenes were shot on film. A few are given a digital drive through the cinematic system. There are some analog video sequences, as well as highly polished pieces of professional poon. As a result, the 1.33:1 full screen image runs the gamut from good to grand. The images and transfers are really never bad, but the divergent styles are like walking through an adult film archeological dig. Also, as you can see by the screenshots included in this review, some of t...Read the entire review

Hall of Fame

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:18:17 CDT

Highly Recommended.

Genre: Scene Compilation
Director: Various
Cast:: Nina Hartley, Porsche Lynn, Christy Lake, Gene Pepper, Nici Sterling, Felecia, Charmane Star, Emily, Coral Sands, Jill Kelly, Misty Rain, Chloe, Christy Canyon, Pat Myne, Teri Weigel, Peter North, Marc Wallace, Ian Daniels, Eric Price, Mark Davis, Jonathan Morgan,
Length: 120 mins
Production Date: Various

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - All Over the Map, from Film to Video
To say that Hall of Fame has transfer issues would be like calling Peter North "proficient" in providing pop shots. This DVD has pictorial problems a plenty. The 1.33:1 image contains inconsistent colors, lots of grain, moments of flaring and bleeding, and more than one sequence suffers from a lack of definable details. While the sex is never stunted by the subpar visual elem...Read the entire review

Love Hurts

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:00:14 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Straight Feature
Director: Heidi Joy Pike
Cast:: Lexi Love, Angel Eyes, Naomi Cruise, Savannah Stern, Tyla Wynn, Van Damage, Otto Bauer, Lee Bang, Jack Lawrence, Hershel Savage
Length: 150 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Glamorous and Groin Grabbing
Though it's only offered in a 1.33:1 full screen image (sorry, 16x9 smut fans - it's a clear case of a 1.85:1 image being incorrectly presented), the image quality of Love Hurts is actually very good. The colors are correct and the natural lighting really adds to the erotic effect. Director Pike's camera is intrusive without being too busy, and there are times when the angle really illustrates the physicality between the performers.

Extras:
In a Nutshell - A Bevy of Bonus Material, Incl...Read the entire review

Bombshells

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:59:06 CDT

Rent It.

Genre: Straight Feature
Director: Alex King
Cast:: Cory Everson, Misty, Stacy Silver, Violet, Sandra De Marco, Paris, Ian Scott, Max Cortes, George Uhl, Bobby
Length: 150 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Glamorous and Groin Grabbing
Alex King pretends to be a jack of all trades on this title. He handles the directing, he works with the camera, and even provides the musical score. One things for certain, however - he definitely does have a way with the lens. The 1.33:1 full screen image here is colorful, bright, and loaded with detail. The ladies look good, and when we get down to the drilling, the contrasts are expertly controlled. And what about our filmmaker's compositional skills? The tunes here are interesting, if a tad techno-tired.

Extras:
In a Nu...Read the entire review

Hair Force One

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:48:01 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Hair Fetish Feature
Director: Patrixxx
Cast:: Drew Smith, Mya, Lis, Camilla, Priscilla, Helena Bush, Ventura, Gabriela, Joachim Kessef, Wesley Nike, Franco Roccaforte, Kid Jamaica
Length: 145 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Fluctuates Between Intriguing and Irritating
As you will see in the body of this review, Hair Force One is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image that moves from evocative to the aggravating. The material filmed in Russia (?) has a nice, international feel. The locations really add to the flavor of the film, but then the inserted segments (obviously created by another crew) distract us from the overall atmosphere and tone. It doesn't hinder the hardcore, but it does take us out of Drew Smith's core co...Read the entire review

Flexi-Fucks

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:48:01 CDT

Rent It.

Genre: Straight Feature
Director: Unknown
Cast:: Maya Hills, Kayla Stream, Jersey Jaxin, Somaya Lynn, Scarlett Jolie
Length: 145 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - A Tad Oversaturated and Light
As if to emphasize the supposed "wholesomeness" of the performers, Flexi Fucks is filmed in a manner that accentuates the primary colors and overall brightness of the scenes. It can be rather aggravating on the eyes. Still, the 1.33:1 full screen image is acceptable, providing controlled skintones and detailed backdrops.

Extras:
In a Nutshell - Lots of Backstage/Q&A Treats
The Score Group sets up Flexi Fucks to be a magazine-like experience. Aside from the typical bonus features - trailers, website info, galleries, cumshot recaps - w...Read the entire review

The Kink Factory

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:48:01 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Kinky/Fetish Feature
Director: Unknown
Cast:: Dionne, Jessica Moore, Melissa Black, Patricia, Sabrina, Tera Joy
Length: 125 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Glamorous and Groin Grabbing
Presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image (and a cover art claim that the title is "shot in HD", whatever that means), The Kink Factory looks very good on the DVD format. The colors are bright, the skintones correct, and the overall attention to detail very focused. In general, this is a very professional and polished transfer.

Extras:
In a Nutshell - Uninspired
Representing a troubling new trend in digital packaging, the added content provided here is almost nonexistent. We are treated to a ...Read the entire review

Tea-Bags and Tossed Salads

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:48:01 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Oral Only Compilation
Director: Terry English
Cast:: Shy Love, Jackie Moore, Katy Parker, Lara Stevens, Samantha Ryan, Trinity, Afrodite, Mery, Randi Wright, Paola Pey, Trina Michales, Ava Ramon, Bibi Fox, Katja Kassin, Audry Hollander, Mario Rossi, Chris Streams, David Perry, Nick Lange
Length: 125 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Good, in a Gonzo Kind of Way
Representing nothing fancy or fresh, the 1.33:1 full screen transfer of Tea Bags and Tossed Salads is very good. The colors are clear and there's a nice attention to detail. Most importantly, there are limited defects (flaring, bleeding) and the performers are rendered in realistic skintones. While you may see a pimply pussy or two, the visual element here is first rate.

Extras:
In ...Read the entire review

Score Xtra 11

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:59:22 CDT

Rent It.

Genre: Big Tit Feature
Director: Tushna
Cast:: Brandy Dean, Christine Allure, Tara Moon, Latia Lopez, Daphne Rosen, Summer Sinn
Length: 135 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Harsh and Not Very Nuanced
Whoever was in charge of lighting for the entire Busty Pussycats in Heat production should be fired - or at least be filmed under the same unflattering circumstances he or she created. The 1.33:1 image is overly bright, and incredibly flat. It makes skintones look sickly instead of sexy, and amplifies the many occlusions and body issues our performers have. The Dirge wouldn't be surprised if several of the cast members balked upon seeing the final transfer. It is a cinematic shame.

Extras:
In a Nutshell - Some Intriguing Added Elements
...Read the entire review

Extreme Holly Goes Solo

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:03:30 CDT

Recommended.

Genre: Internet Clip Compilation
Director: Unknown
Cast:: Extreme Holly
Length: 135 mins
Production Date: 2006

Audio/Visual:
In a Nutshell - Good Given Its Mixed Media Origins
Presented in a 1.33:1 full screen image, the visual element of Extreme Holly Goes Solo is very good, especially when considering that this is essentially a bunch of homemade hardcore. Granted, Holly probably has some manner of crew working with her (we catch a glimpse of them during some Behind the Scenes footage), but she's basically like Seymore Butts in that she's performing in found locales. It's not the easiest XXX scenario to pull off, and yet this DVD does so.

Extras:
In a Nutshell - The Basics, Plus Holly and a Friend
Aside from the standard shill material, we get a bonus scen...Read the entire review