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D.S.
Reviews
Sex Files: Erotic Possessions (2000)
No great shakes
The more one sees of these almost-porn erotica films, the more predictable they are. Basically, plot is of the same nature -- a mystery of some kind is always the prerequisite. And so too are the appearances of surgically enhanced breasts (I won't say who's -- it's no mystery!) along with amateurish-porn-like sex scenes that reveal everything the women have to offer but stop short of everything the man has to offer. (A nice way of drawing the line between erotica and XXX.)
"Erotic Possessions" is about one woman's (Shauna O'Brien) odyssey that begins one night while watching an old movie. The sexy siren in it (the underappreciated Griffin Drew) surfaces in O'Brien's dreams, and becomes a major, threatening nightmare shortly after, seducing O'Brien and everyone she cares about.
During this film, we get to see excessive sexual escapades between O'Brien and boyfriend John Smith (or Jonathan Smith or Jarrod Carrey or whoever) and a partner-swapping display between O'Brien and best friend Amber Newman's boyfriend Jay Stewart (or Jason Schnuit or Jason Stewart or -- sometimes these name changes are infinitely more entertaining than anything onscreen). And we get to see Smith and Newman together too. And O'Brien and Newman, even. And O'Brien with Drew. And Drew with Newman. And Drew and Smith.
Let's just say that when a 80- to 90-minute film involves, roughly guessing here, 6 to 8 sex scenes, you know that what the film's title says isn't necessarily what the film is truly about. And let us also confess that what the film's title suggests, and what the description of the film states, is not necessarily the reason regarding why we're willing to watch.
Passion Cove (2000)
'Passion Cove' is an erotic winner
Cinemax's adult series, "Passion Cove," is a winner, and it deserves to run for years.
A vintage drama that revolves around the romantic lives of its characters, "Passion Cove" appeals to the erotic side in adults. Its characters (and actors) are attractive. They have different backgrounds. But they have one thing in common: striving toward a strong balance of love and pleasure.
The erotic program is well-produced; it isn't sleazy, nor does it come off aimlessly. I like it because it has a healthy attitude toward sex. Unlike some other cable adult series -- past and present -- "Passion Cove" has a good look to it (never too brightly or darkly lit), and the scripts are above what you'd normally anticipate from a program of this genre (for something truly hideous, for comparison's sake, think of the stuff that's aired on Showtime, like "Hot Springs Hotel" and especially the neurotically lifeless "Red Shoe Diaries").
"Passion Cove" is one of cable's smartest produced adult series -- ranking along with such greats as HBO's 1980s anthology "The Hitchhiker," Showtime's 1980s soap "A New Day in Eden," and Cinemax's 1990s joyous "Hot Line" -- and I hope this series has a good, long life.
Claudine (1974)
'Claudine' is warm and inviting
I first saw the 1974 film "Claudine" on Showtime in 1996. It's a warm film that is easily embracable, thanks to the humane way in which the characters -- and their misfortunes -- are dealt.
Diahann Carroll, in the title role, plays a single mother raising -- oh, four or five or six -- kids while working as a maid for a wealthy, affluent family.
James Earl Jones, as a garbage man, is smitten with Claudine. However, he has problems of his own, and the idea of committing to Claudine has him running scared.
The characters have pride and love, and, even though this isn't original, I found "Claudine" to be quite inviting. The performances (especially from Carroll, who won a well-deserved best-actress Oscar nomination for a role that had originally been cast with Diana Sands, who had to drop out due to a bout with cancer that would eventually kill her in September 1973) seem flawless, because the actors have a firm grasp and understanding of where "Claudine" is at, in terms of heart, mind, and soul.
And "Claudine" has plenty of those three to spare. It's well-worth checking out, if you haven't already done so.
Loveblind (2000)
Feeling horny?
If you're in that kind of mood, well then you'll enjoy "Loveblind". It's nothing special, but Kim Yates is a talent, and her lovemaking sessions with Eric Acsell -- they play fiances -- are topnotch.
Also, Catalina Larranaga -- a striking beauty -- is one to watch.
Hey, folks, this isn't art. But if you're the kind that can appreciate T&A -- and the sizzle that's missing from the mainstream sex-free features -- then check this one out.
Masseuse 3 (1998)
Only One Original Hot Scene in "Masseuse 3"!
"Masseuse 3" is jam-packed with heavy-breathing sex scenes. Unfortunately, only one of those scenes is original. And it doesn't occur until "Masseuse 3" is about to end. It's between the leads, Landon Hall's Sheila and John Michael Vaughn's Det. Jack Gage. They're terrific together. Sexy as sexy should be. Very good. Very believable in the "Hot! Hot! Hot!" department. (The moans of pleasure emerging from both actors' performances -- especially Vaughn's -- don't seem false.)
However, the rest of this erotic thriller's -- obviously as cheap as a low-budget, direct-to-video flick can get -- is comprised of scenes clipped from an obscure 1994 release. I'm familiar with Ms. Hall's work -- and she once again impresses. Mr. Vaughn, though, seems rather new to the genre -- and he is a welcomed addition, a fresh talent.
If you're going to watch "Masseuse 3," my recommendation is to fast-forward to about an hour and twenty-two minutes. (Very helpful if your VCR can be programmed to do so.) Just in time to see Hall and Vaughn impress. The rest, most certainly, does not.
Evil Obsession (1996)
"Evil Obsession," an erotic thriller? More like a neurotic chiller!
A chiller, not a thriller, is the best way to describe this dreary feature, about an obsessed nerd (Corey Feldman) fixated on supermodel Margo Johnson (Kimberly Stevens), while someone is murdering other supermodels.
A script without depth, "Evil Obsession" leaves many questions unanswered. For example, given the popularity of showbiz supermodels -- from coverage in top publications to television entertainment-related sources -- why would the news of these murders be so downplayed? No sign of the press. Just the sound of the radio personality's announcement and a visual showing a lead character reading a newspaper's headline.
Well, of course, this is a low-budget feature with a low aim. And it doesn't have much aim, neither. We're expected to care, but don't, about numerous subplots, such as the possibility of romance between Johnson and her hired detective (Mark Derwin) -- their flirtatious and imminent lovemaking scenes are anything but hot -- and the possibly lethal manipulations of Margo's pompous acting coach (Brion James).
And the performances in director Richard W. Munch's film run the gamut from the mentally comatose to the proverbial hambones. Perhaps seeing is believing. But why waste the time?
"Evil Obsession," for all you erotic thriller fans, plays more like a neurotic chiller.