A Noble Experiment 3.5 out of 5.00 - Film: 3 Extras: 1 Video: 5 Audio: 5 - 12/8/2002
Think of it as the lesbification of Tera Patrick, the great porn experiment which failed. By now you know the story. Tera got her start in the adult business in this Andrew Blake film, a near all-girl fetish fantasy, in which she cavorts only with other women. An auspicious start for girl/girl fans everywhere, but one which came to a crushing halt immediately afterwards, when lovely Tera bucked tradition and focused her sexual attention only on men. With the exception of a scene in "Sex Island", during which Caroline Cage is allowed to go down on her, this is it, folks. "Aroused" is a worthy, if ultimately unsuccessful attempt to lesbify a hetero girl.

Of course, that's not what this film is really "about", but it's all that kept me interested in it. Andrew Blake is the world's most impressive producer of visual muzak. Somewhere, probably right at this very minute, in some club or sex store his movies are playing on TV screens raised far enough above eye-level to provide atmosphere without actually intruding very much on anyone's consciousness. Existing in the gauzy realm between softcore and hardcore, his films make few demands on their female stars, except that they look pretty, pretend to be sexually excited, and occasionally touch each other. They might have been designed with Tera Patrick in mind.

In 1999, when "Aroused" was made, Dahlia Grey was its star. Now, three years later, that distinction passes to Tera. No, it isn't fair - Dahlia might actually like what she's doing - but it's the way history works. Why do we watch the "King Kong" remake: for the monkey or Jessica Lange? Okay, bad example. Dahlia's a pretty woman. But Tera Patrick is a star.

The lesbification of Tera begins early. (So I made up the word. It's better than "visual screenplay", the term Blake has coined to hide the fact his movies have no direction.) During the first hour, Tera both fondles breasts and is fondled by others in a like manner. She rubs pussy and has hers rubbed in turn. In a very nice segment, she plays "pass the cherry" with another chick. About 53 minutes into the film, in a segment titled "Sliced Fruit", she bites the bullet and allows another woman to put her tongue between her legs.

An impressive beginning. It gets even better in the second hour. Tera crystal dildos a blindfolded girl, French kisses Dahlia and rubs her pussy with masturbatory intent, and even lightly kisses Dahlia's sex four times. (Granted, these "kisses" would be howlers if performed by any but Tera's lips.) This activity is all part of the film's "Mini Skirts" segment, during an extended portion of which, while Tera and Dahlia are standing together fooling around, another girl is kneeling with head craned upward into Tera's delicious snatch.

The fact that this great experiment failed begs the question whether Tera is enjoying herself. Knowing how the story turns out, it isn't difficult to see the reticence in her manner toward the other girls. Yet she carries on and for the most part gets away with it - those awful clit-kisses excepted - because Blake doesn't demand too much of her. The most fascinating example of her sexual preference occurs during the "Mini-Skirts" segment when she's being assaulted down low. In that position a girl can either thrust her hips forward to give her partner easier access or ease them backward to minimize contact. Tera adopts the latter strategy, but the scene works because her partner isn't taking no for an answer.

"Aroused" is not a good movie; it may be Blake's best, though, because of Ms. Patrick. And until Tera decides to cash-in on one of the biggest paydays in all of porn by doing a full-blown lesbian scene, it's the best girl/girl you're likely to see her doing.

      By: Cain

Not one of Blake's best 2.75 out of 5.00 - Film: 3 Extras: 1 Video: 4 Audio: 3 - 12/5/2001
After much morbid consideration, I've decided that Aroused is the worst Blake DVD in my collection. Not to say that it's bad; even the worst Blake is better than the best efforts by other directors; but it definitely leaves me wanting more than any other title he's released. It seems to be a cumulative effect. Each of the problems with this film exist in other titles, but not in the united affront you get with Aroused.

One of the problems with the film is Blake's choice of editing style. It's something he would carry over into films like Pin-Ups 2 and Decadence, but to different effect. Wherein Pin-Ups 2 uses it to create impressions rather than a coherent story, Aroused affects the viewer more like a stobe light. For instance, you have the beautiful Regina Hall getting herself off with a dildo, but you see only fragmentary glimpses of it. Rather, Blake chooses to concentrate instead on Tera Patrick and Dahlia rubbing each other and kissing like crazy.

Which leads me to my second complaint: The poor use of Tera Patrick! For a woman so seemingly uninhibited, it's disconcerting to see her treated as a secondary mirror image of Dahlia. I'm used to seeing Dahlia get little more than rubbed and kissed, but seeing Tera get the same treatment seems a shame. Both Carmen and the always appealing Inari see boy/girl action, but Tera never sees anything other than the view of Regina enjoying herself.

As for Carmen and Inari, both sequences are interesting, with Inari's getting the edge from me. But the real standout here again is Regina Hall, which is partly why it's so frustrating to see Blake cut away from her so often just as he's cut to her.

The girls all look gorgeous. That's one thing you can say about a Blake film: the women will always look gorgeous. But it's not enough to save this film.

Aroused seems to have been an exercise, but one that works only in isolated moments. There are thing to recommend about the title, which is why I'm rating it as a three, but I feel that it could have been so much better if Blake had restrained himself a bit more in the editing room and let the girls loose a bit more on the set. Particularly Tera.

      - paulmg

An Intense Orgasmic Experience 4.5 out of 5.00 - Film: 5 Extras: 3 Video: 5 Audio: 5 - 5/27/2001
Being ten minutes short of two hours, "Aroused" is one of Andrew Blake's patented masturbatory fantasies about hot women, hot bodies and of course hot sex. In many ways, it's the end of an era. Blake's more recent work no longer features Dahlia Grey, is more compact and has a different style.

As the opening credits roll, Dahlia is smoking a cigarette on a bed. Along the way, there will be many short framing sequences like this one, but hearing Dahlia say "I wanna cum" is a good way to get into it straight away. She looks terrific, bursting with an energy that defies description. The first real scene has Dahlia and the beautiful Tera Patrick (credited as Tara) stripping, while Regina Hall watches. Mixed throughout this exchange is a scene with Regina performing oral sex on Dahlia. After an exciting framing sequence with Dahlia, Victoria is introduced. Dahlia and Tera tie her up and as she pleasures herself with a dildo, a boy-girl scene is cut in. Inari Vachs and Mark Davis give a good performance, but the scene is somewhat fragmented. Inari may not have the full breasts of the other girls, but she makes up for that in passion. A short scene where Victoria is being spanked ends this segment.

Two short framing sequences featuring Dahlia provide bookends for a longer scene with Dahlia, Tera and a submissive Regina. Colorful clothes and ditto settings add a nice touch, with the girls enjoying their drinks and each other. Another framing sequence introduces the uncredited Flower, whose charming looks and full figure unfortunately are not quite a match for Dahlia's. Next, Dahlia and Tera engage in a passionate exchange, where three different scenes end up making for a highly erotic atmosphere. It's too bad Tera hasn't shown up in Blake's later productions, for she looks stunning, with a heavenly face, perfect natural breasts and an on-screen attitude that speaks volumes. A series of framing sequences follows, where Flower is the slave that has to lick, kiss and caress at Dahlia's every command.

Dahlia and Regina end up together, eating fruit off of Tera's body. A messy scene by all accounts, but it does show off the girls' wonderful bodies. A framing sequence shows Dahlia posing in a black dress, when the second and final boy-girl scene follows. The Spanish Carmen and Oliver Sanchez don't get much screen time, but their bedroom scene is intriguing, as it is fragmented and actually has scenes from after the climax sprinkled throughout. Carmen looks stunning and innocent, Oscar may not have the good looks, but he does deposit quite a load on Carmen's perky breasts. Without missing a beat, a few lovely and colourful framing sequences follow. They have Dahlia masturbating in the bathroom, in the shower and in bath, with an underwater scene cut in.

Once again, two different scenes are being mixed together; one with Regina in white and one with Dahlia and a submissive Flower in black. Good contrasts, but this time it is Regina who shines in her full erotic glory, from piercing eyes to mesmerizing breasts. Dahlia in a see-through dress makes for the next framing sequence, when Victoria finally returns for an encore. Switching from black and white to color, the busty and beautiful brunette fingers herself, getting some help from Dahlia and Tera. Her strip scene is extremely arousing, which makes one wonder why there isn't more of her in this movie. Dahlia admiring herself in a mirror makes for the mandatory bookend framing sequence, ending up at a sexy mixture of scenes with Dahlia and Tera. Victoria is present as well and she seems really into giving Tera oral pleasure, but as said, there is not enough of her to fully appreciate her beauty. Fortunately, the two put up a sizzling show with passion overflowing.

The framing sequence with Dahlia smoking on a couch paves the way for the final scene, where Regina acts as Dahlia's slave, getting tied up, cuffed and examined from head to toe. Taking nothing away from the performances of the others, Regina does look perfect here. Her sparkling eyes and soft breasts serve as a reminder why this movie is called "Aroused." She ends up giving Dahlia oral sex, ending on a high note with only a solo scene featuring Dahlia left as the credits roll.

Even though the movie is longer than Blake's more recent ones, it never releases its grip on the viewer. All the girls are extremely beautiful, they obviously cannot get enough of each other and they make for a good synergy. This is not entirely reflected in the boy-girl scenes, but Carmen and Oliver's romp is so hot only multiple viewings will do it justice. Interesting to note is that there is an abundance of oral sex in here. It's an aspect that has all but completely disappeared in Blake's recent work and seeing how well it works in this movie does raise doubts about the wisdom in that decision. In many ways, this is the final Blake 'old school' movie. True to form, it gets very close to perfection.

Aside from the chapter index and photo gallery, there are no extras on the disc, but in all honesty, they are not necessary. The main feature is more than enough to take both sexes on an erotic trip they will not soon forget. "Aroused" lives up to its name and could easily be considered the most aesthetically pleasing, most intense orgasmic experience ever produced by Andrew Blake.

      - tri

Genius! 4.5 out of 5.00 - Film: 5 Extras: 4 Video: 5 Audio: 4 - 1/12/2001
Having enjoyed porn for several years, it is always nice to encounter a mold-breaker. Blake has shown an ability to interpret and showcase the desires of these beautiful women, especially Ms. Grey. I don't know how other reviewers can say that too much Dahlia Grey is a bad thing. I'll watch anything that Andrew Blake does. It is so rare to find truly refreshing entertainment.

      - jpotelli

AROUSED, yes...but no payoff 3.75 out of 5.00 - Film: 4 Extras: 3 Video: 4 Audio: 4 - 4/19/2000
When you have some of the most beautiful women in porn working on a gorgeously shot and produced film which directed by one of the best of the best erotic movie-makers, you essentially have the "perfect" blue movie, right? Well, in this case, the results are a bit frustrating because Andrew Blake goes a little "scissor-happy" with the edits. Instead of giving us sustained shots of beauties like Tera Patrick and Inari Vachs, the viewer is constantly flashed with quick edits and an over-abundance of image inter-cutting. This MTV style of film-making would be acceptable if this techinique were done sparingly, but it occurs almost throughout the whole film. The result is almost maddening, although the actresses on the screen are still arousing. This is a must-have for Blake completists, and for those who appreciate supermodels and fine art photography. The rest might just trade this disc in for the latest edition of CUMBACK PUSSY. As for me, I would buy both...

      - Diesel

You probably won't be aroused! 3 out of 5.00 - Film: 3 Extras: 2 Video: 4 Audio: 3 - 2/20/2000
I don't have much to add to what Mikdow has posted.
Blake is still the best cinematographer in porn, but
his recent offerings have left me limp. He can shoot
a great movie, but he needs to let someone else
cast it beforehand and edit it afterwords. Way, way,
way too much Dahlia Grey. Whenever Blake deigns to
allow heterosexual sex in his movies, he keeps the
scene from building any heat by rapidly intercutting
it with other scenes, typically Dahlia Grey posing or
playing with herself.

This movie has only two short boy/girl scenes, the first
with Inari Vachs and Mark Davis, the second with
Carmen and Oliver Sanchez. Tera Patrick is in this
flick, but frankly it is impossible to tell who is who
because the scenes are edited down to 3 second fragments
and then jumbled together in haphazard fashion.

To make matters worse, Raoul Valve has produced a
dissonent, modern jazz soundtrack that can only be
described as nerve-wracking. It is almost better
to listen with the sound off.

To make matters still worse, there is noticeable
image degredation in this disk, as compare to "Wet"
which was flawless. Granted, the video quality
is still above average but when you are selling eye-candy
and not heat, the eye candy better be perfect.

In sum, this is one that even Blake fans can safely
skip.

      - andyblake

TERA PATRICK YOUR ONLY REASON TO GET THIS DVD!!!!! 4.25 out of 5.00 - Film: 4 Extras: 4 Video: 5 Audio: 4 - 1/9/2000
The movie is basically a best of these girls with no moaning in the backround. There is music in the backround which was the only dissapointing feature in this HOT DVD. Tera Patrick (Penthouse's Feburary's Pet of the Month) is almost in every scene. This DVD is a must for people who ordered her Virtual Sex with Tera Patrick get this DVD.

      - Steve

Dahlia Overexposed 3.25 out of 5.00 - Film: 4 Extras: 3 Video: 3 Audio: 3 - 12/24/1999
I am a big fan of Andrew Blake's works. However I
think he has used Ms Grey far to many times in his
most recent offerings. Aroused is a big disappointment
He has made decent use of Dolby 5.1, but came up
short on overall use of the DVD features.
The use of music and high speed filming is as always
excellent. If you like lesbian action, with just
a smattering of Hetro, this movie is for you. Dahlia
Grey never takes the "ManMeat" which leaves you to
believe she is above it.(turn off)
The last few movies seem to have far to much of
oversized amazon, who is starting to show her age.
Stretch marks on the breasts, and cottage cheese
on her thighs, Dahlia is ready to be retired.
The new ladies that Blake seems to come up with
get only a fraction of screen time, while Blake
continues to over expose Grey...
Earlier works, such as Hidden Obsessions, or La
Femme Erotique are still the best works Blake has
done to date.

      - mikdow