4.75
out of 5.00 -
Film:
4
Extras:
5
Video:
5
Audio:
5
-
4/17/2008
I go for aesthetics, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I like a car because of the way it looks, not necessarily because it has side curtain airbags or a certain brand badge on it. And I don't like to download music, because I like to have something tangible in my hands, something that I've actually purchased, with liner notes and cover art and stuff like that.
Porn works the same way for me. I have to buy a DVD, rather than download, because I like that tangibility, that object. And I like boxcovers. I frequently judge a film based on its cover, yes. I think the single greatest box cover of all time is
Ultimate Asses 5, just because of Flower Tucci, in that outfit, in that pose, in that scene. To me it's perfect.
So
The Doll Underground should be perfect for me, really. The box itself is amazing, a kind of digipak for DVDs that I've never seen before. The ability to flip between the two main discs is nice, and it doesn't appear that the plastic that makes up that part will break easily. There is even a third disc, then, tucked in the inside with the music from this feature, a rather nice touch, if you like the music.
Even more so does a particular female capture my attention on certain boxcover, before I even know who they are. In this instance, it's the third lovely female from the left that has captured my attention. She's stunningly gorgeous, fucks like nobody's business, and is named Reagan Maddux. This is the first time I've had the pleasure of seeing her in a feature, and I'm going to make certain it isn't the last. Best of all, she's in three scenes in
The Doll Underground.
It's a strange flick. There's no way around that. Between the somehow ominous presence of Pixie Pearl as the leader of the Underground, and Eon McKai's very unique directorial style, nothing is going to be erotic in the typical sense here. Which is fine, as this is a Vivid Alt production, but it is quite a bit on the strange side.
First off, there is massive social commentary throughout the piece, which is something that needs to happen from time to time. Under particular criticism is the notion of suburbia, and some of the comments made are quite poignant. The notion here is that Pearl's character is leading young women to abandon the suburban life, to own nothing, and to join them. Odd that they are required to dress in this goth sexy kind of way, if they're supposed to give up being controlled, but whatever. McKai sprinkles in tonnes of 50's film strip style transitions and graphics, which does fill in the gaps a bit for the film when simple filming can't quite get that feel.
Reagan's first scene is on the train with her fellow female runaway, and they are quite effective at using a train without a train being present. By filming them walking by a crossing gate, and then walking along what looks like an aisle but really with a video monitor as a window, McKai uses sound to finish out the scene. It's nicely done. The sex here isn't particularly warm, but it is an effective bit of scene setting.
The ever hot Presley Maddox has a scene which seems to be highlighting some of the suburban ills, and it's quite the long scene, well shot, though lacking much in the way of scenery colour. Directorial choice, and that's fine. The third scene has, as I expected, the ubiquitous guy in a gas mask. I don't know why, but all features like this seem to need a guy wearing a gas mask to really highlight the point that this is alternative. Reagan is teaming with her runaway partner to take on gas mask guy, and she makes some lovely noise while getting fucked. Well, almost fucked. It's actually pretty much all fingers on her, and then they split a facial. Odd. Huge facial, though.
Reagan does get the last scene, though, and puts in a hell of an effort with her guy. Hell of a scene, really.
It's an odd movie: know that going in. If you're interested in a particular girl, as I am, you might want to check out another feature where she would be showcased better. If you like a strong theme and production hand in your films, though, you should be very happy with
The Doll Underground. It says quite a bit, and not all of it with skin.
By:
Oranje