Source: Adult Industry News
By: Rich Moreland
Fifty Shades of Grey: A XXX Adaptation: A film for Two Niche Markets. A BDSM romance from Smash Pictures, starring Allie Haze as Anastasia Steele, Ryan Driller as Christian Grey with Alexis Ford, Julia Ann, Jaslene Jade, Johnny Castle, and Logan Pierce, directed by Jim Powers.
Reviewer Rich Moreland says…
Director Jim Powers’ talent is on display in this movie. His artistry captures the lyrical quality of a romance built around a BDSM fetish. Having said that, I believe this movie is difficult to rate. Here’s why; It’s a niche market product and operates on different levels as a result. It will not appeal to everyone.
Let’s begin with what the movie is not. If you are a gonzo fan armed with the standard list of sex acts you expect to see, this is not your film. There’s no anal (Allie Haze who plays Anastasia Steele doesn’t do them), limited blow jobs, no DP’s, no facials. In fact, there are only three pop shots in two and one-half hours. The scene that comes closest to porn’s formulaic sex is between Ana’s roommate Kate (Alexis Ford) and Christian Grey’s brother (Johnny Castle). Unfortunately, it does nothing to move the story forward.
Nevertheless, I really loved this film. It’s an expression of sensuality shared between two people who are into each other. The scenes in which Ana loses her virginity (yes, there are condoms, another red flag for some viewers) are superb, especially the bathtub encounter where Haze gives her only oral performance. Ryan Driller, who plays Christian Grey, focuses his sexual and romantic efforts on Haze’s character throughout the film. He orally pleasures her often, uses mostly missionary so he faces her during sex, and cuddles her afterward, all desirable traits for designed for the female viewer. He stays inside her for his climaxes, a Powers’ decision beautifully defended in the scorching scene where Christian lets the wine stream from his mouth into hers when she is blindfolded and bound to the bedpost. In short, this is a woman/couples-friendly movie.
Allie Haze has genuine orgasms, not always seen in porn. Her sweetness is the center of Powers’ direction and she plays her role to perfection including the difficult task of delivering dialogue. Her porn stardom shines under Powers’ watchful eye.
Now for the other niche market, the BDSM fan. Christian introduces Ana to his dungeon, she goes for a little spanking early on and he botches everything. All looks lost, but she comes around and a later hot scene in which she is suspended and cropped will win the hearts of BDSMers everywhere. Haze is the real deal. She has shot for Kink.com, so BDSM gigs are not new to her. Her performances are authentic and I assure you, BDSM devotees recognize when a scene is soft soaped.
I do have one complaint with the script. In a dream sequence, Ana has flashes of BDSM sex between Christian and Leila, one of his former subs who stalks Ana. I waited to see the full scene as a flashback. Never happened, the glimpses of Leila in bondage and having sex were a teaser, I guess, and that’s a let down. Leila is played by the lovely and incredibly sexy Jaslene Jade. She is given a few lines of dialogue and a few seconds of sexual action that are so brief I looked at them twice to make sure I understood what they meant in the story. I wanted more. Also, the fabulous veteran Julia Ann (Mrs. Robinson) is limited in her role. There is a fleeting moment of her training a submissive Christian, an idea that needs developing. Instead we see her with a boy toy (Logan Pierce) in a scene that does little to compliment the plot-line or enhance her character.
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but rating it puts me in a quandary. If it weren’t for ignoring Jaslene Jade (a sequel is rumored and I hopeSmash hires her again and let’s her show her talent), the movie is topnotch. Though Kate’s sex with Christian’s brother and Mrs. Robinson’s gingerly whipping Pierce didn’t augment the å≈story, the film isn’t about them. The lovers, Christian and Ana, are spectacular so I’ll put my reservations away and highly recommend Fifty Shades.
Rich’s rating: Power ON!
