Roger's Rating:

Since I just started getting Sin City DVDs, I figured I would start with the movie that just won the AVN award for best film. I'm not always the biggest Michael Raven fan, but when he's on, he's a very good director. Obviously someone thought that this movie was great, so I've got to give it a try. I've always been a sucker for a really well done feature as long as the sex is still the focus. It takes a special movie to hit on all cylinders, so we'll have to see how this one stacks up. With Randy Spears and Mike Horner in the cast, it would seem that Raven has a great start on the acting roles and with Julie Meadows and Katja Kean along, he's got a couple of red hot sexual performers as well.

We open with Mike Horner chasing a guy down an alley with a guy. It's clear from their dialog that there is something more than meets the eye going on in the darkness. There are other forces at work as well. Sydnee Steele seems to be at the center of all the action, as she battles with her wavering belief in a guardian angel. Meanwhile, across town, Bridgette Kerkove is a working girl about to walk into more than she can handle. To get her money, she has to basically do whole warehouse full of rather odd characters. That sets off a full scale orgy Shelby Myne, Chennin Blanc and Bridgette being fucked silly. None of these women really turn my crank sexually, though Chennin does a really nice fuck and suck job on a pair of cocks. Bridgette turns in yet another loud, sphincter stretching performance and is still thankfully free of her new, inexplicable boobs. The way the chicks line up to take loads on their faces makes me wonder why this group had to go out and hire a hooker. Of course, there is more going on here than just a good time and Bridgette is in for a shock.

The leader of this underground cult is Mr. Marcus. He gets the skinny on a mysterious man outside of Sydnee's window, then leans back for some relaxation. (Don't worry, this is all making sense.) Since Marcus has two of his hardest working girls, Tavalia Griffin and Katja Kean at his disposal, he takes full advantage. If the first scene left me a bit cold sexually, this one is bound to turn up the heat. Katja is absolutely beautiful and Tavalia always manages to bring something tasty to the table. Life doesn't get much better than when you've got two hot chicks fighting to get the head of your cock into their mouths. This is well shot and exceptionally hot as the women share his massive tool. I only wish the blowjob had been longer. Tavalia is hot to get that pole between her shaved lips. The little brunette takes cock well, but the real treat comes when Katja's pretty pussy gets filled to the max with hard black dick. Spreading her legs wide, Marcus really drops the hammer on this blonde treat. This is the kind of sex scene that every porn feature needs to have. They get so into each other that Tavalia has to site nearby and finger her clit while Katja gets rammed from behind. She gets back into the action for a final shared blowjob that ends with the blonde jerking his load all over both faces.

Sydnee goes to the police, telling them of her dreams and visions. As you might expect, they aren't exactly to keen on the whole psychic dream connection. They are a little too busy chasing down the cult killers. This is where Horner comes into the story. He is a private detective with some insight into the recent killings. Of course, that just puts him right in the center of the action. (If things seem a little confusing, don't worry, they blend nicely on film.) The dialog scenes get stacked a little high as we move the story forward, but they are all quite well done. After Horner is tempted by Tavalia in an alley, Sydnee and Randy Spears share a very well written and acted scene. We learn that the forces of good and evil are fighting over Sydnee's soul. I know that random sex scenes often feel out of place, but we do wait a long time in between boffs.

Two of the cops working on the case, Julie Meadows and Dillon Day, finally take a few moments off to get better acquainted. They actually kiss for a while before ripping their clothes off and jumping all over each other. This well placed scene moves carefully to Dillon working his fingers and tongue on her pussy. Julie is quite vocal in this scene, but not in an over the top way. She is also showing off her new boobs here. While I think she was perfect before, these are really nice breasts. One thing that never changes is the way Julie attacks a hard dick with her mouth. She grabs him by the base and starts stroking it up into her pretty mouth. Again, the only problem is that the blowjob footage is way too short. Not that there is anything wrong with watching this hot assed blonde riding hard on a cock. Nicely shot for all angles, this is another very good feature sex scene. Julie is enthusiastic, gorgeous and so damn hot it hurts. Pulling out with Julie in a piledriver, Dillon shots a stream right onto her pretty face. Very hot scene, even with the abbreviated blowjob.

Thanks to some trickery, Sydnee is drawn into the lair of the bad guys. Marcus makes her watch while he demonstrates what he has in store for her. Katja and Shay Sweet get together and put on quite a show. Shay has on these knee high black boots and Kajta dons a black coat, giving the whole thing a strong fetish feel. Katja uses a big pink dildo to deeply probe Shay's hot little ass.

Just as things are about to get really bad for Sydnee, the cops arrive for a wicked gun battle. They take out a few of the bad guys, but Marcus escapes with Syd in tow. This sets up a one on one confrontation between Marcus and Spears. You all know where that leaves us. We get a final scene were Sydnee finally gets to do it with her guardian angel. This final scene plays more like a couples feature boff, with soft background music, candle light and lots of long, slow strokes. Randy closes the movie by shooting his wad onto her belly.

With the AVN Award for Best Film still not fully settled on the Sin City mantle, now comes the review that really matters. OK, perhaps that's overstating things a bit, but they can add another positive review to the collection. The story driving Watchers is interesting and well paced. It's also well acted thanks to Spears, Horner, Marcus and Sydnee Steele. Sure, the sex is still what I would call 'feature sex' and not pure stroke material all of the time. However, there are some shining moments. Julie Meadows turns in a great scene and the Tavalia/Katja three way with Marcus really smokes. The rest of the case is energetic and their scenes all fit nicely into the flow of the movie. If I have one major complaint about the sex in Watchers, it's that the blowjobs could be longer, especially Julie's. Part crime thriller, part horror flick and part music video, Watchers is one hell of a wild ride.

Copyright © Roger T. Pipe

Posted By Roger, www.excaliburfilms.com | 10/5/06 1:58 PM

Miles' Rating:

Starring: If you had any doubts about Michael Raven's ability to mix the raunchy with the mysterious and supernatural, wonder no more. This will convince the non-believers that he is a major force among porn's top-tier filmmakers. Here he drops Sydnee Steele, Randy Spears, Katja Kean, Shay Sweet, and Mr. Marcus into a rabidly sexual concoction about evil angels who prey on prostitutes.

Top notch. Raven's films were never the most coherent, but in this dreamy world of whores and spirits, the discomfort of not knowing quite where the film is heading is hynotic. And the actors are all sexual carnivors, like Tavalia Griffin, Kean, and Marcus. Brace yourself.

Ravenous. Just watch the scene where Griffin and Kean sevice the demonic Marcus. Then Shay Sweet falls prey to Kean in an explosive girl-girl.

On a purely sexual level, it's hard to top the opening gang-bang in which Bridgett Kerkove is given to the minions of Marcus. But the film's real strength is its atmospherics and enigmatic plot. It's like a nightmarish wet dream come to life.

But you'll often find yourself wondering where it's all going and where you've just been.

Still, it's at least a 9.

Posted By Miles, www.excaliburfilms.com | 10/12/06 1:58 PM

The Couples Friend's Rating:

Starring: Mr. Marcus, Bridgette Kerkove, Julie Meadows, Shelby Myne, Tavalia Griffin, Shay Sweet, Randy Spears, Evan Stone, Mike Horner, Shane Collins, Eric Masterson, and others. The performances were all good, with Mr. Marcus clearly showing that he loves his work. Since this is a movie with a plot (a big, long, involved plot) Some of the performers even had to act, and did so competently (for porn stars, that is. )

This is what one night might call a "big budget" prom movie. By that I mean, they actually spent some time creating sets, costumes, and even a script! Holy plotline Batman! All that's great if you watch pron with a spouse or significant other who wants more than a series of sex scenes linked together. But, if you're the type who watches porn for sex, and a plot is not really a big part of the experience, then this movie may drag a bit too much for you. In fact, this movie dragged a bit too much for my wife and I.

Still, the movie is impressive looking, and features some quick cut editing that I personally enjoyed. If you're the type who's willing to sit through some rather long periods of plot development, this may be a movie for you.

On a scale of one to ten, we'd give it a seven. The movie does have impressive effects, sets and costumes, but the sex loses its heat for a variety of reasons.

The object of the group's, andmore specifically Mr. Marcus's affection is Sydney Steele, who is plagued by bizarre dreams of the cult. Sydney is, in turn, watched over (get it. . . watched over. . . watchers?) by Randy Spears, who plays some sort of a good guy angel sent to watch over and protect her. He initially finds her in the bathtub, ready to commit suicide. She decides not to thrwo away this "precious gift", as Randy says, and the hunt is on. Julie Meadows plays a detective also investigating the mysterious disappearance of these women. Confuse yet? This review is nothing ocmpared to the complex plot of the movie.

That said, let's get to the sex. One of the problems with porn movies which contain heavy plot lines is that the plot development takes screen time which sould otherwise be used for sex scenes. That may not be a bad thing when each remaining scene is blisteringly hot, but in this case each scene is simply average.

The first sex scene involves a young hooker brought to the cult's lair. After she receives her money, Mr. Marcus appears and presides, but does not take part in an orgy involving the hooker, two more girls and three guys. The scene starts promisingly enough, with the hooker laid on her back and the whole group fondling, licking and generally working her over. Unfortunately, they then split up andit becomes just another group sex scene. This scene could have been much hotter if they all just concentrated on the hooker, wearing her out with their attentions. Ultimately, the scene finishes with the girls lines up on their knees, one to a guy, and the guys giving each girl a facial. The scene started hot, but after a couple of minutes became completely mediocre. Ultimately, Mr. Marcus comes forward, the group circles the hooker, and the electrical effects is used to "steal her soul", or whatever the hell their supposed to be doing.

The next scene features Mr. Marcus and two women, one dark haired and one blonde. It's not a bad scsene Mr. Marcus has quite the weapon, and uses it well on both women. Still, the scene was rather formulaic, and we found ourselves wishing for more. If you're a big fan of interracial sex, this scene will be the highlight of the movie for you.

There follows a rather lengthy period of plot development which, to be honest, totally bored us. We like a little plot with out porn (OK, my wife like some plot with her porn. . . me, I want to see some sex!) but this way was too involved to be any fun. Finally, Julie Meadows (the detective) gets it on wth her partner (male) in a nice one on one scene.

Things progress to the point Mr. Marcus has finally captured Sydney (the "ONE", according to Mr. Marcus, whatever that means), and is ready to steal her soul when Randy Spears saves the day, defeating the evil Mr. Marcus and freeing Sydney. Sydney is so grateful, she fucks her "watcher" in gratitude, a privilege angels apparently get when they've been extra good. Again, to us it was just an average scene.

This movie wasn't exactly my (our)thing. Plot is fine, but porn directors should remember that a plot is no substitute for hot sex. Isn't that why we watch these movies? A little less plot, and a little hotter sex would have been much better here. Still, the sets and costumes were regular movie quality, and some of the performers turned in passable acting scenes, so all in all, it's not a bad movie. Just not as hot as it could have been.

The lukewarm sex scenes. They could have been so much more.

A well-made, stylish film that strived to be a mainstream film with sex. I'd give it a seven, which would have been higher with more hotter sex scenes. If you're looking for a movie to watch as a couple, this one's alright, but the plot is rather involved and you might fall asleep waiting for the next sex scene.

Posted By The Couples Friend, www.excaliburfilms.com | 10/12/06 1:58 PM