Love (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray) Review

Distributor: Alamode Film / AL!VE AG Edition Details: Standard Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray Movie Specs: Genres: Feature Film, Drama, Foreign Also known as: Love 3D Run Time: 135 minutes Rated: FSK 18 Release Year: 2015 Director: Gaspar Noé (as Gaspar Noe) Written by: Gaspar Noé (as Gaspar Noe) Cast: Aomi Muyock, Karl Glusman, Klara Kristin, Ugo Fox, Juan Saavedra, Gaspar Noé (as Aron Pages), Isabelle Nicou, Benoît Debie (as Benoit Debie), Vincent Maraval, Déborah Révy (as Deborah Revy), Zamira Zuloaga, Stella Rocha, Omaima S., David Bohm, Richard Blondel, Nikita Bellucci, Kelly Pix (as Kelly Rix), Tony Caliano, Phil Holliday (as Phil Hollyday), Ricky Mancini, Naila Moore, Anna Polina, Pascal St. James (as Pascal Saint James), Ian Scott (as Yanick Shaft), Julie Valmont, Angell Summers, Laurie Beurier, Eric Chantry, Emmanuel François (as Emmanuel Francois), Milka Manson, Karine Martin, Mitch, David Krampz, Sonia Mariaulle, Sonia Maggini, Jean-Baptiste Roux, Sabrina Ferkalifred, Eric Albertini, Benjamin Aymerich, Norman Thuleau, Jean Charles Manuel (as Jean-Charles Manuel) Release Specs: Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (dubbed) Subtitles: German Video: Widescreen, 2.35:1 (anamorphic) Video Format: NTSC Format: Blu-ray Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): B (Europe, Africa, Oceania, Middle East, French teritories, Greenland) Number of discs: 1

What is it exactly, dear reader, that constitutes a movie as an adult movie or a mainstream movie?

Before you answer, this reviewer would like you to take pause and take a moment to think about the question. Yes, we can all point to Black Panther and state that is a mainstream movie and we can all point to Debbie Does Dallas and state that is an adult movie. But what exactly is the defining line where a movie crosses the threshold of what is mainstream and becomes labeled as adult?

Is the line something as simple and straightforward as an erect penis on screen or a cumshot that was shot for the movie? Is it something vaguer like the intention behind the sex shown in the movie? Is it something that has been predetermined for you by whether someone else has opted to place it on the regular shelf or behind the beaded curtain? And if so, what criteria was used by said person. Or is the answer truly as vague as the honorable Justice Potter Stewart's famous statement?

“I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description [hardcore pornography], and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that.”

This question wasn't posed to you, the reader, because this reviewer was short on words for this review and opted to feign being philosophic to fill up space. No, this question was asked because Gaspar Noé's Love is a movie that makes one reflect on where exactly the line is between adult movies and mainstream movies.

Love has hardcore sex and cumshots including the obligatory, because the movie is in 3D, cumshot straight into your face; yet you won't be streaming it from Adult DVD Empire. In the United States, you will have to turn to Netflix to stream the movie yet it seems to this reviewer that Love is undeniably an adult movie.

Love is, quite simply, a requiem of a failed relationship. Love starts in the present when Murphy (Karl Glusman) receives a call from his ex-girlfriend Electra's mother because Electra (Aomi Muyock) has disappeared. Murphy is unhappily married, and with child, to Omi (Klara Kristin). The phone call causes Murphy to reflect on his failed relationship with Electra that all went sour when they had a threeway with their new neighbor Omi one night.

Gaspar Noé utilizes non-linear story-telling techniques to flesh out the story of Murphy and Electra's relationship. This technique can be a little confusing at first since Gaspar Noé leaves it up to the viewer to figure out if they have just gone forward or backward in time with each time shift. However, as the story plays out it doesn't take long for the viewer, assuming they have actually been following the story, to figure out when in the course of Murphy and Electra's relationship the current scene is taking place during.

The story for Love is well-done. There are some periods where some sequences seem to go on longer than they should, however, overall, the story is fun to watch. The writers and directors of more conventional adult movies that specialize in the feature market could actually learn better story-telling techniques that utilize explicit sex from watching this movie. The story here isn't a throw-away. If you strip all the explicit sex from the movie, you still have a movie and the sex in the movie works in conjunction with the story. At no time is there a sexual sequence just to have one, each one furthers the story itself.

The sex scenes are well-done. The primary sexual performances are from newcomers Aomi Muyock, Karl Glusman, and Klara Kristin who do very well in their roles. The other sexual roles are performed by established European adult movie actors and actresses. The sex scenes in the movie are not simulated, however, due to how Benoît Debie shot the movie, for the most part mostly handjobs and oral sex are shown and not really much penetrative sex. This doesn't equal a lack of eroticism within the movie though. The threeway with Aomi Muyock, Karl Glusman, and Klara Kristin is more erotic than most of the sex scenes being churned out by the adult movie industry these days and shows far less graphic footage all due to how Benoît Debie shot the scene.

There are some disappointments where it seems that Gaspar Noé has adhered to mainstream adult movie standards; which is honestly surprising from Gaspar Noé who is known for pushing boundaries. The biggest disappointment is when Murphy and Electra hook up with a transsexual. Outside of showing her penis, the scenario fully complies with what one would expect within what is considered by the masses as a straight adult movie.

Love is a movie that relies heavily on the development of the characters for the story as the movie requires you to build connections with the characters in the movie to enjoy it. The three primary cast members Aomi Muyock, Karl Glusman, and Klara Kristin do a great job with their roles. They create their heavily-flawed characters beautifully on the screen and generate excellent passion in the sex scenes.

Love makes for enjoyable viewing for people who like to watch adult movies as movies, story and all. If you are just looking for masturbatory material Love won't be for you due to all the pesky plot portions that get in the way of the sex. However, as an actual feature adult movie, Love works well and is definitely worth checking out.

Alamode Film and AL!VE AG have done a great job with their Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray release of Love. There is one Blu-ray disc for the release and from the main menu the viewer can select the 3D version (assuming they have a 3D Blu-ray capable player and a 3D television with the corresponding glasses) or the 2D version of the movie. Love was shot digitally with the RED Epic Dragon camera and is presented in the anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 in 1080p. The image for Love looks nice. There is grain present during some portions of the movie, heavy at times. There aren't any noticeable defects present in the image and the colors in the movie look excellent.

Love is presented with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround audio track. The audio sounds nice and the dialog is clear and easy to understand at all times during the presentation of Love. There is also a dubbed German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround audio track and optional German subtitles available for the movie as well.

Alamode Film has included several extras on the release. There is a feature commentary track, in German, for the movie with someone who isn't Gaspar Noé. There is a 31-minute interview with Gaspar Noé in English with forced German subtitles. The original theatrical German trailer for Love is included on the disc. There are also five deleted scenes, running a total of 17 minutes, in English with forced German subtitles.

Love is an adult feature film from director and writer Gaspar Noé that will not be for everyone; in other words, raincoaters need not apply. While Love features ample nudity and frequent graphic sexual encounters, the sex does take a backseat to the plot and only viewers who are looking for heavy plot, that requires thinking, and sex will find Love rewarding. If this describes you, Love is well worth checking out. Alamode Film and AL!VE AG have done an excellent job with their Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray release of Love with excellent image and sound quality.

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