Love's Passion Review

Reviewed by Principal Skinner  on  7/18/2000

For my money, VCA remains the leader in the DVD market when it comes to high quality transfers of their back video catalog. Despite their mandatory condoms policy and use of the multiple angles graphic in many of their releases, VCA is synonymous for hot sex featuring their gorgeous contract women, so the consumer can hardly go wrong with their line of DVDs.

Of course some movies are better than most, and in the case of the LOVE'S PASSION, some are merely above average. Despite the eye-batting presence of fan-favorites like Juli Ashton and Shayla LaVeaux, the erotic heat in this movie suffers somewhat because of the muted sex, which is oh-so obviously aimed at the "couples market." When there are so many other descriptively crass, yet straightforwardly catchy video titles flooding the the on-line new releases lists and on video store sheleves --- such as I SWALLOW, or SODOMANIA, or even A CUM SUCKING WHORE NAMED FRANCESCA --- why else would film director Veronica Hart call her cinematic opus "LOVE'S PASSION?" And why else would the unsightly visage of Mickey G. (from a male's perspective anyway; Julia Ashton can't stop singing his praises during the director's commentary, so naturally, I'm envious) be featured so prominently next to the gorgeous Juli Ashton on the DVD cover? Finally, what is any viewer --- raised on videos which take place in a mechanic's garage or in a backyard swimming pool, or work out gym --- supposed to make of the soft focused, Civil War setting featured in this film? If there was any video that screamed "couples-oriented," this is it.

Now the truth is, couple-oriented videos don't bother me in the least bit. In fact, most softer- core videos tend to have more heat and passion, by virtue of all the foreplay. So when it comes to girl-girl scenes, I would rather watch two hours of extended scenes of Juli Ashton making out with Shayla LaVeaux than all the toy and finger play found in any BUTTSLAMMERS video any day. The premise of this feature is predictable: Juli Ashton plays a romance novel writer, and naturally, whatever she imagines, we get to see on-screen. However, this film lives up its ambitions in both production and story, as we flashback in time to Shanna McCullough having a torrid Civil War setting affair, straight out of any Harlequin novel (or at least a Harlequin novel written in the style of Penthouse Forum).

Director Veronica Hart (who also starred in many classic porn films of the seventies and early eighties) does an absolutely amazing job at conveying the mood and look of the period piece settings and juxtaposing them with the present day scenes. The costumes, production design and cinematography all are noteworthy and show a caring effort on the part of the director. Similarly, all the sex sequences are directed with a dreamy, almost elegant quality which non- Max Hardcore fans will surely appreciate. Shanna gives a sensual performance which is remarkably reserved, especially for those who have seen her semen-inal work [sorry...couldn't resist] in the first two I SWALLOW films. While her guy girl scenes aren't really remarkable, there is a lot of true passion in her performance.

Juli Ashton is always on fire whenever she is on- screen, but she really only performs in two full straight scenes, both with lucky bastard Mickey G. There is a teasing hint of a threesome with the bubbly and cute Shayla LaVeaux and the sultry Rayveness, but she is eventually replaced with Tina Tyler. Although this simply terrific lesbian tryst is a true highlight of the flick, I miss seeing Ms. Ashton's considerable sapphic skills. And while I realize that being a fan of Ms. Ashton is hardly original (who could resist a tall, slender blue-eyed blonde who used to be a school teacher and now screws on camera?), I can't help but be enamored with every scene that she is in.

Luckily, Shayla performs in two scenes, including a threesome with Rayvenss and John Decker, which was very satisfying indeed (at least for him and me). Nikita gives it her all in yet another threesome involving two guys, but I missed seeing her usual partner in sex crimes, VCA contract girl Vicca.

The movie has an audio commentary soundtrack with Veronica Hart and Juli Ashton talking freely about the video. Surprisingly, I found their comments to be almost stimulating, especially when Juli coos and moans about her experience making the movie. There's a reason why this gorgeous creature is the long-time hostess of Playboy TV's incredibly successful NIGHT CALLS show; she is constantly trying to seduce the listening audience with her little-girl voice, and by golly, it works!

The multiple angles icon on this older release is a simpler, less-obtrusive design of a camera, than what is used in recent VCA DVDs. The multiple angles displayed here seem to be derived from a videotape source, as opposed to film stock. In any event, I didn't find that the angles enhanced the overall viewing experience, but some viewers may get a kick out of their novelty.

LOVE'S PASSION isn't on an erotic par with some of Juli Ashton's past, yet-to-be-released-on-DVD videos, like DEVIL IN MISS JONES V, THE BUTT DETECTIVE, or even DIVA I. But it is a very good video with enough hot sex to keep you coming back for more. Don't let the overtly "couples video" look fool you; this is a enjoyable flick.