Pin-Ups 2 (Studio A) Review

Dita Von Teese in a pornographic film. That sentence alone should inspire any late ‘90s goth, punk and fashionista to make a pilgrimage to the nearest adult video store. Better yet, Pin Ups 2 is an Andrew Blake production, which implies art, fashion and beauty. Nearly 20 years old, the 1999 production as aged well and highlights the differences between today’s porn and yesteryear’s.

Pin Ups 2 epitomizes Andrew Blake’s unique style. He cuts like it’s a grunge-era music video, something that’s been lost in a lot of today’s adult. Sometimes accompanied by lens effects, the cuts are a nice way to draw the viewer in -- keeping the eye interested at all times, even if the particular kink doesn’t match your taste.

Blake has always been a student of beauty and fashion. That comes through with the luscious wardrobe in various states of undress throughout. And Dita brings her own classic pin-up style to bear with her ‘40s looks and corset fascination.

It’s not just the beauties on screen that shine. Blake’s shots are filmed in Dutch style with a hint of Kubrickesque framing. He paints a portrait of lovely ladies oozing sexuality amidst breathtaking mansion halls.

Technically, Pin Ups 2 is an all-sex release, but that’s a bit of a misnomer. True, this film is pornographic: it features real sex acts. However, it strikes me as more of an erotic music video. Yes things are blatantly sexual, but Blake’s cuts work to keep one focused on the beauty that exists in that sex. That’s the thing I love about Pin Ups, and Andrew Blake’s work in general. It’s a powerful visual case that porn is art.

Pin Ups 2 opens with one of my favorite Andrew Blake scenes altogether. It’s shot as a cut of two scenes, an Inari Vachs boy/girl and a sultry girl/girl with Anita Blonde and Dita Von Teese. Vachs delivers a sensual blowjob followed by slow-motion sex with short glimpses of oral and self love in black and white. Blake delivers scenic views of her body with slow close ups of her orgasmic face. And the way Inari laps up her mate’s cum is lovely - it remains ingrained in my mind as as the quintessential way to film a cumshot.

Meanwhile, a full-color shot reveals Dita and Anita joined by a double-dildo on a chaise. Anita, ever the professional pornstar gently fucks Ms. Teese, never overplaying or competing with the pop icon.

My God, Dita is beautiful. Adorned in naught but a corset, breasts fully exposed, hair pulled back tight, a thin layer of fuzz adorns her below as she slowly fucks the dildo. Blake switches from wide angles to close-ups, allowing us to fully appreciate the gift that Dita has bestowed us in this scene.

Another beautiful moment comes roughly one hour into the show. It features Anita staring into the camera while slowly pulsing a ribbed dildo in and out of Dita. The vision is interrupted by short cuts Inari Vachs writhing about with a chest full of cum. The juxtaposition is stark and sexy.

But the most iconic moment in Pin Ups 2 is by far the strangest. I’m talking about the dildo shoe. Anita Blonde has a high-heel shoe with a giant dildo as the heel. I guess it’s a foot fetish, but it’s so bizarre that I still don’t know what to make of it almost 20 years later. Ms. Von Teese is quite enamored by the shoe which leads Anita to heel-fuck her. The penetration is beautiful and Dita’s reaction visceral, so all’s well that ends well.

As much as I appreciate Pin Ups 2, it might not be for everybody. For all the girl/girl scenes, you won’t find much cunnilingus which might be a dealbreaker for some. We’re also talking about a late ‘90s porno filmed with analog equipment. That means no HD. For me, you have to take each film in context of the time and it’s just fine the way it is. But if you’re accustomed to 4K, you’re going to notice some graininess.

Special features are also a bit lacking in the original release as reviewed. It only features a single stills gallery. As DVD galleries go, it’s a good deal more comprehensive than most adult films today. But as an older release, it comes at a cost of some graininess when displayed on the TV.

Pin Ups 2 is a marvelous piece of erotic art. It’s less of a porno and more of an erotic world that you can lose yourself in for hours. Moreover it delivers the only graphic sex with the most iconic pin-up of our time: Dita Von Teese. As Andrew Blake fans know, this unconventional film should be a staple in any erotic art collection.