Private Black Label 24: D.N.A. Review

Distributor: Private Edition Details: Standard DVD MSRP: $39.95 DVD Release Date: June 2002 Movie Specs: Genres: Feature Film, Foreign Run Time: 101 minutes Rated: XXX Release Year: 2002 Director: Kovi Written by: Barbara Brown Cast: Michelle Wild, Mandy Bright (as Mandy), Patricia Diamond (as Patricia), Myli, Yuliya (as Julia), Kyra Cat (as Kyra), Melody Magic (as Melody), Leslie Taylor, Claudio Meloni (as Claudio Villa), Tony de Sergio, Ian Scott, Steve Holmes, Steve Hooper (as Bailey) Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), German Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed) Subtitles: Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese, Polish Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1 Disc: DVD 9 (SS, DL) Special Features: Photobook, Trailer, Report, Cast, Production Notes, Other Titles DVD-ROM Special Features: Internet Activated Catalog, PC Bonus

Synopsis:
Michelle Wild is dancing in a club when a stranger comes in and gives her a letter, afterwards he is promptly shot. In the letter, the stranger tells Wild that she was cloned and has a sister, also portrayed by Michelle Wild, and she must find her. As Wild begins the search, she finds out that she and her sister are connected. They feel the sexual pleasure that the other is experiencing.

Video/Audio:
D.N.A. is presented in the full screen aspect ratio, 1.33:1, which could be the original aspect ratio for the film. The picture is in great shape with a crisp and clear presentation containing no blemishes, artifacts or glitches. The color levels are perfect.

The audio track that I used for screening is an English dubbed 2.0 Stereo track, which works just fine for the material being presented here. This audio track, as are the others, is a true dubbed track where the original dialog has been removed and been replaced with a line-by-line dub. The dialog is clear and easy to hear with no problems. Other available language tracks are a French dubbed 2.0 Stereo track, a German dubbed 2.0 Stereo track, a Spanish dubbed 2.0 Stereo track and a Italian dubbed 2.0 Stereo track and the available subtitle options are Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese and Polish.

Chapters/Time Code:
There are six chapters available from the main menu for D.N.A., which are identified by a video clip from the sex scene the chapter goes to. As usual for Private, other than for locating the beginning of each major sex scene, the chapters aren't too useful for navigating the film. There is a time code for the feature film, so time searching is available.

Special Features:
Private has included the standard film specific extras on this disc. There is the photobook which contains 53 stills that you have to flip through. The original trailer is on the disc presented in 1.37:1 widescreen. The report is an 11 minute piece on the making of D.N.A. in English. Cast contains info, pictures and Private DVD and magazine filmographies for Julia, Kyra, Mandy Bright, Melody Magic, Michelle Wild, Myli and Patricia Diamond. Production Notes is a short text feature on the film and cast. There are trailers for Superfuckers 12, Triple X Files 11, Brunettes on Fire, Private Reality 5, and Private Life of Sophie Evans.

DVD-ROM Special Features:
There are two DVD-ROM extras contained on the disc. There is the Private DVD Catalog, which contains info and box covers on recent releases plus all past releases on DVD from Private. The PC Bonus is three wallpaper images with the D.N.A. theme for your PC.

Review:
Technically speaking, D.N.A. is excellent. Kovi, as per his usual, has excellent camera work in the film which livens up the film and brings the look of the film above that of the average modern adult film. The sets are more than adequate, there is nothing special here, but nothing that detracts from the film at all. The special effects make up work is even great, there are a few technical errors, but nothing that will bother the viewer. But unfortunately, technical matters alone don't make a great film.

The story is lacking which appears to completely be due to the scriptwriter (written under the elusive Private moniker Barbara Brown). The source of the material is an excellent story. Astute viewers will notice that D.N.A. is nothing more than a pornographic retelling of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel The Corsican Brothers, in which the brother's have been changed to sisters, sci-fi elements have been added and the story has been changed into a tale of espionage. But when translating the film into the porn world, too much of the original got lost for the story to really hold much interest.

As per Private's usual standard, the cast looks nice and is easy on the eyes. The sex itself is decent but seems uninspired here. Instead of truly enjoying themselves, the cast seems to be going through the actions and it shows in the final product. Viewers who don't like it when the female talent looks into the camera, will dislike many of the scenes in this film as the females are constantly looking into the camera. The sex in this film is nastier than what most couples are probably looking for, but the more adventurous of them may find this film to be decent. The sexual themes in the film are vaginal anal and oral sex with titty fucking, rimming (male to female), strap-on, lesbianism, toys, DP, female masturbation and male masturbation. For viewers who care screen shot about such things, condoms are not used in the film.

The Money Shot:
Although technically an excellent film, D.N.A. fails on other important levels required for a good adult film. Fans of Kovi and fans of the stars may want to pick this title up, but others will probably want to rent this title first. Viewers who like porn with a plot and nastier sex who don't mind dubbing stand the greatest chance of enjoying this film whereas viewers who hate a plot, dubbing or require tamer sex stand the greatest chance of hating this film.

Screenshots:

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