Eve's Gift

As much as I love their Vivid Girls, Vivid DVDs have always filled me with a sense of dread, knowing that I would have to sit through an interminable session of multiple angles features. When Vivid first started producing digital video discs, they would sometime butcher their features to accommodate a different "angle" of the filmed action (as well as to make room for all their extras). I recall being completely frustrated by BAD WIVES, not just because almost an hour of footage was excised from the original tape, but because every time that damn "Vivid DVD" logo came on, the forward search options would become disabled and that obnoxious graphic would sometimes distract my attention from the action. In almost every Vivid review (and reviews for VCA and Private/Penthouse discs), I would bitch about those icons like some whiny geek, hoping that these companies would change their ways.

And now, Vivid has made a corporate decision to take my sagacious advice to heart, and offer the viewer an option by which to remove the multiple angles icon. And in the Empire Review of Vivid's COMMERCIAL WORLD, this option was also noted as being available, so it appears that this trend which will continue with future Vivid releases. Glory, glory, hallelujah! At last we are free from having to look at that obnoxious company logo at the bottom of the screen! Actually, I have no idea why Vivid has now decided to change their long-standing DVD design, but I welcome it with open arms and hairy palms.

Of course, no amount of cosmetic changing will improve a video if the movie sucks, but luckily, EVE'S GIFT is a total winner of a flick with hot, and heavy sex and eye-batting images of those lovely babes of Vivid Video. Blonde beauty Devon plays the dead girlfriend of Eric Price who mopes around throughout the movie lamenting her loss, while brunette hardbody Sydnee Steele plays a hooker, and apparently, an angel (more like a Charlie's Angel than an Angel of Mercy) to The Former Mr. Paula Price (with Sydnee around, who the hell needs Santa?).

The movie opens with a down and dirty tryst between Sydnee and Mark Davis in a back alley, where she gives him a fabulous blowjob. This dark-haired lass moans and gasps convincingly, especially when she gets fucked cowgirl and missionary style by the very lucky Mr. Davis. Even though condoms are used throughout, the scene ends with her taking a big shot of splooge all over her face, with some of it splashing on her lapping tongue.

We then proceed with the story in flashbacks, Devon gives herself up to Eric, who jumps at the chance to get a taste of her luscious quim. This girl looks simply terrific in a yellow lace bra and panties, and embodies the natural good looks of Juli Ashton (who actually may not be all that natural since she appears to have undergone a rhinoplasty procedure following her introductory appearance in THE DINNER PARTY), the playfulness of a Shayla LaVeaux and the sensual appeal of a Savannah (at least physically; Savannah wasn't necessarily the most exciting performer to do dirty movies...rest in peace). However, this is really Sydnee's movie all the way and her presence here made this video work wonders on me.

After some obligatory exposition into Eric Price's character (but there is no need to speed search through these scenes; Ms. Steele looks so great in a sexy black dress and high heels, that I was willing to endure Mr. Price's attempt at acting during their prolonged dialogue scenes), Devon and Vince Voyeur get it on in a bedroom and bathroom fuck and suck session, which again only ends in a cumshot to the chest, but is still a damn good scene. Sydnee then tells her sob story of a -abusing boyfriend, and a sexual encounter she has with Ian Daniels and Renee LaRue, which has plenty of dual action blowjob shots --- a minimum requirement for any great pornographic work of art (see also ANYTHING THAT MOVES and FACEDANCE for other tag-team blowjobs that belong in a sexual hall of fame). The accompanying Vivaldi-ish (Vivaldish?) music would not have been my first choice to underscore such a hot threesome, but that is a complaint. The fucking here is some of the best I have seen in a Vivid feature for sometime, and the brief cum swapping at the end closes the scene almost perfectly.

Next, we find Eric on the receiving end of a well-photographed blowjob delivered by blonde Adajja, who then proceeds to fuck him in every position possible, including a heated doggy anal (if after all this great action, he finds no reason to get out of his depressive funk, then I strongly suggest suicide as a means to end the "pain"...both his and mine). Again, this scene is scored with a variation of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" which can be a little distracting if you are a fan of classical music and are straining your ear (instead of your grip) to decipher the altered notes. So I suggest all music buffs simply turn down the volume of their TV set or home-theatre and just concentrate on the hot sex.

The movie ends rather dissonantly, with Sydnee encouraging Eric to open a gift (which we never really get to see) that Devon had left for him before leaving him (and dying). A few words are exchanged about Sydnee not being a real whore and her warmly reminding Eric that "it's Christmas, you asshole!" and then the credits roll (to Mariachi music, no less!). Director David Stanley has created an interesting, if a bit existential, porn film where the overall mood might have distracted from the simply terrific sex scenes. Luckily, I'm not one to judge a blue movie by its storyline.

The video on this disc looks great. Vivid has come a long way in improving the transfers of their feature films, and this disc is the standard to which they should adhere. The soundtrack is clear and loud, demonstrating to everyone that the "Dolby Digital" logo is there for a reason (although directional surround effects are minimal). Like all Vivid discs, this one has a ton of extras if you really like to indulge in seeing a bunch of previews, edited clips, and a first person interactive game of sorts. I never look at them more than once, but I guess they are nice to have around.

I've got to hand it to Vivid for taking steps to improve the quality and interactive execution of their DVDs. I can no longer accuse the company of resting on their laurels, when a feature like EVE'S GIFT comes along. Incidentally, I have learned that Vivid intends to release a director's cut of BAD WIVES, complete with director's commentary and restored footage. But if future DVDs, whether re-releases or not, continue to look and play as well as EVE'S GIFT, then there will never be a need for special edition discs. Good job, Vivid!