2040

With so many adult features predictably focused on parodies and satires of mainstream movies and television, it's good to see at least one studio avoiding the cliche and giving us a movie which is actually based on ideas and characters which are more than just nostalgia and novelty. 2040 is a futuristic, science fiction epic which has more in common with Philip K. Dick than George Lucas. Because of disease and destruction, "Sex between humans became all but nonexistent" we are told during the opening narration (I would have thought that marriage would be the primary cause for it's extinction, but I digress...). As a result, masturbation has become the only avenue for sexual relief, and therefore, porno has become needed more than ever.

While the industry itself has become concentrated in a few corporate hands, there exists an underground studio creating fuck flicks which involve unorthodox methods where robots are used as sexual performers, a clear reference to Spielberg's (and Stanley Kubrick's) underrated A.I. from 2001. Of course, the exploits of Gigolo Joe and Gigolo Jane were never portrayed with the same degree of graphic imagery found in 2040, so that's where comparisons really end. Moreover, there are so many political and social issues, as well as literary questions raised by 2040's premise and storyline, that to discuss it would be endless, so I won't even try. Instead, I will say that in today's world, given the success of those lifelike sex dolls, and the prevalence of virtual sex through the internet, the idea of synthesized human sex toys certainly isn't that far-fetched, nor that alien. Heck, if dildos and inflatables can be used as sexual devices, why not one which walks and talks like a real person? (Just imagine the popularity of a sex toy which looks and feels like Jessica Alba or Halle Berry!)

Even though this movie really doesn't go beyond the superficialities of its subject matter, 2040 remains an impressive production and an entertaining feature. It is one of those rare films where the sex scenes advance the storyline. For instance, the very first scene between Randy Spears and Alexis Texas shows the clinical method in which such porno is produced. They go through the motions against a green screen background, directed from afar by Barrett Blade. While the computerized "camera spheres" capture the action, Miss Texas performs her oral and fucking tasks dutifully. Eventually, we discover that she is actually an android, and a malfunctioning one at that. (Casting the otherwise fully sexually animated Alexis Texas in this role seems to be a cleverly ironic in-joke.) This event leads into the introduction of Alektra Blue and a line of other robots run by PIMP (Portable Interface Monitoring Processor, for those who are still using Windows ME). Watching these fairly sophisticated special effects and gee-wizardry is amusing (for instance, a brief scene where Alektra gets "tuned up" with electrical surgery on her midriff is again borrowed from A.I.), and keeps the viewer involved even when the girls are pleasing their partners.

However, as ambitious as 2040 obviously is, it's not quite the tour-de- I thought it could be. Part of the problem lies with Francois Clousot's videography, which at times is just too dark and at other times just plain cheesy. I've complained regularly and bitterly about his style before, so I won't go on and on (no matter how tempting). Certain scenes have a clinical and diffuse look to them, which recall the quaint BLADE RUNNER cliches found in prior sci-fi porn epics like LUST RUNNER and Michael Ninn's LATEX films, along with Private's VIRTUALIA series. Even though this video takes place a mere thirty years into our future, the look is strictly influenced by the B movies of the eighties and nineties, where societal dystopia is a given Also, Director Armstrong does what he can on a budget, but 2040 would never be mistaken as a product of mainstream film making. Other nitpicks include some grievous overacting by a few performers, a tendency to overdramatize the storyline, and some obvious production gaffes. (Alektra Blue clearly blinks during a dialogue scene, even though she's supposed to be inanimate.)

Still, the only reason I point out these "problems" is because the rest of 2040 is exceptional. The nine sex scenes (three of which feature Miss Blue, who is simply stunning to behold) are all uniformly up to studio standards, with Tory Lane and Jessica Drake (who earlier performs with Kaylani Lei and Brad Armstrong as well as with Marcus London) standing out during the impressive orgy scene. The menage a trois sessions lend some variety to all the one-on-one hetero affairs, and the overall sexual chemistry among the players is believable. However, and in accordance with studio policy, condoms are ever-present, even during scenes with the androids who, curiously, don't seem to have their own anti-virus programs against sexually transmitted diseases.

This three disc set is beautifully packaged, and the first disc holds the main feature, while the second and third discs present a never-ending supply of behind the scenes footage, bloopers, outtakes, photoshoots, rehearsals, extended hardcore footage, photo galleries and interviews. Even the animated menus are creatively designed, using "futuristic" phrases to cover DVD options ("Auditory" covers the sound options, such as with or without commentary and music only, while "Sex Cache" is the label for bonus sex scenes) and illustrated with somewhat disturbing pictures of female droids in stages of production (sort of like THE TERMINATOR as imagined by the editors of the long-cancelled 1994 magazine - assuming anyone out there understands the reference.) 2040 is one of those packages which can stand proudly along with OPERATION DESERT STORMY and UPLOAD as far as presentation aesthetics are concerned. It isn't the finest feature I've ever seen, but it's definitely one of the best DVDs of 2009.

Members and supporters of our industry certainly have reason to worry for the future. There is no way to put the technology behind file sharing back in its box, so we now have to find a way for this industry to continue to make money so that we can attract talent in front of and behind the camera and keep working. But the adult industry is one filled with innovators, individuals who create and capture better than any, and it has been a multi-pronged response to free online film sharing. One tactic has been the rise of the parody, making a purchase perhaps more appealing by piggybacking on another popular segment of culture. Another has been the conflation of online content and discs available for sale. By linking your releases to online video access, film producers have a means of vetting their content for the most popular, ensuring that a film release will have more appeal.

This final approach, the one Wicked has taken with most of their films but specifically with 2040, is to create a product so superior, and featuring such wonderful tactile presence, an individual who might simply download it for free might prefer to own a copy. In that sense alone 2040 is a winner. But then you watch the film itself, and it's plain to see why 2040 is every bit what Rollerdollz and Pirates have been, done in a familiar and comfortable way.

Full points to Wicked as well for pulling out all of their contract stars for this one. It's an awful lot of eggs in one basket, but the risk wasn't really that great. All of them came ready to perform, and there isn't a disappointment to be found. Not highlighted with the contract stars, though, is that this feature also has the lovely Tory Lane, as well as OranjeNation favourite Jayden James, the amazing Alexis Texas, Janet Mason, and Kayla Carrera. Yeah, it's just about perfect.

In fact, the only thing that bugged me a little bit was the menu setup. I know they were going for something a bit futuristic with their titles, but it almost made it a bit elusive. Maybe I just need to get into the spirit of it a bit more and be adventurous, but I just wanted to know which played the movie and which gave me the chapter stops.

I love the premise, that sex between actual humans is all but extinct due to an STD pandemic (that sounds pretty distopic to me, yes). There is quite a bit of political commentary on the state of the industry as well, which is something I rather love.

Alexis Texas is up first with Randy Spears, who is playing his own son in the future, Ryan. That's just really well done. Alexis looks just downright tasty in the stockings she's rocking, but you all know by now my weakness for that. The foreplay begins a bit slowly here, but that's okay, as they want, from a production standpoint, to show off a few of their "future" toys straight away. The music does get to be a bit much as well, but I'll survive that. It has kind of a slowed down mid-90s Meat Beat Manifesto thing going on, which is fine in its place, but that place ain't here. It gets really effective, and the film's initial complicating action comes in, towards the end, when Spears goes for his moneyshot on a still and non-responsive Alexis. Turns out she's a robot (please don't make me think that), and big points to Alexis for staying completely still for some throat fucking and a facial. Well done. Eerie, but well done. A shame she broke.

Alektra Blue is the replacement, and she's supposed to be a revolution in "porn-bots." Maximum points to Alektra for her performance as well, as she seems to know just how to do this, like she was born for this role. I've been a bit hard on some of her acting in the past, calling it mechanical. I guess the joke's on me. Very good work between Alektra and Spears in this scene, though it's another one of those to maybe wish there was no music. A swallowed mouthful for Alektra in the end.

There's just tons more. I can hardly even begin. The orgy near the end is not to be missed. A fantastic film, one that had excellent performances in both the sexual and acting realms. 2040 is one of the finest adult films I have ever seen. If this is any sign, then the future of our industry is alive and well. The only concern I could have going away is how well the other studios can stack up to this masterpiece.

Brad Armstrong's directing and Wicked Pictures production is a work of art. A 1/10 picture. 2040 has great acting and many kinks involved. It was amazing to watch.

I was just blown away by this movie! I love quality plot based adult features because they give the lie to the claim that adult movies are crap by definition. I take the point made by Diesel in his review that you wouldn't mistake this for a mainstream Sci Fi movie, but when you think about the limitations of the budget they would have had I think they've done as good a job as anyone could. The problem with a lot of big budget adult features over the years is that all the technical detail has often detracted from the sex scenes, but that's not the case with 2040. The great thing is that in this feature, the sex scenes are an integral part of the plot and are beautifully filmed. Diesel complains that they are a little diffuse and soft focus, and cites 90's classics like Lust Runner and Micheal Ninn's Latex as being guilty of the same (I agree that Ninn's movies are overly staged and 'artified', but I thought Lust Runner was an erotic classic), but I really didn't get that impression with 2040. I felt all the sex scenes were nicely framed with a good variety of shots and angles, and had a hard edge which is sometimes lacking in features. Also, whoever was responsible for the wardrobe deserves an award: the outfits were super hot, and used to good effect in the sex scenes (in other words, boots and corsets, etc, were kept on to stunning effect).

The one negative, I suppose was the studio's strict rule on the use of condoms, which is always going to knock at least 10% off the intensity of a sex scene. However, that's their policy, and you have to respect them for that, and the sex in this film is about as hot as I've ever scene with rubbers on. And boy-o-boy, there is sex a plenty built around the excellent plot, featuring some of the most stunning ladies in the business. Jessica Drake is a screen goddess; I do not believe it's laying it on too thick to say she has the beauty, charisma, charm, elegance and sophistication of any mainstream actress, and we are very, very blessed to have her in adult entertainment. She looks stunning in a variety of sexy outfits in this movie, and is involved in at least three hot boy/girl sex scenes, including a stunning DP in the orgy scene! Ah, yes, the orgy scnene at the AVN awards 2040! It's incredible! There are at least five male performers, and about eight ladies in what's almost a who's who of top female talent of the moment. Amongst the hot bodies you'll spot Tory Lane, Jayden Jaymes, Kayla Carrerra, as well as the movie's principle stars like Kirsten Price, Alektra Blue (brilliant in her lead role as the anabot), Kaylani Lei, and, of course, Miss Drake herself. Orgy scenes are not always successful, but this one is breath taking, shot on a magnificent grand staircase with fantastic panoramic shots of all the action.

I really don't think it's wrong to call this movie a work of genius. From the opening sex scene with jaded adult movie veteran Randy Spears filming a sex scene with Alexis Texas as a malfunctioning anabot I was hooked. Great production values, great story, and great sex! Again, considering the budget, I don't think anybody from whatever genre could have done better. Congratulations to all concerned, nobody could dismiss this film as a piece of crap. It's quality productions like this which improve the image and working conditions of the adult film industry, and that's got to be a good thing.