Puppeteer

I think we've all been up at 2 a.m. and come across some cheesy horror movie about some person that is able to control people through dolls, or able to dolls to do their evil bidding. Enter the plot of the Puppeteer.

Puppeteer is an Adam and Eve film. For those of you unfamiliar with Adam and Eve, they are an adult film company with a reputation for high quality, couples oriented videos. What this translates into is an attempt at a story, and long slow sex scenes with lots of anticipation. It also means a soundtrack that usually drowns out the actors, something I dislike.

Our story begins poolside with a boyfriend and girlfriend. The girlfriend is played by Sky Taylor, who is one of my new favorite adult film actresses (check out Vivid University).

The boyfriend spouts a few lines about how "I don't feel in control of my life anymore....it's like someone's controlling me...." Yeah, yeah...we get it, the "Puppeteer". Luckily they get past this pretty fast and get right to the sex. A long blowjob and a fuck on the pool's diving board later, and they are headed to Antoinette's bed and breakfast.

For those of you who haven't guessed it by now, Antoinette's is of course the lair of the "Puppeteer". The next few times we see the boyfriend, he basically keeps spouting the same thing, about how he feels like he's being watched, how this place seems familiar....For those of you who don't have to watch the story elements of this movie, you'd do just as well to skip them. Much of it shot in slo-mo (two minutes to get out of the car?) as if the director had to make it to two hours. It's achingly slow.

Anyway, this is the first point we get to see the "Puppeteer", and she uses her powers to get a threesome going between a sailor and two other women at the bed and breakfast. The women are gorgeous, and he fucks them both in the back of a truck before cumming on their faces.

The next scene takes us inside with a bartender. A bit more whining from our hero before he exits, and another woman enters. The camera cuts to the clock, and it starts tolling. Tolls eleven times at 2:53 p.m. Why? Um...."Puppeteer" powers? Either the director can't tell time or was too lazy to set the clock.

The clock obviously arouses the woman, because she quickly strips off all her clothes and starts fingering herself. The bartender joins in and you've got another fifteen minute sex scene on your hands.

One point to be made here. Even though the sex scenes are long, the DVD is broken up into very logical chapter points, and includes a "Hot Shot" feature. When the "Hot Shot" logo is on your screen, press the chapter next button on your DVD remote, and you will be taken directly to the cumshot for that scene. I think this is a great feature, and I wish it was included in all adult DVDs.

So after the bar scene, back to our hero, whine, whine, mystery, mystery...he gets up to leave again (all the cool stuff happens two seconds after he leaves the room) and two blondes in leather with whips descend the staircase. Voila, the mandatory girl-girl scene.

I'm not a fan of girl-girl in general, but this one was very strange. It felt very tacked on, just to make sure the movie had a girl-girl scene.

Back to the hero again, he finds a mysterious book which apparently says that everyone there is puppets, and that any puppet who escapes will come back (yes, he's a puppet). He falls (reading two lines too much for ya, pal?) and has a dream about his girlfriend being a puppet and she fucks another puppet in the middle of the street.

This is a very nice scene. Sky is the only girl in two scenes in this movie. Sigh, I love you Sky...

Finally we come to the payoff. Our hero finds the "Puppeteer"'s chamber, where all the puppets are. She tells him he's a puppet and he's so distraught and upset that he fucks her. Luckily the "Puppeteer" is Briana Banks (a very hot blonde) and they go at it pretty fierce. She deepthroats him while they 69, and they fuck six ways from Sunday til he cums all over her bountiful bosom. Nice. In the end, the camera pans up and there's his puppet, right beside...what's this? A puppet that looks just like the "Puppeteer". Ooh...spooky.

Don't get me wrong, it's easy to make fun of porn with plots. I actually liked this movie a lot, the quality was excellent, and all the women in the movie were zipper-popping hot.

On to features. This is where this DVD really shines. As I said, the DVD is broken up into very logical chapter stops, and has the "Hot Shot" feature, which can also be accessed directly from the chapter menu.

There are also several previews, which you can view individually, or play back to back. (Another nice feature.) Finish that off with some sound options, a behind the scenes clip, and a photo gallery where you can select the photo you want rather than watch a slide show you have no control over, and you've got a grade-A adult DVD on your hands.

To sum up, this film is rather good, in spite of the laughable plot. The features are very user friendly as well. The action is a bit slow, but perfect to watch with a wife or girlfriend. And if you're by yourself...well that's what the fast-forward button is for, right?

A powerful notion...to think we may not be in control. Organizations, individuals or elusive "things" taking hold of those proverbial strings attached to all of us, indeed. Simultaneously though it's a popular notion, especially within the artistic outputs of media. Metallica wrote a song and named an entire album about it. Mario Puzo wrote an unforgettable book about it, going so far as decorating the cover with an image of it. Now, Adam & Eve along with Ultimate Pictures has made an adult film about it. So what's the "it" again? Well, here's a rhetorical question simply to ponder: what if we were all just puppets on strings, manipulated by someone or something other than ourselves?

"Puppeteer", a very forthright title I might add, makes no bones about the film's primary theme - many are controlled by one. In this particular case, Briana Banks fills the role of puppetmaster while a cast comprised of handsome men and beautiful women succumb to her egomaniacal deeds, being none the wiser. That is until the main character Ian (Dale DaBone) crosses roads with déjà vu entirely too many times for it to be a logical coincidence. From that point on, the story twists a down a never-fully-explained path of jaded history. Welcome to a theatre of both pain and pleasure!

Appropriately enough, the opening scenes display creepy and unsettling images of marionettes hanging silently within the puppeteer's workshop. Smoothly transitioning, a melancholy and equally appropriate piano tune overlays close-ups of the crafter's hands diligently working holes into the puppets hands and feet, so to place the wires properly. Then, amongst subtle erotic visions, we hear the phrase: "One day my love, I will find a way for us to be together." Pretty vivid picture, isn't it? Again, with no misunderstanding, director Nicholas Steele takes great care in expressing the atmosphere very early on. Frankly, I was quite enthralled... and the sex hasn't even begun yet.

This shadowy plot-heavy tale continues on by relating the protagonist's search for some closure, truth and lust. Lured by a mysterious , Ian and his absolutely irresistible girlfriend Julianne (Sky Taylor) take a journey of the mind and libido. Destination: Antoinette's Bed and Breakfast, which occupies just a small nook in world, but takes clients back to turn-of-the-century simplicity coupled with sexual complexity. It is here that Ian finally discovers what all of his bizarre dreams truly mean... and who's behind them.

"Puppeteer" is hands-down a great film, though "especially" great for couples. The entire production was par; writing, art direction, cast and directing. The sex, which I'll delve more deeply into shortly, was certainly on a highly-erotic level. In other words, there's more to it than just the old "in and out" motions, hence the "couples" generalization. I believe anyone who enjoys a decent story, and a bit of suspense prior to the actual fucking, will be quite impressed with this film. But of course it definitely targeted to couples and not so much the strokers, that's rather evident.

Before providing the nasty details of particularly enlightening sexual scenarios, allow me to relate a few more tidbits of worthy mention. I've already touched on the cast, describing it as attractive. I must reiterate and reinforce that judgment by assuring potential audiences of just how seriously attractive they are. For the males out there; these starlets are absolutely sultry and delectable. You may not be very familiar with a couple, but you will be by film's end. Ladies...I have rarely witnessed such a fine cast of male talent assembled for the same production. I think it's safe to say, that porn is made very easy-on-the-eyes when all the participants of a scene are attractive - both male and female. This film is that rare case. Some examples of that talent pool include: Mark Davis, Alexandra Nice, Lexington Steele and Peruvian beauty Alexis Amore. For the technical end of things, this DVD offers a nice selection of options which include cast bios (again both male and female), behind the scenes, previews and six separately-titled chapters, just to name a few. The sound was good but the overwhelming kudos must go out to the photography and artistic design of the entire piece.

Now for that sex! It's all very good, but the two trysts starring Sky stand out prominently. The first, with Dale, is a lengthy diving-board scenario that shouts "chemistry". The lovers engage in deep intimate kissing prior to entangling in a heated missionary and cowgirl fuck, ending with Sky's back covered in cum. The second scene, occurring much later in the film, places a Sky, now under the puppeteer's spell, in a delusional state of want. Happening upon this "lost" being, Mark Davis coolly employs his skills as a classy cocksman, charming her onto his manhood. The highlight here being Mark's trademarked position whereby his suspends the female off the ground, she in a lotus-type position, impaled upon his prick, bouncing her to orgasm, while standing with perfect balance.

Another outstanding scene involves a mystifying bartender (Lex Steele) paired with brown-skinned, pierced and tattooed Alexis. Giving credit where credit is due, voluptuous Alexis takes Mr. Steele's very massive appendage with nothing but positive fervor during the barroom balling. Again, a very well-performed scene.

Summing this all up, suffice to say that high production values, great casting and suspenseful storytelling make for a wonderful couples-friendly flick. It's also fair to warn that, though beautifully shot and well-carried out, the sex might be a little tame for some audiences. Yes... there is an anal scene, albeit mild, and there is one instance of an inner-mouth cum shot, but keep in mind, overall "Puppeteer" was designed as an erotic film not an "eRAWtic" one.

I guess most adult DVD purchases are bought with a degree of expectation and anticipation. This purchase was solely made as I discovered it had two scenes with the performer, Sky Taylor. The fact it scored quite highly by DVD Empire was another secondary reason. However, I was generally disappointed with the content and I find the title lingering on the average rating scale.

I'll start with a few words on Ms. Taylor. I think she is quite stunning as far as female adult performers go. I've seen her in a few previous titles and she does try and make effort in her scenes despite poor male performers and terrible plots. With the exception of the sometimes, sun-drenched skin and inflated breast implants, she has a terrific long lean body, an elegant face and makes great eye contact. For those of you who are not aware of her already, I suggest you get familiar with Ms. Taylor, and this comes from someone who is usually picky when it comes to women.

Anyway, although Ms. Sky features in two of the scenes, the title is somewhat disappointing. Much of the time, the camera shots are from a distance, and you feel somewhat disengaged from the action as a result. When there is a close up, the camera angle is all wrong and does not fully capture the penetrative action. I also felt there was far too much use of slow motion and the enjoyment of pleasure was sometimes poorly dubbed, or being overshadowed by the type of music you find in a supermarket. The other scenes were no better.

Despite the glossy Hollywood feel of the set and pic, this title simply did not do it for me and I would not recommend anyone to purchase it. The behind the scenes option was quite good, and lengthy but uninformative. However, the main movie has to score and these features should come secondary, I feel.