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Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.erotica
GIRLS ON FIRE 2.25 out of 5.00 - Film: 4 Features: 2 Video: 1 Audio: 2 "Getting burned by the poor DVD transfer of GIRLS ON FIRE" Although GIRLS ON FIRE can only be considered a "classic" in terms of its historical and star power value, this X-rated feature film from the early 1980s is still an entertaining and arousing romp, highlighted by a one-on-one performance between Ginger Lynn and John Holmes. Originally release by VCX over fifteen years ago, this film does have a dated, almost quaint look about it, with lots of dialogue and situational scenes, and a real plot running through the story. Those looking for wall-to-wall anal fucking or volumes of cum swallowing should look elsewhere; and others who want to see silicone-titted blonde groupies blowing and screwing guys who look like rock and rollers should turn to other titles. However, I don't see how even the most jaded viewer would be able to resist Ginger Lynn's picture on the cover. Dressed up in white lingerie, high heels and a fur coat (this is pre-PETA), Ms. Lynn looks delectable sitting on top of a travel chest while John Holmes reaches for her thigh. And rest assured that the two do share a very hot scene together, which is the highlight of the film. Longtime porn viewers will also recognize favorites like Raven, Angel, and Cody Nicole making early appearances in the world of adult films prior to their becoming "living legends." The opening scene features a frenzied encounter between the always amusingly goofy Harry Reems and Vicki Vickers. Their tabletop tryst is nice and quick, with some great blowjobs by this blonde cutie before Harry reams her. The equally cute Kimberly Carson manages to nail down an authentic sounding Brooklyn accent for her character, and shows off her other oral talents when she goes down on Richard Pacheco in a threesome including Jamie Gillis. The movie changes settings to a model's studio, where R. Bolla presides over a fashion rehearsal featuring some of our favorite porn girls in some very hot (again, if dated) outfits. Raven appears in white lingerie that perfectly accentuates her dark-haired beauty, and shows off her tall, slender figure. Angel does indeed look like a heavenly body decked out in a honeymoon outfit (and carrying a bouquet, no less) that underscores why many have considered her to be one of the prettiest girls to have ever appeared in porn. However, it was of course Ginger Lynn who knocked me for a loop in a leather Indian outfit (complete with dagger and headpiece), which tightly hugs her incredibly hard, sexy body. Ginger's deliciously curvy ass and tight and toned legs are displayed to great effect as she poses, spins and struts around the stage. The brown costume also goes nicely with her smooth and tanned skin, making this movie one of my favorites in terms of her on-screen appearance alone. Angel does a very calm and collected hummer on Bobby Bullock, who seems absolutely thrilled by the prospect of doing the nasty with this Angel-ic beauty. Even though Angel has always been noted as a very straightforward, somewhat passionless performer, her gorgeous smiling face, and terrific body have always made up for her reserved attitude. In fact, the casual viewer will be so captivated by her good looks that the rather emotionless blowjob scenes won't even be noticed. Raven, who looked so great in Andrew Blake's LES FEMMES EROTIQUES and SENSUAL EXPOSURE, is coupled with Jamie Gillis in her single scene in this movie. However, she is later joined by Cody Nicole for an unfortunately disappointing threesome. Part of the problem is that some of the action is obscured by the jungle gym bars where most of the scene takes place. It also doesn't help matters that Cody and Raven don't really get it on with each other. Ginger's scene with John is the stuff wet dreams are made of. Despite the fact that he had been dressed in drag with makeup and a dress, his one-on-one with her is incredibly hot, beginning with her deep-throating his well-recognized sex tool. We get perfectly framed close-ups of the lovely Ginger devouring his cock like it were a challenge, and it is a sight to see (her other great scenes with the famous "Johnny Wadd" was in the classic videos, THE GRAFENBERG SPOT and THOSE YOUNG GIRLS, two of my all time favorite Ginger Lynn vehicles even in its Traci Lords-edited forms). When Ginger get fucked by Mr. Holmes reverse cowgirl style, Lynn literally has to ease her petite body onto his erection, using her legs to ride him like a rodeo bronco. The last scene features an appearance by yet another living legend Shanna McCullough, who does the nasty with R. Bolla. Those viewers who are used to seeing her do some of the most amazing (and nauseating) acts of cum-swallowing in Rodney Moore's infamous I SWALLOW series, will be taken aback by her very "normal" straight scene here, which is the standard blowjob followed by the old in-and-out. Having stated all the good qualities about GIRLS ON FIRE, I must point out the ultimate reason on why I simply cannot recommend this DVD: the transfer is absolutely unacceptable. When this video was originally released on tape, it had a very hard-looking and grainy, filmic look which wasn't wonderful, but was very good for its time, and in fact, was still a lot better than many of today's shot-on-film titles. Upon its re-release as a "classic" on video years later, I noticed that the film looked distinctly poorer, with color bars and all sorts of artifacts running throughout the movie, especially in the latter half. Also, VCX had decided to unceremoniously edit out some (non-) controversial scenes involving Cody Nicole tied up and watching Raven and Jamie Gillis have sex, no doubt for fear of mixing bondage with hardcore. Believe me, those scenes were far from being extreme or risqué, so the removal of that footage was a bit of overly cautious zealousness on the part of VCX (at least, that's my opinion). Now, after watching its DVD incarnation, I have to say that this is the worst video version of GIRLS ON FIRE I have ever seen, and one of the ugliest digital transfers ever made. Forget about the fact that we do indeed get the edited version of this movie on disc, there are picture and sound problems galore, including pixellation, washed out colors, smeary images, and every type of artifacting imaginable. It is embarrassingly clear from the opening credits of this movie that the DVD was taken from an inferior video source (possibly an old VHS rental tape!). The sound on the VHS tape was at least a distinctive and intelligible mono production; here, voices echo annoyingly and everything else is tinny and screechy, as if you were listening to a $5.00 portable transistor AM radio. The cover design which I praised earlier is also amateurishly reproduced for the DVD packaging; it looks like the original video box cover was scanned in on low resolution and printed on cheap paper. I am appalled that VCX acknowledges the status of this movie as being a "Collectors Item," yet gives it such shoddy treatment. If only a company like NuTech had the rights to release this title! Their recent versions of classics like THE MISTRESS and NOTHING TO HIDE demonstrate a superior effort on their part to producing quality product. VCA has also shown that preserving films from the past means that they get the best treatment (VCA Classics is one of the best line of DVDs available on the market, with the exception of a few of their edited films like LET'S GET IT ON and EVERY WOMAN HAS A FANTASY 1 & 2). If VCX's intention is to keep releasing classic X-rated movies with this kind of quality, then they better prepare for the number of complaints and requests for refunds that will soon follow. VCX also labels this DVD as being a "Limited Edition." If by that catchphrase they meant that the video has a limited number of pressings, then I'm glad and relieved; that way, this poorly produced disc will eventually find its way out of the market and no one else will be subjected to this kind of rip-off. The consumer as well as the GIRLS on this disc deserve better.
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