Camille 2000 (1969) + Monamour (2005/Cult Epics Blu-rays) + Orgasm, Inc. (2009/First Run DVD)

 

Picture: B/B-/C     Sound: C+/C+/C     Extras: B-/C/C+     Main Programs: C+/C+/B-

 

 

Now for a look at two erotic feature films on Blu-ray we previously reviewed on DVD and a new documentary on women’s sexuality and the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Cult Epics has issued two films from two well-known erotica directors who established themselves in the 1970s on Blu-ray: Radley Metzger’s Camille 2000 (1969) and Tinto Brass’ Monamour (2005), both of which happened to have also been in DVD sets we covered.  For those unfamiliar with the films, here are the links to the original DVD coverage of each:

 

For the older Camille 2000 DVD:

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1655/Radley+Metzger+Collection+-+Volume

 

For the older Monamour DVD, which was a PAL import:

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10243/Barebums+&+Voyeurs+%E2%80%93

 

 

The new 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition transfer of Camille 2000 is far superior to the older out of print DVD in every way shape and form, with far superior color, detail, depth and definition much closer to the kind of three-strip Technicolor prints (now very valuable if you can find them) of the Panavision film than the DVD ever could hope to offer.  There are even some demo shots that will impress.  This version has 12 more minutes than previous versions and the sound is also improved, but the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also shows that this was often dubbed with a source that has aged roughly.  It is still better than the same soundtrack on the old DVD, but only marginally so.

 

Extras include a Restoration featurette that also shows how much of an improvement this new edition is, Trailers, On The Set featurette (lasting a half-hour), Sylvania’s Bare Striptease that was cut from the film before its original release, alternate take of the Cube Love Scene and a feature length audio commentary track by Metzger and Michael Bowen.

 

For more Metzger on Blu-ray, try Cult Epics solid release of his film Score at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10463/Radley+Metzger%E2%80%99s+Score

 

 

Monamour was apparently shot on HD (though it seems it was filmed, but new extras show otherwise) and as a result, the improvements are not as dramatic from the PAL DVD to Blu-ray as Camille, but it is still marginally better.  However, fleshtones suffer, detail is not as improved and there are new flaws that hold back the overall presentation.  Still, this is just better enough to take of the PAL DVD, as the 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition transfer is just more realistic enough to outdo that DVD.  As for the sound, both versions have the same Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track, but this Blu-ray adds a very slightly richer Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, but it is too bad it has a limited soundfield and points to the original recording not being conceived beyond two-channel stereo.

 

Extras include a trailer and brief making-of featurette for Monamour, plus separate Blu-ray with Brass’ short film Kick The Cock (aka The New Maid), a teaser and making of piece for the short, Comic Strip by Franco Saudelli, Spanish Dance by Angelita Franco and 2008 Venice Film Festival premiere of the short with Brass in attendance.

 

For more Brass on Blu-ray, see our coverage for Salon Kitty at this link:

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10558/Salon+Kitty+-+Tinto+Brass%E2%80

 

 

Finally we have Liz Canner’s Orgasm, Inc. (2009), a documentary that began as an examination about women and their sexual pleasure, but landed up being about how the drug industry has found a fortune in exploiting the sexual unhappiness of women by building an entire industry around false promises of sexual pleasure on a level that far outpaces all previous exploitation according to the interviewees and facts offered.  That the industry is telling women they can have at 60 what they had at 16 or 26 is a bit much, but it also shows us how poorly the society has dealt with the issue in general, leading to all kinds of problems.

 

Some of the people interviewed are informative, others eccentric, but overall, this is worth a look in dealing with an issue that needs more attention.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is weak, shot in low definition digital video and has its share of aliasing errors and softness, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 is barely stereo with more than a few moments of location audio issues and monophonic sound.  Extras include Take Action text, text Director’s Notes, text Film Facts, text Biography and Bonus Scenes.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo