Pleasure or Pain (2013)

Very well executed

Lack of good storyline.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Pretty terrible, due to the triteness of the script. Malena Morgan is a nice girl, and if you haven't seen her work, you might think, "But she's a porn star." I like just about everything about her. And she can act. She does a decent job in this boring movie.She would be well cast as "the girl next door" type, because she is. Too bad all of her talents are wasted on, well, whatever this is. . .This doesn't contain any "spoilers," because there isn't anything to spoil -- I mean,it's already spoiled. It arrives pre-spoiled.

So I did some research and it seems Pleasure or Pain is an edited down version of the 26 episode series that are basically around 10 minute each vignettes of the same "movie" narrated by and starring Malena Morgan. After watching as many as I could find on free sites, I did notice quite a few scenes that Pleasure or Pain did not include. Not that you're going to notice a huge difference, or see many more crotch shots, but there are some. It's a shame such a talented director wouldn't try to take softcore films of the past, such as those starring Catalina Larranga in House of Love, Voyeur Confessions, Word of Mouth, etc. by Indigo Entertainment (others by Universal/Playboy, etc.) to the next level by adding an extra level of X-rated-ness vs. tease. But here again, you get quality porn actresses forced to only briefly flash some goods, vs showing/performing actual sex acts. I'm not saying go porn gross, but this movie would have been great had it just taken it up a notch, and not left the viewer wanting more. Also, I'm assuming it was made as a full movie, Kamikaze Love, and then broken down into vignettes to post to the site SexArt (not sure if an exclusive) in 10 minute increments. But calling it Series 1?? Was there a Series 2? Considering the director is dead, doubtful. They do use episode 1-26 on that site. Better if they just left Kamikaze Love as a full movie, and allowed the actors to do what they do best. Ever watch a porn movie made for late night TV? It's like that. Not as bad as using a different camera to only capture above the waist shots, but nearly. I implore these directors in the future, please make this type of movie again, but with a bit more storyline as the movies mentioned above, and give us softcore PORN like the old days, only better. I'm sure budgets are an issue for most and that's why we get half-assed attempts, but I for one would pay a premium to see House of Love Rated X anyday over a watered down, badly acted movie-vignette of tease.

That's for the characters involved of course. The viewer might feel different while watching this. Malena Morgan is a beautiful woman there are no doubts about that. Her acting talents on the other hand may be discussed (or disqualified if you are not enticed one bit by her beauty). And while this is not the best movie ever (it's mostly a build up to sex scenes, though they are all soft core in case you were wondering), this is still way better than 50 Shades of Grey. It may be more a "9 1/2 weeks" rip off, but the way the male is "playing" with our female "hero" can be interpreted into the "50 shades" category.Having said all that and maybe writing too much for a movie, that doesn't have a plot other than the moral message that addiction and overdoing something is bad, the movie will certainly find its audience.

Why not just call this movie what it is. Soft-core porn. Like the older 'Emmmanuelle' films of the 70's, the goal isn't to provide insights into the human condition, but to offer sexual-role playing propaganda. Wealthy, dominant, sexually irresistible & handsome male (typically, as in this case, of a euro persuasion), gets to be worshiped by all the attractive, young, but naive,purpose-less women he encounters. There's no sense of reference. Where do these women come from? Who is the guy they all worship and why is he in the social economic class that suggests he can afford anything his fantasies desire? Finally, we've seen the same concept in so many films and stories before and there is nothing that stands out other than sexual content. In other worlds, the plot is predictable and contrived. Without purpose, the movie, at least,shows skin in a very sexy way and for that. it gets a few stars. Maybe we can create a new film class, rated P for 'porn with purpose'.