Luca Damiano created an effortless classic with "Orient eXpress", a lavishly staged porn comedy/adventure that destroys several myths. First, it demonstrates that in the proper hands shot-on-video can be as beautiful if not better than 35mm filming; and secondly it maintains the energy and arousal nature of sex scenes while creating interesting characters and storyline -you can have both. And a porn feature can be satisfying and enlightening without being pretentious or "artsy".
His idea is to have a centenary of the venerable rail line celebrated by passengers dressing up in fancy outfits. The Sidney Lumet Agatha Christie movie MURDER... is perhaps the template, but Luca's light-hearted, often quite amusing approach proves even more entertaining than that classic Paramount film.
The mixture of "shipboard" (but on a train) romances and encounters, plus a deft subplot of a pair of attractive jewel thieves (Frank Gun and Kaja/Christina) preying on fellow passengers is fun, and the entire romantic nature of the old train and vintage costumes is superior to many a mainstream movie. Shot in Hungary, what is most amazing is that the special effects are near-perfect, with the illusion that we're actually on a moving train for the duration convincing throughout.
A prologue is equally well-realized, as Valentino and lovely heroine Monika Kiss hook up on a boat ride, with their stand-up humping by the rail looking utterly real (guerrilla filmmaking?) against a stunning location backdrop.
Entire cast does a fine job in their acting and humping and it is the balance between the two that is worth studying by today's generation of both gonzo and crypto-storyline pornographers. Luca makes it look easy, but compare this with a hundred other Euro porn productions (including those from far more famous directors) and see the difference.
His idea is to have a centenary of the venerable rail line celebrated by passengers dressing up in fancy outfits. The Sidney Lumet Agatha Christie movie MURDER... is perhaps the template, but Luca's light-hearted, often quite amusing approach proves even more entertaining than that classic Paramount film.
The mixture of "shipboard" (but on a train) romances and encounters, plus a deft subplot of a pair of attractive jewel thieves (Frank Gun and Kaja/Christina) preying on fellow passengers is fun, and the entire romantic nature of the old train and vintage costumes is superior to many a mainstream movie. Shot in Hungary, what is most amazing is that the special effects are near-perfect, with the illusion that we're actually on a moving train for the duration convincing throughout.
A prologue is equally well-realized, as Valentino and lovely heroine Monika Kiss hook up on a boat ride, with their stand-up humping by the rail looking utterly real (guerrilla filmmaking?) against a stunning location backdrop.
Entire cast does a fine job in their acting and humping and it is the balance between the two that is worth studying by today's generation of both gonzo and crypto-storyline pornographers. Luca makes it look easy, but compare this with a hundred other Euro porn productions (including those from far more famous directors) and see the difference.