SEARCH FOR THE SNOW LEOPARD
OVERALL RATING: 8 (But a 10+ for couples)
135 Mins.
DIRECTOR: Nick Orleans
Ultimate Pictures/Adam & Eve
THEMES: Story, Outdoor Sex.
CONDOMS: Some Noted
1998
STARS: Asia Carrera, Ashton Moore, James Bonn, Taylor St. Claire, Temptress, Steven St. Croix, Jennifer Lee, Halli Aston, Gina Ryder, Alec Metro, Stephanie Swift, Mark Davis, Randy Spears, Lexington Steele, Cheyenne Silver, Brick Majors.
REVIEW:

A couple of times a year, we hear about a new, high budget adult film that is going to set the porn world on its ear. As often as not, the thing fails on a number of levels. High production values either fail to live up to their hype or get in the way of the sex. Interesting scripts are ruined by less than adequate acting. Any number of things can go wrong, but we keep tuning in. Why? Because some of us really want to see a decent film packed with intense sexual heat. With a long string of disappointments, I have to admit, the title sequence is a good sign. The film quality is awesome, something that is important to me. (Wow, this intro seems to set the movie up to fail huh?) An impressive cast would seem to promise good sexual heat as well as better than average acting.
Asia Carrera is awakened by a recurring nightmare about her departed father. His obsession has become hers and is clearly causing a problem in her relationship with Brick Majors. Perhaps to alleviate some of his concerns, or perhaps just to calm her own frazzled nerves, but Asia goes down on him on the balcony. The lighting is very moody and much of what we get is shadows. While part of me loves the way this looks, I can’t help but think we are missing one of Asia’s hottest blowjobs. Check out the tongue action. She doesn’t let up until Brick has left a thick load right between her boobs. As it is, the scene is beautifully shot and rather erotic in a low key way, but the stroker in me wishes someone would have flipped on the bloody lights.
Asia’s life seems to take a step in the right direction when she earns a hundred thousand dollar grant to go and capture the Snow Leopard for observation. Her mind seems to be on other things however, and we get an odd little sexual mix as the Dean, Randy Spears is serviced by Ashton Moore and Cheyenne Silver sits by playing with her pussy. Lots of quick cuts make the action a little less than I would like to see, but Cheyenne taking on Lex is always fun and blonde Ashton is nice to look at as well. Excellent camera work and some creative shots, but for me, sexually, the action can’t be so split up. Can the strobe and you have two very hot scenes. As is, you’ve got an impressive piece of quick cut editing that is artistically beautiful, but somewhat sexually lacking.
We flash back to Asia’s father, trying to bring a Snow Leopard back. He runs into some trouble getting it past Stephanie Swift, but after some dialog I won’t go into, they fall into each other’s arms. Steph looks beautiful, keeping her stockings and corset on as Mark brings her off with his fingers. As always, she gives a great blowjob, though we get a rather soft cut of it, with nice long shots and no direct eye contact. Again, great for couples, but I keep waiting to see her gorgeous eyes. Watching the petite Ms. Swift ride Mark’s big cock and verbally go nuts is always incredible erotic. Even for a couples type scene, this one has some good, hard sex. Mark really fucks Steph hard from behind. Nice looking and very hot.
Joining Asia on her hunt is a cocky photographer played by James Bonn. Late at night, she finds a little waterfall thing to shower in and we get a Playboy-like tease scene that is beautifully shot. She looks simply stunning and the water only adds to the beauty of this scene. Adding some multi-finger masturbation sends this scene over into the awesome category.
As the search goes deeper into the wild, things get a little stranger for Asia and Ashton. They meet up with some odd creatures, who look amazingly like sexy female humans and an all-girl orgy ensues. This is classic soft-core stuff, with lots of slow motion, tons of touching and a hair amount of kissing. Basically, Asia and Ashton are in the center of a group of adoring women who literally worship their bodies with fingers, mouths and eventually dildos.
Back at camp, things turn sour, but never fear, it gets better. While Asia tries to sort out some complex emotional issues, Ashton retires into a tent with one of the natives. Some very nice silhouette shots against the inside of the tent. After those shots, it’s another nicely photographed scene of the lovely blonde being fucked from literally every angle. There is way too much slow motion footage for me, but it’s another technically sound scene between two people who seem to enjoy being with each other.
Poachers have moved in so it’s time for Asia and Bonn to combine forces to save the Leopards. As great as Asia looks, the slow motion and the match dissolves become a little frustrating for me. Thankfully, the stop in time to allow us a clear view of Asia sucking James’ cock. Great hand action and as always, that gorgeous face makes this way hot. These two performers seem very much dialed in on each other during their scene, making it even sexier than the average well shot romp. Another pop shot on the belly, and they even exchange “I love you”s at the end. How sweet.
In a last second attempt to save the Snow Leopard, the lovely Temptress rises from the mist and seduces the poaching couple, Alec Metro and Gina Ryder. Let me tell you, Temptress is one super hot little cocksucker. An equal opportunity slut, she also sucks pussy with the best of them. Interesting little three way that suffers a bit because the always awesome Temptress has to share the action with the rather dull Gina.
I won’t tell you how it all ends up, but let’s just say we get to see Asia in one final sex scene. Besides the very cool camera tricks, we finally get to see that tongue action in full light. No facial, but a nice shot high on her chest to close out another lovely and strokeable scene.
No doubt, Snow Leopard is an impressive adult film. The picture quality and sound are incredible (and think how it will look on DVD.) There are some interesting, and thankfully not over-used special effects and the camera work is first rate. Yes, there is a story and it makes sense without bogging down the action. The acting performances are about as good as porn gets. Asia and Bonn are particularly note-worthy. Now, what about the sex? Certainly, the big budget aspects and some of the long shot camera work pushes Snow Leopard into the couples category, but it is not as sexually lukewarm as most films in this category. No anal or monster facials to speak of, and as noted, a few times, I found myself tuning out sexually, but overall, the good looking cast and tight camera work keep things hot. Fans of Asia should be especially pleased to see her in nearly every scene. I loved the waterfall solo and her first and last blowjobs are freaking fantastic. This will certainly appeal to a lot of people who don�t normally like porn. Great for couples, huge props for technical achievement and still enough sexual heat to make me want to keep it in my collection.