Gay Video Review	Gay Video Reviews Archive

The Big Island
Rating: 3 Stars
Produced by Chris Ward and Michael Brandon. Photographed, edited, and directed by David Hempling. Music by J.D. Slater. Starring Justin Christopher, Marc LaSalle, Rambo, Jay Black, Jason Crew, Mario Cruz, and Troy Plowman.
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David Hempling -- videographer and/or editor on dozens of major Raging Stallion releases including Induction, Passport to Paradise, and the Sexus trilogy -- marks his sixth foray into directing with this well-crafted though unadventurous excursion to Hawaii. The title notwithstanding, evidence of location- shooting on the Hawaiian archipelago's "Big Island" is minimal; there's hardly any sense of place. When the closing credits roll, it's startling to note the number of houses and resorts involved in the shoot, since from scene to scene you might assume that all the sex is taking place in the same compound equipped with lanai, grounds, and pool.

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The cast sustains interest, however. There are four duos (three of them interracial) and a couple of frustrating solos. (The jerkoff artists -- hot Latino Mario Cruz and massive, tattoo-intensive African-American Rambo -- might have made an interesting pair.) The sex is basic suck-and-fuck footage, but it looks good, and the principal models go at one another as if they're enjoying themselves.

In the opening segment, tawny, bearded power bottom Marc LaSalle virtually tops Jason Crew while being fucked by him; LaSalle returns in the third scene to do the same for box-cover model Justin Christopher. In the fifth episode, Crew comes back for an encore, engaging in reciprocal butt-pounding with the presciently named Troy Plowman. Finally, Christopher returns to skewer gorgeous ebony landscaper Jay Black.

It's worth noting that The Guide -- with typically discerning taste -- has recently featured Marc LaSalle (July 2007) and Jay Black (January 2008) on its covers.