Search - Exit to Eden on DVD

Geez prudes, lighten up

F. Carter | Northern Great Plains | 01/02/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"OK...let's get right to the point. This movie is not for the easily embarrassed and definitely not for children. It is funny and unexpected...at least at first viewing...and that makes it well worth seeing at least one time.The movie falters in that the director cannot make up his mind: is this a comedy? is this a thriller? is this soft porn? The lack of a consistent target leaves the viewer rather disoriented.Still...(and I read the bondage person's opinion earlier in the list of reviews)...the hairbrush scene is NOT TYPICAL for standard American films. My wife and I saw it first in a theater (on the first or second day of release), and there was NOT A SOUND during that scene...and I stole a quick enough glance around to see that everyone was glued to screen. Not too common an event for this sort of film.Finally...those of you who don't want to see an average sized woman in skimpy outfits need a reality check...Not everyone is a size 4 with plastic-surgeon enhanced breasts. Rosie is not my ideal "babe" but she sure as heck is real; and that is worth something, too."

Not the book, but wonderful on its own

MarianLH | Somewhere OH, United States | 04/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First, a caveat: if you liked the Anne Rice novel this film is loosely based on, you probably won't like the film. Exit to Eden is a wonderful, lighthearted introduction to the world of BDSM. Unlike Rice's novel, the BDSM in the film is realistic, and the viewer is introduced to elements of real-life BDSM like safewords, mutual consent, and commitment to safety, that most BDSM fiction sorely lacks. The casting was inspired, particularly of Dana Delany, Rosie O'Donnell, and Paul Mercurio, who like the people i play with are real people behind the leather facade.Those who are seriously into the scene might find this movie a little tame, with only a couple of real scenes and "bondage" that can easily be escaped from. But the curious will find it a safe and unthreatening introduction to a very real and viable lifestyle. The scene with Lisa, Elliot, and the hairbrush rang very true on an emotional level--and i don't care what anyone says, the scene with Elliot in Mistress Lisa's bath was HOT.There are only a few complaints i would make. Unlike the real BDSM community (or the novel), there's no hint of homoeroticism in the film. The real-life scene is very pansexual, with people of all orientations sharing space. And the casting of Richard was terrible. Most of all, i wish a lot more screen time had been devoted to Lisa's relationship with Diana, whose heady mix of intimacy and formal role has been an inspiration for my own relationship.But those are very minor complaints. Overall it's a delightful film, one i've watched again and again over the years. If i were ever to come out to my family about being into BDSM, i would start with having them watch this movie."

Good clean fun

R.L. Holly | Austin, TX USA | 07/09/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I found the entire concept funny; whether intentional or not, this movie does have some gags going for it, thanks to O'Donnell's wisecracks, Ackroyd's visual hamming, and the situational humor. I was pleased to see that it doesn't take itself as seriously (all the time) as some viewers expected. Lighten up, y'all! Equating a fairly mild fetish (at least as presented here, with glamourized sugar-coating and wink-wink-nudge-nudge abounding) with a serious "Alternative Lifestyle Choice" is just pompous. Maybe some people need to get over their preoccupations with their lower chakras? And speaking of which, any movie with the lovely Dana Delany au naturel automatically gains an extra star. Maybe two."

Paul Mercurio's bare buns

J. Deferbrache | Bristol, Indiana United States | 09/17/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Firsthand, as a movie in itself, this is [...]. The original novel by Anne Rice titled "Exit to Eden" plunged fearlessly into the depths of an alternate sexual lifestyle, bringing S&M from a shady dungeon into the light of an island paradise where people were given the chance to explore and understand their sexual fantasies in a safe and open environment. The journey toward sexual understanding (and understanding of the self) that Lisa the dominatrix, and Elliot, her slave, find themselves on, is at the forefront.

In the film, these two characters take on supporting roles in a version of the story that is embarrassed and uncomfortable with its own premise and uses sad, insecure humor to cover it. Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell are brought in as two undercover cops who stand around like a couple of uncomfortable teenagers who have snuck into a sex club, making cheesy, lame jokes about the island and what it is there for. The island itself is reduced to a poofy, kink theme park of masters and slaves who do not delve into their curiosities so much as tiptoe around them, half the time too shy to say the word "sex." In other words, if you are interested in S&M or are looking for a movie that does this lifestyle justice, or for that matter makes an interesting speculation on sexuality of any kind, look elsewhere.

The best thing that this movie his to offer is the generous amount of screentime given to hot, naked bodies, earning it the category soft-core porn. Dana Delaney as Lisa(the most unconvincing dominatrix it is humanly possible to imagine) does take her clothes off, and Australian actor Paul Mercurio as Elliot, gives the audience a benevolent number of chances to see his naked [...]. This (for me) is actually the true highlight of the movie, and Mercurio gets naked enough to make it worth watching. The most erotic seen in the film is when Lisa ties up Elliot (or rather, wraps some velvet curtain cords around his hands one or two times) and spanks him with a hairbrush (well it's more like a tap than a spank). Okay, so this is not hardcore S&M by any means, but if you are interested in some soft-core porn and you have a thing for guys' butts (and believe me, Paul Mercurio's is worth seeing) than this movie is definitly worth taking a look at. My advice: speed through the parts with Rosie O'Donnell to get to Paul Mercurio.

"