A Brilliant Conflict

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

i found this documentary about the adult film industry very eye opening and revealing.i was very surprised by some of the stuff the talked about.there are some revelations about the industry and some myths that appear to be debunked by actual people in the industry,the people behind the scenes and the on screen talent.interesting,the actual on screen talent are referred to(by themselves and others in the industry)as performers,and not actors/actresses/which,to me says a lot about how they view themselves.in watching this film,it's obvious the adult film industry has evolved over the last fifteen years,and will likely continue to evolve.for me,The Secret Lives of Adult Stars is an 8/10

There is no doubt that the pornography business has changed over the past forty years. This documentary tries to capture the change, but with the exception of a few scenes with Nina Hartley (of whom I had the pleasure of), this look at the adult film industry is highly un-erotic, and very sad.Sad, not in the sense that the participants are sad with their lot in life, but sad that anyone would find them erotic. Strangely enough, the most compelling interviews come from the male participants, I guess we re spared the sight of silicone implants from the men.That being said, his documentary would be of good use in schools to teach youngsters to stay away from the porn industry.

This is not a porn film. Those looking for sex should look elsewhere. This film is mostly interviews with people in the porn industry giving a look at how the films are made. The interviews are with the old pros- Nina Hartley, the established stars such as Asia Carrera and Jill Kelly, as well as newcomers to the industry. The film covers almost every possible topic you can think of in an 80 minute film from fans to parents to on set etiquette to burn out to disease. Its Cliff Notes version of the industry.I'm not a fan of the film. It seems to be a good (if cursory) overview of the industry. However in an age when the adult film industry is moving more and more toward the mainstream this film is one of many films that are throwing light into what once a dark, and it doesn't stand out as anything other than a by the numbers film. Its a mechanical view of the industry (much like the sex in the films) that presents the information as if off a check list and with almost no context for one new to the subject. A better view of the industry is Dag Yngvesson's Rated X:A Journey Through Porn, which takes the director's personal quest to find out about the industry and makes it our own.I also didn't like many of the people we encounter in the film. a few seem sleazy, a few drunk or stoned; and more than a few seem to be distracted, probably the result of having a camera in their face on the set while waiting to perform (which is probably the reason that the interviews are so uneven in detail).Recommended for those who really must know everything about the adult industry, for everyone else I'd take a pass.

Having always been fascinated with the adult film industry and the people not only in front but also behind the cameras; I must say that this is a pretty good film.Lots of different interviews with people like Randy West and Nina Hartley, who have been around and working since the early 80's (at least!); as well as a lot of other interviews with the newer up and comers."The Secret Lives of Adult Stars" covers a wide range of topics and touches a lot of bases. Everything from views on penis size, AIDS, condoms, strippers turned porn goddesses, the role of the men, directors, couples in the biz, stalkers, fans... you name it...and there is probably a section of the documentary that deals with the subject.If you interested in seeing lots & lots of interviews by some of the industries leading names.... and the subject matter & behind the scenes knowledge is something that interests you, then this reviewer would strongly suggest checking this movie out.Just keep in mind...this IS a documentary - not a porno.Recommended!