Note: The following is a review for the HD DVD version of Ass Addiction, a flagship title for Digital Playground's Handheld Pictures outlet that was released in standard definition DVD 2 years ago to heaps of praise, garnering significant positive press. The content of the movie is the same and the extras barely modified to include HD DVD trailers that show off the higher resolution of the titles that are either out or about to come out in the popular new format. The quick version of the review is that the show looks and sounds substantially better but it always looked pretty good so it's value as a double dip will depend on your wallet but I added pictures to give a better idea of the movie, taken from the SD version of the movie (at this size and compression rate, you wouldn't notice the difference). While HD pictures reduced for the web would not truly show off the enhancements in quality, I suggest you check out this Trailer for Ass Addiction HD to get a better idea of what it looks like in this new form.  Enjoy!

Ass Addiction HD

Digital Playground/Handheld Pictures

Genre: Gonzo

Director: Robby D.

Cast: Naomi, Erik Everhard, Kinzie Kenner, Scott Nails, Marco Duato/Banderas, Jean Val Jean, Katja Kassin, Jerry, Gia Paloma, Ben English, Shyla Stylez

Length: 149.5 minutes

Dates of Production: 3/14/2006 to 6/4/2006

Extras: There was a photogallery, a slide show, a cum shot recap, and trailers to shows like Pirates II, Island Fever 4 HD, Deeper 1 HD, Babysitters HD, Pirates HD, Jack's Playground 27 HD, Contract Star HD, Jesse Jane: Sexual Freak HD, Jack's Teen America 3 HD, Island Fever 3 HD, Hush HD, Jack's POV HD, and Cockasian HD.

Condoms: None

Audio/Video Quality: Ass Addiction HD was presented in the usual 1.78:1 ratio widescreen color it was shot in by director Robby D. for Digital Playground (technically, for his own company, Handheld Pictures to be distributed by them) using a full 1080p resolution and the AVC/MPEG-4 codec to provide a substantially improved picture from the SD version that came out long ago. Digital had the foresight to shoot using the latest technology and their back catalog is only now being released in HD-DVD (with more Blu-Ray starting soon) so expect a lot of improvements as the company becomes more handy with the new formats. Still, the slightly rough look of the project added some charm to the feature and while Robby has certainly become more competent in shooting HD flavored porn, the composition of the shots always favored the ladies. The grain of the original and compression artifacts were minimized and the resolution was great enough that what once looked like solid colored walls could now be seen to have some texture to them (and holes). There was no BTS to compare to but the feature showed accurate fleshtones and the blacks almost as solid as some of Robby's latest works. The audio was presented with the upgraded 5.1 Dolby Digital + and the improvements were slighter here with little separation between the speakers in most cases, but some added clarity of the vocals all the same. As time marches on, porn audio tracks have not marched along as much as their mainstream counterparts, an area that I note with increasing frequency, but some of the hiss I got when I turned up the SD version to high levels was not as obvious so the dynamic range was enhanced as well as the thump of the bass; most of which I believe were added in post production.

Body of Review: There was a time when a lot of raincoaters used to fuss at Digital Playground for providing the weakest of porn; suggesting that what the company made was not only practically cable ready but too light even for couples to enjoy. Well, over the last several years, director Robby D. has seemingly set out on a mission to change that perception by offering some of the hardest action available without the need to rely on circus act sex or other silly antics to help you get off. His latest title in this area is the newly released Ass Addiction HD, starring some of the finest ladies ever to grace a porno; each of which has a substantial following from what I've seen online. Unlike other releases by a variety of companies that lead you to believe the action will contain one thing and then let you down, each gal in the movie did some hardcore bareback anal, most of them showing the kind of enthusiasm you want to see in your porn. Here's a quick look at the scenes, noting no condoms were used, for those of you still not convinced that this might be for you:

Scene One: Naomi, the bubble butted hotty featured on the middle of the lower front DVD cover, was up first with studly Erik Everhard. She was a recent Spotlight Performer for DVD Talk and the way she teased in her leopard print bikini made for a solid start to the show. Erik obviously appreciated her curvy rump too given the way he worshipped it but she didn't give him much of a chance since she wanted to savor the taste of his cock in her mouth. Using frosting from a cupcake and Reddiwhip topping, she orally stimulated him but his need more of her ass wasn't satisfied so he went back to licking her (enhanced with some toppings too). They screwed actively vaginally in a few positions before she gave up that ass to him, though she wasn't as actively working his cock inside her behind as she took him in the pussy. Those that know Erik can be assured that he hammered away at her holes like crazy before rubbing out a load to her ass crack at almost the 30 minute mark of the show. She seemed to be performing much of the time but also came across as enjoying the ride, providing some chemistry that elevated the replay value a bunch.

Scene Two: Kinzie Kenner, the cutie located on the lower left hand corner of the front DVD cover, was up next in a scene where she took care of Scott Nails, Marco Duato/Banderas, and Jean Val Jean. Her oral skills were initially put to the test by doing them one at a time but she soon moved on to a mini-blow bang that showed her level of playfulness to be as high as ever. Her white polka dotted bikini enhanced her look too, though she was the most classically attractive gals of the show. The emphasis for her was on giving two guys head while one would bone that sweet little pussy of hers, with her making little noises as the action continued. The vaginal gave way to the anal with the men taking turns in her holes rather than trying to DP her or make her airtight (one cock in each orifice). She asked for the "hot cum" and they gave it to her in the mouth, rubbing out loads for her to play with, though not swallow. It wasn't as heated a scene for me but it was worth watching a few times.

Scene Three: Katja Kassin, porn's reigning anal queen as seen on the upper left hand corner of the front DVD cover, was up next with Jerry and Scott Nails. She was wearing a fetish outfit consisting largely of black strips of cloth and a metallic front, sporting a brunette hairstyle I haven't seen her use much of late. The tease footage emphasized rough treatment of her with Scott paddling her and using a chain from her collar to work her over with. She sucked both of the men off with enthusiasm and energy, alternating between the cocks with her mouth and hands to keep them both rock hard. While not generally recognized as an oral queen too, she was doing a fine job of it when they stretched her perfect pucker with a glass anal plug, readying her for the ass plundering to come next. The men took turns and gave her a DP as well but my biggest complaint about the scene was that they relegated Katja to a relatively passive role in which she wasn't truly allowed to shine (taking her doggy style most of all rather let her actively impale herself on their cocks). The scene ended with the men jerking off to her mouth, her gargling the semen, and then swallowing it whole. It wasn't her best work to date but it was a warm scene well worth enjoying.

Scene Four: Gia Paloma, the little anal vixen located on the lower right hand corner of the front DVD cover, was up next as she teased in her camouflaged bikini by the indoor stripper pole. The tease was enticing and her continued pulling of her outfit into her crotch made me want a taste though she was more than a little happy to work with Ben English from the way she perked up as he entered the picture. Her gyrations increased, her nipples perked up, and her breathing accelerated as he fingered (and fed) her samples of her own juices. When eventually given the chance, she dove at his cock like a woman possessed, almost trying to get him off early from the looks of it. Gia, unlike most of the others in the movie, is an acknowledged oral queen and while she has a reputation for other things too, many of her fans suggest that she is the epitome of an oral slut in the best of ways. After the splendid oral, he tapped her pussy hard before using an anal toy to stretch her and then follow up with a powerful anal fucking. The anal followed a short technical DP (with the toy) and resulted in the usual facial but as good as the rest of the scene was, the oral stood out more than anything between these two talented performers.

Scene Five: Shyla Stylez, the busty blonde on the upper right hand corner of the front DVD cover, was up last as ripped studly boys Jean Val Jean and Scott Nails walked over to her outside. She was tied up and they nonchalantly took their time getting to her as she begged them to free her and give her some cock. She's a classically attractive porn cutie and her schoolgirl outfit enhanced her appeal as they warmed her up for later play in the living room. Her kittenish oral gave way to some serious cocksucking, alternating between the men as they continued to feel her up. They then took turns screwing her pussy, though I would have been happier if she titty fucked them for a spell too. This eventually led to anal sex, somewhat more active a ride there than I expected but not as good as the vaginal sex was. Her work of late has been head and shoulders above the scenes she did for JKP and this was another solid entry for her porn resume given the replay value and warmth.

Summary: Ass Addiction HD was definitely what I needed as my fix for the week in terms of anal sex. The ladies were all well versed in their field, provided ample anal escapades to enjoy, and the technical values were quite well handled. There was no thematic sidetracking going on (none of the "Jack" humor in particular) and fans of straightforward anal sex will find this latest release from Robby's Handheld Pictures company to be the "gold" he always talks about providing. The level of fuck for the buck was well above average and the replay value was matched only by the chemistry most of the cast showed so I rated this one as Highly Recommended. The detractors of the company can rest assured that Ass Addiction HD was as well handled a piece of work as they're likely to see; something even I would have scoffed at a short time ago. In short, Robby has proven he can do it all, and do it well, proving his chameleon-like ability to offer up all kinds of porn for the masses. One thing to note as well, the enhanced resolution of this HD version really added something to the project and while the audio was not equally enhanced, the added value will appeal to fans of the HD technology used.