Timing and Translation by ZENRA

(Second Half online November 4th)

When people ask us to recommend movies that have a "Japanese TV show" vibe to them, we on one hand can and do recommend some incredible classics, but with studios thinking less grandiose nowadays, the ones that still want to push the 'variety hour' concept (and hats off to all that do!) have been thinking smaller. The best example when it comes to current JAV movies that are part of a series and NOT one-offs is SADISTIC VILLAGE's take on the Magic Mirror concept. Yet in a way, this can be seen as heresy.

Some JAV fans may already know that Magic Mirror originally is not a SADISTIC VILLAGE creation. Many may be more familiar with seeing the same truck and background being used in SOFT ON DEMAND movies (and trust us, we've a TON of them on the way). Even ROCKET for a time has shot movies there. But dare I say SADISTIC VILLAGE knows best how to use it. In such cramped quarters, they more than any other studio with access to this famous set really nails the big happy group variety vibe like nobody else. This goes double for today and Monday's insanely packed double update.

MAGIC MIRROR - REAL SOAPLAND EXPERIENCE FOR GIRLFRIENDS WHO WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE may be the most grandiose of its kind ever shot and with near perfect pacing to boot. The casting too! Before jumping ahead, the plot which the title hints at is executed with finesse: each scene sees an easy on the eyes amateur being cast alongside the stunning YURIKA AOI who nails the soapland queen vibe. She surely has had experience working at one because her mannerisms are spot-on. Each scene follows a basic format of an interview followed by a 'demonstration' where each amateur shows what she's capable of sometimes on dummies and later on actors all while YURIKA watches and gives pointers. As the screenshots and trailers show, what happens next is both embarrassing and glorious in equal bouts.

Casting, as noted above, has never been better. Featuring ZENRA newcomer HIKARU MINATSUKI, an actress I've had my eyes on since she debuted with DEEP's in 2018. Still active today, she is just as cute as cute gets and it's wonderful we finally have something with her and a unique movie it is! Followed up by an actress whom had the funniest interview of the bunch about her being in an 'chika idol group about udon', we then conclude with RIN NANASE. RIN in particular deserves special praise: our first outing with her for reasons that go beyond this review seemed to have her purposely look like a 'Sarah, Plain and Tall' type woman. Dressed boring with light makeup, she could be one easily to forget. But this time dressed perfectly with the perfect amount of makeup and a smile that totally lights up her face has instantly made me a fan.

There is so much going on in MAGIC MIRROR - REAL SOAPLAND EXPERIENCE FOR GIRLFRIENDS WHO WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE and that can actually be a negative in a way. Beyond the naked female performers (yes, distinction is needed), we've KIKKA ARASHIRO (click that link to read our exclusive interview with her!), the most famous female extra of them all in the first two scenes almost playing a fifth wheel. Her and Abe-chan whom also is in the first two scenes (though in the second, he along with Kikka bows out early) may just have been too much. They're swapped with Minami Yoshiya, JAV's longest active surfer hunk and another easy on the eyes fellow, but not on Yoshiya's level yet. Then there's the director too who acts as the ringleader of sorts which makes this a VERY dialog-packed update. There's just so much going on, but by the end of each scene, it all works! It's visually glorious, the audio is clear and crisp as an Autumn morning, and the sex along with the journey there is paced perfectly. There's every reason and then some to watch this movie.