 | |
List Price: $26.97 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 16248
Released: August 26, 2008 |
| Our Price: $10.99 |
| Used Price: $6.65 |
|
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
Hayden Christensen of Jumper stars as charming scoundrel Lorenzo di Lamberti who can – and does – deflower any woman he wants in 14th century Florence. But the only maiden that truly sets his heart ablaze is the sexy beauty Pampinea (Mischa Barton of The O.C.) who is also being pursued by an obsessed Russian count (Mathew Rhys of Brothers & Sisters) and a psycho nobleman (Academy Award® nominee Tim Roth) who has vowed to take her virtue. In a time when lust is contagious, can trickery become the ultimate act of seduction? Christopher Egan (Eragon) co-stars in this sexy action-comedy where one kiss may unlock a world of pleasure and anything can happen when you’re in Virgin Territory.
Description of Virgin Territory:
What if the Montagues and Capulets had lived in The O.C.? Or that lissome young cast could be beamed back to fair Verona? The result might look a wee bit like Virgin Territory a period Italian adventure-romance, starring two very contemporarily gorgeous young stars, Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen. The film is a pastiche of adventure, romance, action, comedy, period drama, and mistaken identity, set in medieval Italy against the backdrop of the black plague(!). Spirits are mostly high, however, as young Lorenzo (Christensen), Pampinea (Barton) and their cohorts frolic in the countryside, away from the nasty disease, amid mistaken identities, family honor, and as much wild flirtation as 14th century Italy would tolerate. Which, it turns out, is quite a bit. Barton and Christensen look a bit out of place in their heavy period costumes, but they are lovely enough--and have enough chemistry--to make their longing love story feel true. Lorenzo has been bewitched by a kiss he received blindfolded, and has pledge his heart to that lady. "I have a love," he tells Pampinea--and holds her, pining, at arm's length. Tim Roth has a grand time in a supporting role, twirling an invisible mustache and wreaking havoc in town and countryside alike. Most of his lines are too raunchy to be quoted here, but it's enough to know his fiendish comic delivery is impeccable. Fans of films like The Princess Bride--and of course, The O.C.--will love getting lost in the lush beauty of Virgin Territory. --A.T. Hurley
Stills from Virgin Territory (click for larger image)
| Beyond Virgin Territory 
Also starring Hayden Christensen | 
Also starring Mischa Barton | 
More from Anchor Bay | |
Virgin Territory Reviews:
A Decent Adaptation of the Decameron 
2008-10-09 - They should have made it clear this was a film adaptation of the Decameron. I thought it captured the essence of the 14th century tales: light sexy comedy with some jabs against the catholic church. If you look at the movie expecting a modern film, then it definitely seems a little odd.
Sexually Charged Romp Falls Flat 
2008-10-05 - After the death of her parents, young Pampinea (Mischa Barton) awaits the arrival of the Russian count (Matthew Rhys) to whom she is to be married. A greedy nobleman, Gerbino (Tim Roth), plans to marry her instead and cash in on her family's fortune. Waiting in the wings is Lorenzo (Hayden Christensen), a lovable scoundrel who runs from Gerbino and hides out at a local nunnery. He longs for Pampinea, but manages to "put a damper" on his longings by offering his "services" to the sisters at the convent. Along for the ride is a very attractive group of randy friends and a man posing as a priest who are on their way to Pampinea's wedding. Romantic twists and seductive subplots abound, but who will eventually win the heart of Pampinea? You'll have to sit through 90+ minutes of ho-hum acting, music and action in order to find out.
This film tries terribly hard to be funny. Had it placed the focus on the supporting cast, it would have been much funnier. Instead, the viewer is forced to sit through the wooden performance of Christensen and the on again/off again accent of Barton. This pair manages to suck the life out of their respective scenes.
Roth gives a decent performance, but he's been much, much better in other films. Matthew Rhys, Christopher Egan, Rosalind Halstead, Kate Groombridge, Ryan Cartwright and Nigel Planer all manage to make the most of the bit parts they are given. From seduction to hilarity, they truly are the only things that make this film worth watching.
The music is atrocious, and it appears that the producers were looking for a similar tone as that one set in "A Knight's Tale." While it worked perfectly in "Tale," it sputters and chokes in this film.
There's quite a bit of sexuality in this film. Most of it is played out for comedic effect, but most young men will appreciate the effort put in by the actresses.
The DVD extras include a "self-pat on the back" behind the scenes featurette, the featurette David Williams: Cart Pusher, and unedited scenes of a sexual nature considered too hot for the MPAA. In all honesty, though, I've seen a lot more "hot" scenes in other films with a similar rating.
Overall, "Virgin Territory" would have been a lot better had it been given stronger lead actors. Christensen has yet to prove to me that he deserves all of the roles he has been given. This is the first thing I've ever seen Barton in to my knowledge (other than E! News specials) and she doesn't impress either. Roth was simply disappointing.
The supporting cast alone is worthy of two stars, and I bumped it up to three for the simple fact that when the humor is on, it is wonderful.
Recommended only as a rental.
VIRGIN TERRITORY should remain unexplored 
2008-09-27 - Set in a time where the Black Death is working its decimating way over the Italian landscape, young hero Lorenzo (the continually acting challenged Hayden Christensen) is doing his best to outrun both the plague and the evil Gerbino (a phoning-it-in Tim Roth). After failing to win his one true heart Pampinea (Mischa Barton), Lorenzo seeks shelter at a convent of nuns. (Although - these nuns are a tad more sensual than your average sisters!) Meanwhile, Gerbino puts the moves on Pampinea which so upsets her that she runs off to to locate her missing Lorenzo. More complications arise when Pampina's arranged marriage to a Russian count (Matthew Rhys) comes due, kicking off a farcical chase across the gorgeous countryside.
whew!
Adapted from Boccaccio's Decameron, VIRGIN TERRITORY is a throwback to the films that dotted the sixties and early seventies (the costume sex romp) without the talent (before OR behind the camera) and the timing. Trying to cover up the flaws with vast amounts of gratuitous flesh do nothing but hamper the proceedings even further and the use of a modern day soundtrack only makes one long to be watching the far superior A KNIGHTS TALE. We give it ONE STAR for the stunning location scenery, but otherwise, avoid this one like ... well ... The Plague.
Cavelli's costuming is the only star in this comedy.......
2008-09-23 - I agree with the other reviewers-the maker's of Virgin Territory were obviously hoping to cash in on the popularity of "A Knight's Tale" and hoped a bit of added raunchiness would push this film to success. In the twenty something vernacular-NOT.
The youthful portion of the cast were average at best, though just barely-and the otherwise great Tim Roth......well, he must have had a house loan due to star in this film. The only star that shined was the beautiful settings and the sumptuous costuming by designer Roberto Cavelli. Otherwise-it's not worth wasting 90 minutes on.
Also a warning-even though this film stars young people, it's definitely not a film for the under 16 set as the sexual humor is very frank, so be forewarned.
Just average-3 stars.
Mostly lame 
2008-09-14 - While apparently attempting to be an R-rated variation on "A Knight's Tale", this film fails to achieve that goal. Yes, the basic components are all there: famous young actor, rock music elements in the soundtrack, episodic and loosely strung together plot line, but in the end, it simply doesn't all come together. Even worse, it lacks the charm that "A Knight's Tale" had, which was what made that film rise above mediocrity in the first place.
There are some amusing scenes, the acting isn't atrociously bad (but not really good, either), and the production values are actually better than I'd expected. And there's a fair amount of bare flesh exposed every 10 to 15 minutes, as if the director knew he'd better keep tossing something to the crowd in order to keep them from dozing off. You get full-frontal female nudity, with a few shots of semi-clad males, taking into account the target demographic's comfort level. But all that's not enough to make this worth watching, at least not more than once.
The DVD transfer is good, though there were a couple of small audio drop-outs. Overall, the whole thing was a disappointment.
