Emmanuelle

Its first time uncut on DVD, 1974's Emmanuelle is strange viewing. Clearly having aspirations above base pornography, it presents itself as a comment on colonialism and the pleasures of submission through the conceit of having its main character shag people in Bangkok (that's the plot by the way - any more explanation would be a waste of your time and mine). The notion of this film making such things desirable for anyone other than male fantasists who'd want to believe 'no' means 'yes' is preposterous. Ultimately, the motivations behind this film - the attempt to convince women that sexual liberation through degradation is good, just as the 'civilised' occupation of the 'barbaric' Third World is mutually advantageous – just seem tasteless now, and the result is like watching Bernard Manning chatting up a polite Shilpa Shetty with his repertoire. Certainly well past its toss-by date, this $5bn brand long since fell from the top shelf and is now tacky to the touch. [Alec McLeod]