UPDATE JULY 2021: This DVD series is no longer in production. This review remains for anyone looking for a reference about this old sex ed series. While you’re here, feel free to check out my BDSM advice and femdom advice.
When it comes to sex, couldn’t all of us use more information that could possibly enhance our technique and our sex lives? BetterSex.com ‘s video DVD series does just that, so when they allowed me to review it, I was very excited about it.
The Better Sex Video Series: Sexplorations DVD Collection is a collection of four discs. The first three discs are the discs of the series itself while the fourth disc is a bonus disc for buying the entire collection. You save a ton of money by buying the disks as a set, and I’ve seen some sex therapists recommend this series to get your sex life back on track. The entire set has almost four hours of viewing in total. No pornographic actresses or actors are used. They chose to go with average couples who agreed to be filmed. The entire set was directed and produced by Mark Schoen. Experts like Linda Banner, Eli Coleman, Robin Millhausen, and Eusebio Rubio-Aurioles give anatomical explanations for some of the actions described in the movie. Each movie deals with different aspects of improving your sexual life.
The case is pretty basic. Since it holds four disks, it’s the size of two DVD cases in width. It plainly shows the title of the movie on the cover, so nothing is very discreet about this case. However, none of it looks pornographic. It looks more sensual and romantic than anything raunchy. The back explains some of the features of the set as well as the experts that play a leading role.
Volume 1 is called “Advanced Sexual Techniques and Positions”. The chapters from this DVD include the introduction, sexual anatomy, female anatomy, male anatomy, female orgasm, male orgasm, foreplay/kissing, oral sex, erotic talk, erotic massage, and sex positions. This disc goes over the very basics of the both the male and female anatomy with close-ups of both genital areas and pointing out what area is what. It then talks about the basics of foreplay/kissing. We then get a pretty good explanation of what oral sex is but not much when it comes to specific techniques. It talks about what places feel pleasurable to both men and women, but we don’t get much about specific techniques.
Erotic talk talks about good phrases for dirty talk as well as why humans find dirty talk okay. For the most part, this section was included to make couples feel that dirty talk was acceptable. Erotic massage included what type of environment you should seek for an erotic massage, but it was very basic. It referenced you to their DVD of “The Art of Sensual Erotic Massage” for further techniques. The sex positions was probably the most in-depth of all of this DVD. Each of the couples talks about what position is their favorite, why they like it, then we get to watch the couples demonstrate how to do the position. It included some non-basic positions, but nothing was ridiculous. (A position in a sex swing was even shown.) I do feel like some of the position sex scenes went a little beyond “learning” to being too long in order to arouse, but if being aroused keeps people learning about sex, I’m all for it.
For the most part, this DVD just included basics. None of this was “out there” in the slightest, and it all was information that most couples who have a healthy sex life would probably know. However, if you are looking to improve or understand sexuality better, it does provide good details for that – just nothing in detail. If you were looking for a detailed account/tips on any of these topics, it doesn’t give that either, but it is a good overview of all of them in the 80 minutes that it has. I’d say about thirty minutes is the sex positions chapter. The Sex Positions chapter was also my favorite since it gave great positions that almost every couple could do that weren’t the “regular” positions.
Volume 2 is called “22 Sex Secrets, Tips, and Turns on”. I was a little disappointed by the actual lack of anywhere near 22 tips. There was much less than that. The chapters include “Introduction”, “Seduction”, “Erotic Dance”, “Masturbation”, “Fantasy”, “Sex Outside the Bedroom” and “Erotic Power Play”. Overall, I was pretty unimpressed with this disk overall. Most of the tips weren’t very helpful honestly. It just reassured me that enjoying any of the above things is a good and normal thing. While I take no use from that, other people who are watching this series may actually need to hear that. I also found that the sex scenes lasted much longer than the actual information that was given which annoyed me a bit since this is supposed to be educational. However, the sex scenes are pretty softcore and are meant to be arousing so you’ll be tempted to try out the suggestions.
If you are looking for specific pointers in trying out any of the above topics, this isn’t the disk for you. It does provide reasons why it’s fun, why it will enhance your relationship, and how these couples felt after they tried it, but it doesn’t provide any specific how-tos on how to actually perform any of these tasks. For the most part, really, a good chunk of this disk is just devoted to watching the couples actually do the task. For example, we got to watch a few couples give each other an erotic dance then have sex, perform mutual masturbation with one another, have sex in a club bathroom, have sex in an airplane bathroom, have sex on a boat, and play power exchange games with one another.
I was also pleasantly surprised by Midori’s appearance in the movie. She is the one that will be giving what little information is given about erotic power play. She makes an appearance and mostly just talks about how erotic power play is an acceptable form of sexual expression and is perfectly okay. It doesn’t make you abusive or anything else.
Overall, not a horrible disk, but I feel like I didn’t learn anything by it. I did get to watch some good softcorn sex scenes though which is always fun.
Volume 3 is called “Erotic Sex Play and Beyond”. It includes “Introduction”, “Sensual Touch”, “Quickies”, “Sex Toys”, “Enhancers”, “Sexual Role Plays”, “Anal Pleasure” and “Adult Movies”. I was pretty fond of this disk and of all of the different tips it provided. Unlike volume 2, I feel like this one really did offer a lot of how-to along with the explanations of why. Anal Pleasure was walked through step-by-step (although with no specific techniques.), Sensual Touch included tips on how and where to touch your partner, and quickies talked about some of the main points of having a good quickie.
Adult Movies, Sexual Role Plays, and Sex Toys mostly just focused on how they are a great way to spice up your sex life. No hints or tips in particular were included, but these sections mostly focused on assuring couples that spicing up your life in these ways is perfectly natural and can be fun. We got a really unique look in the Adult Movies section about a couple that does adult movies for a living and how that impacts their regular sex life at home. I think that was a really unique experience that I enjoyed.
My favorite part of volume 3 is honestly all of the different types of sex. My favorite scene was a scene where a couple was driving through a car-wash drive-through to represent the quickies portion of the DVD. While in the car wash, they jumped in the back seat, and she gave him a blow job.
The final disc is just a regular music CD. It includes some soft, sensual music with a decent backbeat that would help enhance sex but wouldn’t distract from it. I honestly don’t recognize any of the music from the DVD series itself, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some of it was from the series. The CD includes twelve different songs for a total of over 60 minutes (an hour, obviously) of music.
The set-up of each disk is simple. The host comes on, talks about the issue at hand and explains anything having to do with it, then the movie cuts to a couple who talk about the topic or actually show the topic. (Mutual masturbation, erotic power play, anal sex, etc.) The host has a pleasing voice, and for the most part, the host talking and the actual sex scenes are pretty balanced out.
Each disc features twelve regular couples who go through a lot of the regular doubts and conversations that all couples go through. Some of the dialog seems scripted, but a lot of it does seem quite natural. Those couples are also the people that we watch perform the activities that the DVDs describe. All of the couples that you see on the movie have amazing chemistry, and some of the sex scenes are really hot to watch just for the fact that it is so natural.
The bonuses appear on all of the discs. Each disc has different bonuses depending on the disk. Some of the discs share the same bonus features though.
Volume 1 includes behind the scenes looks at the better sex couples, the technical aspects, and hosting the better sex video series. It also includes some better sex tips such as “5 Levels of Touch”, “Ejaculatory Control”, “You Get what you Give”, “Overcoming Erectile Difficulties”, “Getting Comfortable with your Body”, and “The Hand Dance”. It also includes a little short video about a couple who are about to have sex, but don’t have condoms. He gets upset, leaves, and comes back with condoms and flowers. It also includes a “laugh it up” excerpt from the better sex comedy show.
Volume 2 includes behind the scenes look at Midori’s teachings, the sex on a plane scene, and the boat scene. The bonus features of this volume also includes quite a few more of those “tips” that the disc talked about. They’re hidden in the bonus features. It includes eye contact, trying something new, spicing it up, female desire, listen to the inner sense, and maintaining and nurturing a relationship. Unlike the disc itself, most of these items are just therapist’s talking about the items themselves – no demonstrations. It also includes the comedy club video about sex topics (just some small comedy routines about sex topics). It’s different than the comedy show on Volume 1. A small program about why sex videos work is also included.
Volume 3 includes behind the scenes looks at the car wash sex scene, caught in the act, and quickies and unusual places. We receive more Better Sex Tips that include “Desire Discrepancy”, “Play Date”, “Enhanced Desire”, “Making Time for Sex”, and “Cultivating Anticipation”. We also get the “Why do sex ed videos work?” as well as the Laugh It Up section. Once again, the Laugh It Up section is different than the previous two volumes. Out of all of the volumes, this has the least amount of bonus features.
All 3 Volumes share the information called “Sexual Health Information”. There’s a segment about Sinclair Institute, a segment defining sexual health, a brief history of explicit sexual health films, info about the sexual health professionals on the video, key points from consumers and consumer research, and key points from professional research. None of these are actually videos. It’s more like powerpoint slides on your DVD player. It includes the information, you can read it, and then press “next” to view the next slide.
The discs are easy to navigate. Each disc allows you to Play All, Select Chapter, Bonus Features, or Sexual Health Information. If you want to skip to a favorite portion or specific portion of the DVD, it’s extremely easy to do with the Select Chapter option.
The music in the DVDs wasn’t distracting in the slightest. To be completely honest, I don’t remember much music being in the DVDs at all. This is either because there wasn’t any music or because the music went perfectly with the scenes. I’d assume the second option. I know there was some music during scenes, but it really did enhance – it wasn’t distracting.
Overall, I was pretty impressed by the series. It includes great tips and scenes to make sex seem fun and exciting for the couple who feels like their sex life has become stagnant. It’s not for an experienced couple looking for techniques to better pleasure, but it’s best for a couple who feels like their sex life could use some excitement.
