Playboy Video Playmate Calendar 1997

The '1999' calendar wasn't my favorite, but I gave it a fair grade. Even thought I was being too generous. I tell you this because '1997' proves '1999' wasn't nearly as average as I initially felt. This edition ... I'm not sure where things went wrong. Its fairly average in most regards.

"January" is Victoria Fuller - Jan 1996 - starting by showing her in the desert. It gets down to naked quick and there's some fine shots of her body in close, but also a bunch far away and a little too artsy for it's own good. Give them credit for oiling her up for a brief moment that shows off her butt though. Now indoors shoots between her walking back and forth or sitting down, but nudity comes between shots of her clothed (4.5 mins). "February" is likable Shauna Sand - May 1996 - who gets out of clothes inside. Like Vic, there's not enough of her naked body. For her second scene, she strips from a see thru white dress, bra & panties. There's nice panning shots as it comes to an end (4.5 mins). "March" is Donna Perry - Nov 1994 - shown in a red see thru bodysuit that doesn't stay on long in a circus-like segment. She tosses rings to a seal and plays with it. Again no nudity in big waves. Enjoyable panning shots of her body are spliced together with clothed yet again. Now lays on a bed a few nice views before clothed and a boy/girl starts going in the right direction then it's over (5 mins).

"April" is Samantha Torres - Dec 1995 - and in a common theme for PB gets shown off outside a roadside diner. She strips from clothes either shown posing there or a few shots poolside. The good news is she looks great and the nudity is steady. A dark bedroom with candles is a setup for her 2nd outing (4 mins). "May" is black beauty Karin Taylor - Jun 1996 - looking great laying out near a pool. Now a night time bedroom strip for a guy which has a few nice views, but doesn't build a good momentum (4 mins). "June" is Holly Witt - Nov 1995 - rock climbing with lovely views once she reaches the top, strips and poses. Though it has to be said once again it's intercut with her clothed. The next scene - getting spied on while getting undressed - is largely a waste (4.5 mins).

"July" is Kona Carmack - Feb 1996 - getting out of a bikini at the beach in the midst of other shots. Stripping at a train station has very little nudity (4 mins). "August" is Heidi Mark - Jul 1995 - is shown backstage without much goodness. Finally she gets out of her top, jeans then it's back to more useless shots with quick glimpses of her naked. A second scene on a bed gives more nudity in a lot less time than the first, but it's not super great either (4 mins). "September" is Alicia Rickter - Oct 1995 - in a no fuss, no muss scene of her naked constantly standing or rolling around a floor. Then it's an art piece that goes from her painting to naked posing or on a bed that is underwhelming (4.5 mins).

"October" is Rachel Jean Marteen - Aug 1995 - outdoors in a bunch of clothes before settling down to dancing around nude. Second trip in an old fashioned summer dress, hat getting naked at a cottage. Shots in yellow lingerie intercut with her naked (4 mins). "November" is Gillian Bonner - Apr 1996 - in a bunch of clothes, but not much nudity. Then inside shown off in a better light naked on a bed, but quick (4 mins). "December" is Stacy Sanches - PMotY 1996 - who gets the most time of any lady here, but that doesn't mean it's put to good use. These scenes ('Feel the Rhythm', 'Dreaming on a Rainy Day' respectively are both taken from her PMotY vid too). The dance number has really nice shots of her butt, bewbs, entire body but they're always intercut with dance. The second clip takes it's sweet time getting going, but has wonderful wet views of Stacy's body and later in bed (7 mins).

At some point, I might get around to watching all the ladies individual Playmate profiles. However that doesn't change '1997' is the poorest Playboy video calendar I've sat thru so far. People tune into these kind of titles for obvious reasons and this doesn't satisfy.

I bought this because I've always thought that Karin Taylor looked really good. Surprise, surprise, she looks pretty good in this video too. But, it's the standard Playboy fare - with some lame fantasy or awkward faux-candid shots going on. I'd only recommend this to big fans of whatever Playmate you liked from 1996. To me, Karin Taylor is one of the most beautiful women to appear in Playboy and I enjoyed her piece in the vid. But it's now collecting a lot of dust.

I bought this because of the gorgeous Karin Taylor, the beautiful Black Playmate of June 1996. She looks incredible in her sequence, especially the bedroom scenes in which she writhes naked on a bed. Very sexy. But the segment is too short and tame; Karin is sweet, very "girl next store, but very, very sexy. This makes up for the tame scenario (we would have liked to see much more of her in bedroom scene!) and it is definitely an edited version of an earlier, more lengthy video centerfold. Too bad.

But this is true of the other Playmate video segments as well. So, get this one if you are a Karin Taylor fan---or a fan of the other Playmates; it is, after all, still a thrill to see your favourite Playmate come to life, as it were, on screen. But know, as well, that you won't see enough of her, and that which you do will be just the hors-d'oeuvre, when you really want the full-course meal.