Historically, art has often been expressed through a particular medium to satisfy an obsession. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescos were the result of his personal belief that only through Art would he find his way to Heaven. the poet Dante, conversely, was fascinated with Hell; while DeSade published novels that were, at their core, little more than love letters to the very ideal of sin itself.

In modern times, the motion picture has often carried the torch of personal vision. Woody Allen's Manhattan is an ode to New York in much the same way that Fellini's Satyricon is a starry-eyed epistle to an idealized Roman empire.

These masturbatory fancies exist in every genre. Combined with politics, they tend to produce blinding propaganda, like Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will (or it's American counterpart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). Combined with adult, where masturbatory fancy is the whole point, this artistic expression often results in extraordinary -- even visionary -- porn. John Leslie likes to watch. John Stagliano had a fixation with asses. Tom Byron, obviously has a deep and abiding love for the asshole (and I don't mean Rob Black).

In Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut, via his literary alter-ego Kilgore Trout, holds forth at great length about the perfection of the asshole. It's plain after viewing Whack Attack 2 that Tom Byron shares Trout's fascination. In fact, the video is really nothing more than a fetishistic tribute to the female sphincter, deftly disguised by some snappy editing, artful camerawork, delicious tease footage, and lots of raw, blistering sex.

Where Byron's obsession shows through most is in the videography; a series of carefully-framed beauty shots which rarely break from the pattern of having at least one girl's cheeks parted to expose her delicate backdoor rose. And then there's the lavish attention given to each and every proffered pucker. Whether it's Meka rimming Luciano, or Malitia giving the slow, insistent tongue to Alex Dane's butt while Sean Michaels pounds her puss, the real star of this show is the only part of the human anatomy more wrinkled than Tom Byron's sac.

Anyone who thinks this is overblown praise for a "mere" gonzo video hasn't paid enough attention to Byron's tapes. There's a good reason this industry vet is one of the most critically acclaimed directors in the history of adult video, and there's a lot more going on here than just gaping assholes. Everything in this video works like a well-oiled Swiss watch.

For starters, there are the subtle touches, things that most viewers won't even notice (witness the strains of The Star Spangled Banner in the soundtrack as Sean Michaels shoots off over the artfully arranged, upturned faces of the red, blond and brunette trio of Temptress, Malitia and Alex Dane). Then there are the broad strokes, like putting urban Lolita Meka and the exotically gorgeous India in a scene (talk about a pretty picture) that pushes more buttons than most people even have.

Of course, the thing that finally sells any gonzo tape is the performer's relative enthusiasm, and these folks are into it. Check out India's flowering pussy as she gets analized by Luciano, or the juice dripping down Elle Devyne's thighs as she surrenders to an all-out assault by Van Damage. As gonzo goes, this title is about as good as it gets.