This modern day Romeo & Juliet story stars blonde vixen Jill Kelly. It takes place in a futuristic world where people are segregated into two class-1 es: the elite, who live in full color world, and the workers, who live in black and white.

As with all of Wicked's DVDs, this one is loaded with extras. There is an alternate language track (English and French), cast bios, a photo gallery including behind the scenes photos, trailers, promo material, a company profile, Wicked Web, Wicked Casino, AVN nominations and wins, and Free Speech Coalition information.

The quality is also very good. There are small amounts of pixelation and moire, and the colors are gorgeous. The audio is clear and the menus feature cool graphics and good music. Exile wonan AVN Award for Best Packaging in 1999.

Overall, this is an exceptional DVD.

Part Metropolis, part Enchanted April and part Café Flesh, Exile is the Romeo-and-Juliet story of two lovers separated by much more than just a family feud. In a not-too-distant future, much of the world's population has been wiped out. Due to war, plague or natural disaster (the cause is never specified) those who remain have been segregated into two very different and distinct societies. The "Elite" live a life of luxury above ground in a paradise of fresh air, opulent surroundings, easy sex and available beauty.

Below ground, in the Stygian darkness of a polluted, industrial hell, are the "Exiles," born into a life of servitude, working the machinery that makes the Elite lifestyle possible.

This is the setting for a Montague-loves-Capulet story told with style, passion, exceptional acting and a lyrical script. Director Armstrong has turned out some hugely successful and highly-acclaimed features for Wicked, but to date, this is hes best effort at telling a story.

The tape opens with Exile Romeo (played skillfully by Alec Metro) dreaming of making his way into the world above. Reminding him of his reality is crusty porn production perennial Ron Vogel in a dandy (definite pre-nom) non-sex role. (Who ever thought they'd be reading that sentence?)

The first sex scene counterpoints the drab reality of the Exiles by showing a lush threeway with Missy, Mickey G. and Stephanie Swift. This is a sultry, something's-simmering-under-the-surface fuck that pushes all the right buttons.

As the three recline in the afterglow, enter our heroine, Juliette, played by Jill Kelly. Juliette's a virgin who choose not to indulge in the hedonistic ways of her peers. She sure does fantasize about it, though, and in a effort to get close to the darkness without getting any on her, she goes to see Brad Armstrong, who plays the sadistic foreman on the nearby Exile-run factory.

Juliette's fantasy fuck while discussing the possibility of a plant tour with Armstrong is a beautifully-shot, nasty-edged couples scene that ends with Kelly getting her ass soundly plowed. This is a perfect example of couple' fare not having to be dull.

While touring the plant, Juliette of course meets Romeo, who claims that they know each other, and ah, what light through yonder window breaks? Instantly and deeply smitten, Juliette can thing of nothing else. But what to do? Her patrician family would never approve a marriage between them. It's a familiar tune, but it bears repeating, as long as the rendition is true. When Juliette finally lets Romeo stick his hand in the cookie jar, it isn't sweet or romantic; it's hot, driven and nasty.

This story doesn't end tragically, however, and our young lovers end up both together, and alive. Exile is a beautifully-produced take on the Bard's classic tale. Shakespeare has been done in porn many times, but rarely this well. Only the truncated ending, which feels like additional story elements might have been cut due to time or budget constraints, keeps Exile from getting that final half-A. Pre-noms to Armstrong for direction and script, Exile for Best Video, and Jill Kelly and Alex Metro for their fine performances.