State-of-the-art is a term abused in the XXX business so often that virtually any release with a viewable exposure and a relatively clean soundtrack will qualify as the standard of excellence. Not so in softcore — yet. So far Penthouse, the driving force behind quality erotica, has held the line. Hopefully, Sexiest Amateur Centerfolds is just an aberration; somehow unwittingly released on the public like one of those old Monogram pictures with John Carradine chasing after his escaped lab experiments.

Simple comparison between these releases renders even the best of the amateur-produced segments limper than week-old celery. Dream Girls is a typical top-flight vid, with numerous eye-catching locales (mansion, waterfall, spaceship, beach), hundreds of diverse costume changes and a gaggle of memorable beauties (all of whom, judging by their comments, have memorized the Penthouse Forum column on "How To Please A Man" — but that's another story). The whole palatable presentation is made even tastier by the finest videography available; lights, filters, a roving camera and yes, state-of-the-art editing, all working overtime to compliment the tempting female treats of all sizes and shapes.

Amateurs, on the other hand, has little in the way of technical strengths, relying solely on the (considerable) visual charms of its ladies to support it. While this distinction makes one all too aware that the Penthouse Pet is more a product of packaging, frankly, 111 take the gloss over the dross any day of the week. (Don't misunderstand — there are plenty of fine looking fillies in Amateurs; but the difference is similar to cave drawings and Cinerama.)

Unquestionably, as both an aesthetic and business venture, the female form is the most desirable commodity in the universe. Don't leave the exploration to amateurs; they'll wind up in a black hole as often as a shining star.