Zen Pictures stuff is similar to the Ring Diva's Heroine torture series (Sarayu Blood Chronicles, Son of Seth). And the emphasis is definitely on physical punishment not sex. Also as a comparison to the GIGA flicks (another excellent company in this category), there are no rapes or nudity in a Zen Pictures flick. The first two are available from Ring Diva's, and the last one requires mail order from Japan. More about that later in Part 2.

Heroine Steel Angel: This flick showed a lot of promise the actress (Yu Seiki) is ridiculously hot. The first few scenes are weird to say the least. The soundtrack is corny to the point of irritating and while she looks great in the first fight scene in which she easily defeats her buffoonish villains, it's almost not enjoyable with the irritating sound track. After a couple of scenes with a scientist she is weakened by a cryptonite type glowing liquid. In one scene she is tied AOH and touched with a rod filled with the material. Unfortunately she doesn't really sell it.

Next she is laid on a table, not tied, what a letdown, and the liquid is rubbed into her body. The scene is kind of a joke but she does look really hot, definitely vanilla. Finally she escapes and unfortunately runs into the original cartoon villains. Then she goes into a fight scene in which she is humiliated including stomach punches, kicks, and stomps. This scene is the only worthwhile scene in the movie. She sells it fairly well and her tight little body along with her tight little ass are on full display. The movie ends with her somehow recovering her powers and winning the day. Sorry for the spoilers but who cares about plots anyway?

Plusses: The chick is incredibly hot, she plays the victim pretty good. Minuses: Soundtrack, acting, lack of believable peril. C- only because did I mention she's hot?

Heroine Wonder Detective: This one stars Ai Nanase. She's a bit more endowed then most Japanese stars and again very hot. She starts out in a schoolgirl uniform. After a bar scene, she is menaced and attacked by four boys in a park. At first she wins easily and then they begin to overtake her, holding her for some belly punches. She slides away and morphs into a deliciously scanty bikini super-heroine costume. She then easily defeats the four boys while a villain is watching. The next scene (apparently a dream) she is tied AOH in her school girl costume and whipped, and then electrical tortured. The whipping scene is poor and not sold well, obviously fake. The electrical scene, while not Giga level, is sold well and believable. She is left lying limply, overall a B- scene.

In the next scene she is on a roof dressed deliciously in a tight top. She gets in a fight with some villain and just when she is about to be subdued she morphs into the original sweet costume. Then she begins to dispose of the villain who bears a resemblance to Michael Jackson, ugh. Then he throws the deadly liquid on her (who knows?) She is subdued and tied AOH. The next scene she receives some belly punishment but it is far too short. This is followed by liquid torture to her. This scene is a little better then the Steel Angel scene; the costume and her perfect endowments don't hurt. Overall it's not a bad flick and worth the $20 Ring Divas is asking for it. Grade B-. Did I mention the chick is hot?