Light Up is an intimate documentary that focuses on the lives of five people in Atlanta—four Black gay men and one Black transgender woman. It’s a really personal look at their backstories and how they’ve dealt with prejudice and mental health struggles because they felt they had to hide who they truly were. The big thing they all share is that every person interviewed has found a way to push through those hard times. Now, they're all at a place where they feel totally comfortable being themselves and speaking their truth. The five people sharing their journeys are Simone Tisci, Derek Jae, Octavius Terry, Obio Jones, and Benjamin Carlton. Derek Jae is already pretty well-known from reality TV, while Simone Tisci is a successful makeup artist who is now working on breaking into acting. Then there’s Octavius Terry, who used to be a record-breaking track and field star. He actually cut his athletic career short because he was so scared his coaches and teammates would find out he was ...
Earth in a 12th grade student, who wants to be a musician but his father continuously pushes him to study. A young charming and cute boy Sun soon moves in as his neighbour and an unlikely friendship starts developing between the two where clearly Sun likes Earth. Eventually Earth reciprocates his feelings. In enter Log, Earth's best friend who finds Sun very cute and starts pursuing him. Because of a misunderstanding, Earth thinks that both Sun and Mog like each other so he takes a step back. But eventually truth and true love prevails and Sun tells Mog that its only Earth whom he likes. This is a story of how the two boys get closer and help each other grow, showing that the soft changes in life can be found in the location that's just next to each other's house.
The story is simple and straightforward, the production is very average and without the random twists and turns that are starting to show up in other Thai BL series. I know I have complained in the past that we should remove all fluff and focus only on the main story, but if that means coming up with films with such thin flimsy plot, then please don't. The acting is average and Sun looks good but a lot of things are just not explained. Why the strained relations between Earth and his father? Does Sun like Earth or his music? Suddenly Mog starts pursuing Sun, who himself shows that h his liking the attention, which felt a bit weird. Keep your fast forward button handy to watch and finish this film super fast. I wish someone could teach the value of tight screenplay and editing to these independent film makers who are full on busy creating BL movies and shows in Thailand. (4/10)
Comments
Also, the poor thing came after Great men academy and A tale of thousand stars, so the comparison definitely hurt a lot...
There are many times that despite being warned of a bad film, I still end up watching it, just because I have to.
PS: a few new Chinese shows have come out lately which are marked as not gay but sort of bromance. Are they worth it? I ask because as its is, I have so much stuff to see.
As for the new shows you mentioned, I've tried "The untamed" that is incredibly beautiful but... it's just a bromance really imo. You have to GUESS there is love between them by the way they look at each other. I read it was based on a novel where characters are really gay in it but homophobic China banned all kind of physical contact. Which was a no-no for me. I decided to quit when I read there would never be a single kiss, especially since it's super long (like 50episodes). I mean, it deserves to be seen for sure, but not if you're looking for gay content.
I haven't tried any other so I can't really say, sorry.
Good luck on all your reviews!