Movie Reviews - Gay Themed

Posts

Unintentional Love Story (Korean Series)

What started off as a very very enjoyable series with some great chemistry and amazing acting, why did it have to go downhill the last 2-3 episodes. If not for that, this would hav been an extremely high rated series for me. The memorable characters, breezy romance, and polished production create an easygoing atmosphere and is mostly enjoyable and memorable thanks to its leading 4 actors. At 10 episodes of about 35-40 minutes each, this otherwise solid drama would hav benefited if somehow its last few episodes could have avoided the cliched drama. Won Young is an office employee, who gets fired because of a misconduct by his boss (which he isn't aware of). To combat this, he decides to go on a vacation to a remote village. There he visits a pottery shop owned and run by a guy called Tae Joon. Won Young soon figures out that TJ is the son of a famous painter and that his former company was trying to get a contract with him. Hoping to get his job back, he makes deal with old boss, i

Britain's Great Gay Buildings (Documentary)

This Channel 4 documentary was one of many topics covered by the program '50 Shades of Gay' to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Britain. Stephen Fry presents the show and is joined by seven recognizable faces from the gay community, who visit the buildings that have been instrumental in defining Britain’s gay history. I am bad with the names of the celebrities who pick their favorites but I will try to remember as much as I can about the buildings. The documentary starts with one of the most famous nightclub in London named Heaven. The priest who tells his own story with the club also talks to other patrons who remind them all , how as marginalized community this club has always provided them with a safe haven. One of the women then picks Shibden Hall, Yorkshire, where she learns about the revealing diaries of owner Anne Lister. We hear stories of how this women, was a successful lesbian business owner in the 80s. The next celebrity delves

The Raspberry Reich (Canada)

A highly awkward blending of gay porn and political satire, I am very curious to know what was the pitch that the filmmaker made to whoever decided to finance this film. I have seen a lot of garbage, a lot of that can also be found here on my blog, but this one is almost down there almost challenging all the others in the category. I mean there was more than enough graphic sex, for this to not be termed as porno-'something' film. In the name of story, I am not even sure if there was a point being made. Some random dominatrix woman decided to call herself leader and sole female member of titular Berlin revolutionary group inspired by Reich, Marx and legendary 70s German anarcho-terrorist organisation. Some members of her gang kidnap a wealthy young man, whom she orders to have sex with another man, because “Heterosexuality is the opiate of the masses" (whatever that means). Pretty soon there are a few groups who become a subject to man to man sex. All this time random sloga

Love In Country

Set during the Vietnam War in the 60s, This film essentially depicts the "Battle of Dong Ha," which is basically a fictionalized version of the attacks in the area of Dong Ha in early 1968. It takes the perspective of a gay soldier who served but actually immerses us in his experience as the war was happening. Having recently seen two very good movies based in military premise, somehow my expectations of this film were extremely high and unfortunately as what happens most times, they all came crashing down. From a story perspective, the film is more about about the actual war and the attacks. And in between all this we have the story of Sergeants Ian and John. We don't know much about their past or context but we know they are gay. It is never made very evident whether they are open or not, because they are certainly not try to hide it but also not really trying to not hide it. They have great mutual attraction and are almost a couple. Ian wants to become an officer and c

My Bromance 2: 5 Years Later (Thai Series)

Bad and horrible aren't even the worst of words to describe how awful this series was. A sequel of a show (that wasn't great in the first place) that no one asked for. Its so bad. Its like someone in production made a list of things they should do in the show and then another list of things they shouldn't do and they accidentally used the shouldn't do list. What terrible waste of money, actors and most importantly viewers. The show has 9 episodes of 40 minutes each. Also I just realized while I was writing this is that this series is actually a sequel the movie of same name which had same actors and not to the series that I had seen. Honestly I don't even remember watching the film, but it turns out I did see it almost 8-9 years back. None of these factors, however, change the fact on how bad this show is. The show starts with us that when Bank and Golf's parents were against their relationship, somehow Golf faked his death and has been "dead" for 5 ye

My Bromance (Thai Series)

Talk about a train crash. I had no expectations from this show. But after 5 episodes, I was hooked, since it had a very intrinsic storyline and the charters were all well etched and I thought I am going to see something interesting. But oh man, how it just goes down south after this. The story just keeps moving in circles with no substantial addition to the overall thought of what the series was trying to say. The unfunny antics of school students was just annoying and I reached a point where I couldn't sit for this series to end. The fact that I am watching this show 7 years after it came out also makes it feel dated. The show has 12 episodes of 40-45 minutes each Bank, living in US, has just been engaged to his boyfriend and returns home for a trip to sort out some ancestral property. In flashbacks, the tory is told in present time and 8 years back. Bank and Gulf are stepbrothers and Bank's father makes him and his mother stay with Golf and his family. But Golf hates his fath

George Michael: Outed (Documentary)

I still remember that I was in my college when the news of George Michale was all over on how he was caught in a lewd act in public toilet. Somehow, either because of lack of interest or just busy with studies, I never really read more about what really transpired after this and what had actually happened that led to this event. So in that sense, this is a very powerful story of how the musician turned the tables on his homophobic haters, but at the same time, The lack of remorse from those who wrenched star out of the closet is unbelievable. This 2 part documentary was recently telecast on UK' Channel 4. In 1998, Michael, who was in a relationship with Kenny Goss, one of many invaluable contributors here, was arrested for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California. The arresting officer, an undercover cop had lured the singer in a sting operation. Michael pleaded no contest, was fined $810 and made to do 80 hours of community service: a minor sentence

Queer As F**k: Bizarre Short Films

Queer as F**k collects six short films from the New Queer Cinema movement that simultaneously extol and eat away at gay identity with modes of camp. The title rightly says that it is a collection of 'Bizarre Short Films'. This collection might have been a hoot 20 years ago, when it came out but watching it today felt quite pointless and weird to be honest. Jeffrey's Hollywood Screen Trick: A very funny and witty look at the gay 'dance party' and the associated interaction between gay men at this type of event. Using clever animation involving Billy love dolls, you may actually laugh while watching this one. Though the ending might comes as a shock. Shame No More: An extremely clever send up of the 50's propaganda films denouncing homosexuality and the ability to 'cure', though here it is the heterosexuals with the problem! Beautifully filmed to realistically look like a 1950's film. Soda Pop: A lovely tale of unrequited teenage first love. It'

Bed Friend (Thai Series)

I had heard some decent feedback about this show and with a name like this, naturally my curiosity took the best of me. While the show focused on the lead couple continuing the relationship as friends with benefits, and we got to see some raunchy scenes (although I found myself being amused rather than turned on), the show was still ok. But outside this, the show tries to tackle some very sleazi-ish storylines. The worst part is that somehow the way this side stories are handled are tacky and just insensitive IMO. Bed Friend is not a steamy series about friends with benefits and more about coping with trauma. Also, man, the makeup on the lead guy with his red lipstick and made up face was way too distracting for me. At 10 episodes of around 40-50 minutes each, there is no other way to watch this show except occasional fast forward to get through. Uea is a young graphic designer working in an agency and has a good set of friends. The only person he can't get along with is Kings noto

Le Bleu Du Caftan (Arabic) [The Blue Caftan]

I have to say that I absolutely loved this slow burning film. I feel some sort of connection with middle eastern culture, people, food etc. The film is slow burning, but it shows the endless possibilities of love and how communication and love is important in every relationship. The film is moving , its sensitive, its humane, its slow; but films like these are your cup of tea (which I will gladly admit that its not for everyone), you will love the film , like I did. Set in a traditional Medina in Morocco, we meet Halim and Mina, a couple in probably 40s or 50s running a store. Halim is more than just a tailor. He works lovingly and painstakingly, hand-embroidering silks so exquisitely fine they are like wearing air, while his wife attends to customers and takes care of all operations. Halim, with his sad eyes and melodic, minor-key voice, loves his wife deeply, but the couple live with the secret of his homosexuality – something Mina somehow knows and has come to accept. With occasiona

Lonely Connections (Filipino Mini-Series)

What did I just see? The summary of the show read - Six short chapters that dive into the many possibilities of "sex" and "love." Naturally I was curious a the fact. That it was 6 episodes of approximately 15 minutes each, I was looking forward to it. By the end f it, I am so confused as to what were the makers really trying to say. Also I really couldn't follow the storyline. The detailed description of this series reads something like this - We meet, we get to know each other, we fall in love; we kiss, we embrace, we get physical, and we enjoy the moment, but does it mean that we really have each other? Is it possible that all kinds of desires, both physical and abstract, can make a difference in a relationship? Because even though I love you, I still think of others. Episode 1: Sad Attachment The protagonist and his boyfriend Marco have a steady relationship, but when he meets Joaquin at the same time, he develops an unexpected connection. Episode 2: Engageme

Death And Bowling

This film is clearly meant for arthouse and film festivals. Bordering a thin line between feature, surrealism, art and documentary style of narrative; the film tries to take a look at a trans man’s grief and a mediation on trans lives. It constantly remind you that you’re watching a created object, not peering in on someone’s real life. The one definitely positive things about the film though is that not only the central character, a trans man, is played by a trans actor, but most of the rest of the cast and crew are also trans. X is a struggling trans actor whose leather jacket cool can’t hide his desperate need for family. He finds a sense of community within a lesbian bowling team led by the tough and fiercely independent queer mom Susan (Faith Bryan). But Susan dies, and expectedly X feels lost. At Susan’s funeral, he meets Alex, who turns out to have an unexpected connection to Susan and for the first time X feels like he is being seen. The two become close as they fulfill Susan’

Ezrah Mudag (Hebrew) [Concerned Citizen]

This film was very very interesting, not necessarily amazing though. With a very novel premise, it is a film that is trying really hard to be about something, and to make meaningful social commentary, but it fails somewhat in its execution. The film sits on an odd balance, and by the time it ended I wasn't sure of this was supposed to be a satire or a pure introspection of a single individual, who wrestles with his own guilt and biases in a manner that doesn’t pay off for anybody but himself. Ben and his partner ar a very happy couple, living the dream in a nice flat they got in a good deal, but the problem is that the neighborhood is a bit run-down and migrant heavy. They have lots of lush plants, drink green juice every morning and are planning to have a baby via surrogate. Ben even planted a tree on the street outside in an attempt to liven up the area. One night, after his pleas go ignored, he calls the police on two immigrant men who keep leaning against it and tilting it pret

Roommate: The Series (Thai Mini-Series)

This 5 episode, 20ish minutes each mini series was unnecessarily stretched to almost 100 minutes. A simple, straight forward, to the point story could easily have been told in a short story of 15 minutes. Despite the lead characters with their chemistry and charm, it's the annoying side characters of all three girls that annoyed me a lot. Actually if you just removed all those scenes, this may automatically become a short story. James, a university student lives by himself. One day, his mom calls and wants him to take care of Sky, her best friend's son. Sky is a university freshman and their respective moms just decided that it will be best of their sons shared a room together as roommates. Neither of them are enthusiastic to have to share a room together. However, the two roommates get used to each other's quirks and different personalities over time. Unbeknownst to James, Sky is gay. However, he doesn't tell his roommate about his sexual orientation. Sky is out to hi

Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

Search This Blog