Skip to main content

Avsar (Hindi) [Opportunity]

By Golu
This Hindi movie is a pretty straightforward slice-of-life story that tries to give a modern look at what it's like to be a single, professional gay man. It dives into how he understands who he is, the chances he missed out on, and the personal choices he’s made along the way. The director used three parallel timelines to tell the story, which honestly didn't make much sense to me. While the core idea was actually pretty interesting, I really feel like this would have worked way better as a short film considering the point it was trying to make. Still, it wasn't a bad watch. The plot centers on Rachit, a city professional, and his friend Shikhar as they hang out for an evening. Rachit is a polished, urban guy, while Shikhar has more of a "small-town" rustic vibe, and you can really see the contrast between them when they talk. As the night goes on, Rachit starts thinking back to some old memories from a long time ago. He remembers being an intern after college in ...
Post a Comment

Why Love Why: The Series (Tagalog)

By Golu
By the law of averages, since the recent BL series' that I have seen were mostly all good ones, Sooner's or later I had to chance upon a bad one. Sakristan was so far one Filipino series that was underwhelming and poorly made. Joining that list is this series, which is so badly acted and directed. At 7 episodes, about 30 minutes each, I personally felt really tortured sitting through it. I wonder, if people who have understanding of local significance of the political aspect of bits of it, will find it more simulating that I did.

Two straight boys Benjo and Emil have been assigned to be thesis partners by their professor. Emil, being not financially capable to do online research reluctantly agreed to stay in Benjo's affluent penthouse unit. When a couple turned positive to COVID-19, the building where Benjo's penthouse was situated was locked down for a month, Emil is forced to stay longer with Benjo. With constant interruptions from Benjo's mother's secretary's trans woman, the two boys discover the love they share for each other despite their very starkly different social-economical backgrounds, paving the way for Benjo and Emil's sexual awakening.

The series incorporates some historical Philippines military background to show more contrast between the two boys in addition to their already existing economical differences. Sadly, the messages are just random, not detailed, painstakingly obscure. Despite all the historical, political and class references, the series just comes off as under researched, hollow, over the top and pretentious. The various characters living win the building but the stories are never connected. You can fast forward some of the those scenes and will not make an iota of difference to the overall story graph. The attraction and eventual that happens between the two boys also happens very randomly. There is no real build up. And it seems too convenient and easy. Even the funny moments seem forced. The two actors are below average. I'd say its the screenplay and the direction that is largely at fault here. The transgender story was the only one which had some merit. Other than that, I think this series is totally avoidable. There are a lot more, much better made, entertaining series out there that one should rather spend their time on. (3.5/10)
Labels:

Comments

Hedgehog said…
Just because Filipino BL is beginning to become a hit in the Philippines. Doest mean they’re allowed to produce a series that doesn’t have any substance. Those series who put a lot of effort giving a good story , great acting despite having a low budget will be drag down with these kind of series which aim is only to sell it’s product regardless of it’s quality. I totally going to avoid this one.
February 13, 2021 at 9:43 AM
Golu said…
Agreed. But then by for every couple of good ones, it is bound to happen that we will get some really bad ones too
Unfortunate reality sadly.
February 13, 2021 at 2:41 PM
Gerald from France said…
Thank god we have someone to watch and review !
March 1, 2021 at 5:40 PM
Golu said…
Happy to help
March 1, 2021 at 6:58 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Drug Shore (Chinese)

By Golu
Apparently tis film was adapted by a true story Well, true or not, movies/series about drugs are not easy to watch. I have always said that drugs is like the end of life for anyone. For those who sink into this sea of addiction, some manage to swim upstream to recovery, while others cannot make it to the shore. The film may not be the best, but it does have a noble intention to remind everyone of the evil affects of drugs and combining that with sex. Ah Zhe is in a happy relationship with his influencer boyfriend. On his partner's birthday, they end up going to a party, which interestingly is being hosted at a drug dealer's house and this is where for the first time he is exposed to the world of drugs. The duo somehow do it just enough and come back home but next day Ah She gets invited by the dealer Xiao Fei for a meal. The dealer has a soft corner for Ah Zhe, but before anyone realizes, Ah Zhe's life spirals out of control when slowly he starts doing more and more drugs, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sei no Gekiyaku (Japanese) [Dangerous Drugs of Sex]

By Golu
Every person has their own unique way of dealing with loss. This film is as much a psychological thriller as it is a soft porn BDSM portrayal of two young men that makes the film overall horrifying as well as humane. It is really hard to describe the genre of this film in one word. Its important not that the film has some really disturbing scenes so if you go into seeing this film, please proceed with caution. Although any sexual non-consensual activity is not ok, this film has its won strange way of showing that suicide is not the only solution to all life's problems. Makoto is a regular office goer, who just finds out that his girlfriend is probably cheating on him. ON top of it, his parents sudden death coming back from a trip that he forced them to take, he gets completely dejected and decides to commit suicide. Unknown to him, he is saved by mysterious man Yoda Ryoji, and he wakes up finding himself tied up in leather and belts in a very BDSM setting. This mysterious saver soo...
3 comments
Read more

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

By Golu
Continuing with the weird trilogy of "The Shortest Distance", I am so glad that finally I am done with part 3 and won't have to deal with this again in future. Thankfully, as of now the makers have not announced any further parts; which will save all of us on this earth from the embarrassment of watching this in near future. After the first 10 minutes are used in sort of recapping bits of first two parts, the story moves forward. Haruto is now starting to have feelings for Ruka, the mysterious pole dancer from second part. In a fit of rage, Ruka ends up killing the goat man and to save him and Haruto, Shibahara asks them to go underground. Meanwhile Shibahara continues the search for Seiya (the guy who had cut off Haruto's penis). It turns out Seiya is now also taking care of the original club owner from part 1. Both of them were released after they had informed Shibahara of Aoyama's secret location. Shibahara tortures Seiya's boyfriend leading to Seiya killin...
5 comments
Read more