Given (Japanese Series)

Musical gay genre, that too based on a manga!! I was intrigued, because this could go either way. Thankfully this show was not a complete disaster, as I was secretly expecting. It's a slow yet beautiful and gradual love story that develops between two of its protagonists while they learn to overcome their emotional wounds and grief through guitar and music. At 6 episodes of about 20-22 minutes each, this was an easy watch.

Uenoyama is a popular student who plays guitar and is also part of a band. One day when he meets Mafuyu, a recluse student sitting idle at school stairs, Uenoyama reprimands him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Mafuyu pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees invites him for a session with him and two other band members. The band realizes that Mafuyu has a deep sad voice and decide to make him lead singer, but something about Mafuyu keeps making Uenoyama attracted towards him. Slowly, we find about eye's past and his ex boyfriend who was everything to Mafuyu and how a small misunderstanding made the bf committee suicide. Through music, love and care from Uenoyama, Mafuyu will need to overcome his sorrow and Uenoyama will need to confront his own sexuality.

As much as the story is nice and cute, there is never an explanation on how and when the chemistry between the two boys developed. Was it the shy nature, was it the intrigue or something else? The series that way felt rushed. Uenoyama's character was never fully developed besides showing him a carefree guy who sleeps in class and bosses around with his sister. On the other hand you feel eye's grief although his monotonous dialogue delivery gets a bit annoying at times. A slight love hint was given about the flirting between the two other band members but that felt very forced and completely unnecessary. That could also have been easily developed into something. Acting by all is strictly ok. The story has a huge potential. It shows how music has the amazing power to bring people together and even heal wounds, but the harsh LGBT topics like suicide was not given the attention it deserved.

The series is easy to watch and at time uplifting as well, but lack of insightful message and average acting prevents it from becomes a better than a good show. (6/10)

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

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...

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

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...

One Summer Night (Korean)

I really wanted to like this film but for non native speakers, these movie leaves a lot to be understood and the way scenes were unfolding in front of me, I wasn't sure many times what was really going on. The story had potential button getting any back story on any of the characters limited my ability to empathize with any of these actors. Film starts with two North Korea military guys Yong Joon and Jae Sung having sex and they are caught red handed and they run. Three years later we see Yong Joon in Seoul leading a very mundane and poor life. He has a boyfriend Tae-Kyu, who is a weird guy. He is carefree, doesn't do any work and is completely emotional and financially dependent on Young Joon. In fact, even Yong Joon will go to any lengths to protect him , fend for him and taking care of him to the extent of even taking up prostitution. Suddenly one day Jae Sung appears in their life again. His motivation is not clear but it is obvious he wants Yong Joon back in his life, who ...

Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

Search This Blog