Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

If you read a basic pitch of this series which said "A cat and dog crossed a rainbow bridge, but came back as humans!", I would have reacted with a WTF!. But thankfully before I started watching the show I had no idea what's is about, so I went in with zero knowledge or expectations and this turned out to be. Pleasant surprise for many reasons. Firstly with 11 episodes with a runtime of about 10-16 minutes each, its an easy watch. Secondly, the extremely charming cast and their personalities are so adorable. All four major characters get to indulge in some beautiful and playful banter, and a lot of cozy and cute scenes.  Jungwoo is a single man who lives alone. He works at his uncle's cafe as a waiter. One day, Jungwoo arrives home to discover two unfamiliar men at his doorstep. They introduce themselves as the humanoid forms of his pets, Choco and Milk. Choco, his dog, is now a hyperactive young man bursting with puppy-like enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Milk has become a mo...

Just when I was wondering that 2022 gave us just one gay Christmas holiday film, I stumbled upon this film that was telecast on Lifetime channel. But, you know, I also realized that a lot depends on the mood and time when you watch a film. I am very sure had I seen this film just two weeks back at the peak of Christmas spirit, I would have been ok with things being shown in the film, but as it stand out, I just couldn't help but notice glaring flaws in everything that was unfolding in front of me. And I feel bad, because Christmas films are usually about holiday spirit, and its the same thing that made this film so over dramatic and lousy at the same time for me. The story is simple. The film is about a group of six estranged friends, who are brought together for one last Christmas to celebrate the passing of a beloved elderly friend, Ms. Marley. The group consists of a rich back couple, two friends running a new digital marketing company together, a guy working in city office and ...

This funny rom-com kinda BL series could have been a lot more better. It I snot to say that this show is not good. In fact, I personally quite enjoyed it, but there were many places I felt it could have been even better. The romance build up between the leads left a lot to be desired, but thankfully the comic elects were fun. So, depending on your expectations and how to end up watching the show, I would say as a romance genre, the show leaves a lot to be desired but it does score in its comedy elements. The show has 8 episodes of about 22 minutes each average. Mamoru is an artist, who draws steamy BL manga and his erotic art has earned him many fans. One of his best friends from college, a girl named Yamada, is his best friend, his assistant and the only one who truly knows his secrets. But as a personality, Mamoru is a loner, doesn't like to hang out with anyone and in general just forever annoyed with everything. His only wish is to continue tone on "Wall Circle", a pl...

Elephant is the English translation for the Polish word “slon”. It’s a curious name for a film about a gay character living near the mountains in Southern Poland. There is no elephant per se in the film, except for a small figurine that serves as a symbol of the love that develops between the lead and another guy, who returns to the small community after 15 years when his father dies. 22-year-old Bartek runs a small horse farm in the mountains in Southern Poland. He dutifully looks after his possessive, depressive, ungrateful mother, who has been in a constant state of breakdown ever since his father left them when he was much younger. His sister has run away to Norway with her boyfriend. One day their middle-aged neighbor dies, and his son Dawid comes to the village for the funeral, who had left home 15 years ago. He is now a musician. Bartek becomes fascinated by Dawid and his recklessness. At first the two do not get along but slowly a friendship develops and before you law the two ...

This is a collection of gay themed short films released way back in 2002. I am very surprised that I had not seen any of these in the multiple rounds of short films that I keep watching (maybe I did see Boychick, but I am not sure), so stumbling upon this one was quite fun. All five feature films have interesting stories. The acting and production values are more variable, but still acceptable overall. Tom Clay Jesus - A one night stand between Tom and Clay which goes nowhere until Jesus enters the picture. Fun is that Jesus happens to be Clay, only there months later, whom Tom fails to recognize. The film looks at a New York area tryst-romance from three perspectives. People want to be loved for themselves, whatever that might mean. Boychick - A Jewish high-school student in Los Angeles recruits his dream female celebrity performer to help him win the attention of the buff debate team champion. There is a long end credit section that tells "where they are now". Audit - A ...

A Japanese high school love story about two boys who start dating, but who also wanna keep this relationship hidden from everyone. The show is actually pretty basic with some very plain and moody characters and a paper thin plot where the conflict is mostly  about Takara and Amagi dating vis-a-vis how the larger social group treated their dating. I wanted to like the show and I did in parts but in the end felt like meh. At 8 episodes of about 23 minutes each, the duration was the only saving grace. Takara and Amagi are high school students in same class. Takara is popular and constantly gets compliments from girls, while Amagi is just a regular lad but a happy go lucky kid. Of Latem the boy boys have been throwing secret glances at each other and one day after school, Amagi suddenly confesses his feelings to Takara on how much he likes him. To his surprise, Takara agrees to be his boyfriend. They begin dating, but their unlikely relationship remains a secret from the rest of the sc...

Too often, queer audiences are told that they are imagining queerness where none exists. That unless a character, relationship, or scenario is overwhelmingly confirmed as queer (and sometimes even then), it must not be so. But it does exist. And queer fans can spot it from a mile away. As Shudder’s incredible documentary Queer for Fear: A History of Queer Horror leads us magnificently through the many facets of queerness and its place in horror’s history, it also underscores this crucial point. This is a 4 part documentary, each of about one hour. Episode one tackles the early queer literary influences on the horror genre, including Mary Shelley, Oscar Wilde, and Bram Stoker. Episode two continues into Old Hollywood horror, opening on the films of gay director James Whale, who made iconic monster movies like the original Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, and moving into Hitchcock movies like Rebecca, The Birds, Rope, and Psycho, including a long interlude about Anthony Perkins’ l...

At an outset, this film feels like a coming of age film about a 18 year old teenager struggling between his sexuality, his failing relationship with his father and him being secretly involve with his best friend. The very first scene f he film sets the tone when we see our protagonist Tom (not yet 18) climbing out of bed with two other men exploring his sexuality and also well aware that youth is on his side. The story is basic. Young Tom has a failing relationship with his father. We are not told exactly why, but I think t is to do with Tom's sexuality and as kid he used to dress up like girls. So one day, he gives an ultimatum that he should move out pf the house in 2 weeks. Tom works part time at a pizzeria. To the outside world and his friends, Tom pretends to be straight and interested in girls, but in reality he’s fallen hard for his best friend Gilad. But Gilad is in love with a girl who completes the trip of this best friends circle. One day Tom meets a photographer Rami on...

This random show on BRAVO tv came long time back. So watching it now feels very very dated. But sometimes these brainless shows can add some fun in an otherwise boring life. Clearly, not to be taken seriously and only for entertainment purposes. The makers come up with the most randomest reasons on why it is great to be queer and you just sit back relax and chuckle on absurdity of it all. This is list of reason they give. 19. So Many Ways To Be Gay 18. You're Hilarious 17. Showtunes 16. Fag Hags 15. Lesbians Look Great on TV 14. Scaring Straight People 13. Parades 12. Mommie Dearest 11. You Have The Best Names 10. Acting Gay Pays Off 9. LUGs (Lesbians Until Graduation) 8. Gaydar Has a Real Estate Function 7. Oscar Loves Gay Characters 6. Disco 5. You Get To See Everybody Naked 4. Cowboys 3. No Divorce 2. You Invented Everything 1. Cher We just see views and thoughts of some queer celebrities and comedians on this list (which personally I do think it is quite funny). At just about 5...

This series came during the covid times, a time when just making content wasn't the easiest thing to do. So, I definitely appreciate the hard work. But if I keep those feelings aside, this quarantine series is pretty basic and has absolutely nothing new or different to offer (except maybe the premise). The show has 8 episodes of 20-25 minutes each A virgin guy Reb is planning to meet JM, a popular discreet online personality in the virtual online world for a discrete hookup, agreeing to keep their ‘alter’ names and to remain masked throughout their encounter. Interesting Reb is not ready for a live session for audience and freaks out. Clearly they lack chemistry and Reb asks JM to leave. But as son as he leave, it turns out that the area has been sealed because of covid case and now JM is forced to stay with Reb for 14 days. Since they did not have a good start, initially Reb is reluctant but he allows it. Over the course of next 6 episodes, we watch them grow from enemies , to acq...

Fufu (Japan) Two guys, Tasuki and Yudai, have been together for many years. Now in the prime of their life, it is getting closer to the day that Yudai will say goodbye. The memories are flashing for them of their time spent together and how they met and spent their time completely madly in love with each other. They will be together even in afterlife. Check In Do Amor (Brazil Mini Series) Renan stays on the same date and in the same hotel room every year. The situation gets complicated when there is a mistake and he is forced to share the apartment with the stubborn Gio . Initially, they hate each other, but the forced approach leads them to show their fears, their weaknesses and to fall in love with each other. This was really badly acted and directed. Amateur films are probably done better. Avoid. Closed Doors (Canada) A lonely man in a cold world develops a relationship in the most improbable of ways. When the barriers are suddenly broken, he must himself and the outside face. To Ho...

There are time when the concept makes little sense from a logic perspective, but sometimes you have to keep your disbelief aside for. Amount and watch the show for its sensitive writing and portrayal and profound message about love and grief. This is a very unique (maybe a bit unrealistic) story which is in a way a haunting tale of unrequited love in a very different scenario. This 8 part Japanese series was a very good watch for me with only 20ish minutes of every episode. I am telling you that Japanese people have figured out how to make emotional gay/BL series with giving us something new every time without making me roll my eyes. And its a win. Koichi is cheerful and popular in the class. Mitsuru, a new student, is talented and not good at socializing. The two high school students are strongly attracted to each other due to their opposite personalities and Koichi literally forces himself on Mitsuru to be his friend. They become close and spend most time together including walking t...

How had I never heard or known about this? With a tagline that says 'Being gay is just the beginning', Being Brendo peers into the lives of five gay men, taking an in depth look at their lives, ups and downs, relationships, sexual escapades and daily living. Formerly known as "Queer as F**k" for the first six seasons, the show began as pilot project in 2010 to deliver sexual health promotion via short webisodes on Social networking sites to gay men, in a collaboration between the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre, Burnet Institute, University of Melbourne and X:MACHINE Productions. The project aimed to engage audiences in online discussion, to explore how social networking sites can be used to promote sexual health. The makers decided to rename the show to make it clearer and to name it something more original and less similar to the popular UK and US TV show of the same name (a little too late, IMHO) The show started with three friends Brendo, Aaron ...

I am clubbing two seasons into one post because each season had just 2 episodes each of about 15 minutes. And honestly, if the show was any good, I would have thought of maybe splitting into two posts, but the show is so amateurish and basic and feels more like a school project, that I should not rate my time too much. MIco and Henry are 2 friends in countryside. Henry has no family and Mico and his family is everything t I him. WIth passing time, Mico decides to go work in the city and this breaks Henry's heart. Henry confesses his love for him and asks him to stay but Mico likes him only as a friend. But one day when he sees another guy trying to kiss Henry, Mico suddenly has feelings for him and they decide to become a couple. A few days later a very much in love Mico leaves for the city. In season 2, we see that they are happy in their long distance relationship and Mico plans a surprise for Henry by randomly showing up. Henry then wants to make their relationship public by tel...

This show is hands down one of the best, powerful emotional and real drama focusing on relationships in a subtle yet very sensitive manner. The writing of the show is immaculate and what a brilliant cast. This sophisticated story is masterful at navigating the blurry lines between friendship, romance, and family. Some may say that this is not a conventional BL story, but I say that you won't get a lovelier lovely gay love story which is so much more than just two men in love for each other. This show is an experience and I am sure I will not be able to do justice with my writing with everything that I felt while watching the show over a few days. It has 10 episodes of almost 30 minutes each. 16 year old high school girl Mieko lives with her ever busy mother and has abandonment issues and never wants to be in love with any man, especially when her ex boyfriend physically assaults her one night. That night she meets Makki, a schoolmate of hers and literally forces himself to take car...