I can say that this movie is my very emotional one, because of the plot line that really hit me and the back in time part is the best where the story really started it is very remarkable. I give this movie a perfect score because I really think that this is a perfect movie.
The one that I really like in this movie is the Actors acting skill at first I really like Dew's acting skill and I'am really thrown away for his role and for Pom I really like him for his role (Adult) I'm amazed that my emotional health right now is keeping me awake!!! AAAHHHHH. I'am very thankful that I watched and learn about this movie.
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I found it very intriguing this movie, it most definitely captured my attention in the beginning with the concepts of gay being taboo and the 'gay camps' and how it secretly related to our main actors. I wish it spent more time drawing the emotional ties to the main character because as soon as Phop ran away from home the time-lapse jumped to him being a grown man with a woman whom he was dating and having a job at his old school. Now that I've finished the movie I understand what that section of the movie was alluding to but it felt like I was watching an entirely different movie, the grown Phop was an amazing actor but it just seemed like it completely abandoned the story in the beginning. I loved the idea of Dew being reincarnated into the actor Lui even though she is a minor in high school and the physical barrier that separates them is legally enforced, regardless of who Lui is psychologically and emotionally. Overall it was a good movie, one of those movies that have you waiting until the end to understand everything. Was this review helpful to you?
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I didn't watch the movie this was adapted from so I won't be judging this as an adaptation but as an original piece on its own.STORY. The story was beautiful, but really hard to put up with to be honest. Like it just hurt too much, I hate sad gays I only want happy gays! But apart from that it was well written, the pace and structure was great and I don't have much criticism except for the fact that yes, the teacher/student relationship is a bit icky. Frankly though I expected it to be much worse and I actually found quite respectful, though they could've written Liu as an 18 years old and it wouldn't have changed anything. But thankfully there was no kiss or more inappropriate scenes and even though they act like a couple in the last few scenes of the movie, I didn't find it too disturbing. Would've way preferred if she was 18 but I'll let it slide.
ACTING. The acting was so damn good! I came for Ohm, as I think a lot of people did too, and he did not disappoint one bit. It's beautiful to see how much he has grown as an actor since the Make It Right days, He already demonstrated his growth in He's Coming To Me but I feel like this movie pushed him even further, and he was just so good as Dew. Anyways I love Ohm we stan him he's so cute! But the rest of the cast did an amazing job as well, there was no bad performance and I really could empathize with almost all the characters. The acting was just perfect in my opinion so I've got nothing more to say.
THE MUSIC. It was good, not ground-breaking or anything but I obviously like the older thai songs that helped anchor the first part of the movie set in the 90s. And I especially loved the last song of the show on which the movie ends, it was really full of emotion and made me cry so it did a really good job.
REWATCH VALUE. I'd say it's not a movie I'd watch every month because it's just quite sad but I can already tell I will rewatch this movie at one point or another. It's so densely packed with feelings that I feel as though it's the kind of movies you need to rewatch multiple times to fully be able to enjoy.
OVERALL. The director did an incredible job for this, every frame of this movie is absolutely gorgeous and I really feel like no scene is wasted at all. Every scene furthers the plot beautifully without being too undeveloped or, on the contrary, made to feel too important. While the movie lasts almost 2 hours, it honestly felt like only one and that's pretty rare for me to say that. I greatly enjoyed this movie, I honestly already want to rewatch it even though it will hurt me too much but I'd recommend it to anyone who can handle sad gays! A really good surprise :)
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Just No
If it weren't for Ohm and for the acting in this series I would have given it a 0 rating!I watched this movie because some people were saying it was good and had good acting. I wanted to watch it mostly for Ohm who did an excellent job as expected. But I must applaud the entire cast who where all good actors.
However, the story and the message behind it is just terrible. We jumped back to the point in which it says that, 'if you're in a gay relationship, you'll have a bad ending. If you're in a straight relationship, whatever mess your relationship may be, it will have a good end.'
I'm sorry but I absolutely HATED the story. They could have easily made Dew reincarnate as a guy but seeing as that wouldn't convey the above message, they didn't.
To anyone who wants to watch, just watch the first half. It's not wirth it to watch the rest of the story.
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the story was so messed up. why did they choose female character just to be dew's reincarnation? being gay in homophobic society then Phop dated young student. they didn't accept it either so what's the point? what's different tho?honestly, the reason i watched it because ohm pawat and his performance was so good, he is dew. but the end the movie wasn't dew anymore. I mean, I get it ok but come on ohm pawat deserved get something better from this movie periodt
i mean why they didn't make dew movie full of gay rather than choose female characther to be dew's reincarnation hmm
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The trailer was very compelling and I expected a better story than this. I didn't watch the original version and I came into this with a clean slate.The good:
The story started in 1996 with the 2 boys and setting being in the 90s was spot-on. I loved the little references like the Walkman, the cassettes tapes, the beeper etc. The acting of leads, Dew and Pop, was really good too. I loved how they portrayed the innocence as well as the confusion of young love in a time where there was so much discrimination against homosexuals. A few conflicts were a little bit cliched like the strict Chinese family and the gossip in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Although for me it made it more realistic which I appreciate. The cinematography was superb as expected from a CJMajor entertainment production.
The bad:
They made poor resolutions to connect the past to the present. I think they were going for the "love exists in forms" feel but it was inappropriately executed. This is just my opinion, but I didn't like the teacher-student bit in the older version of Pop. The actor and actress lacked chemistry, it made me feel uneasy. The younger version of Pop and Dew were pretty convincing although I think the build-up towards the crossing-the-line-from-friends-to-lovers was a bit weak. I wasn't entirely invested in their relationship yet. The overall story-telling needed polishing and timing.
Overall: Does not have a rewatch potential. Watch it if you want your mind to be boggled. I wish the 2 young leads will have a future project together.
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Well done. Confusing message.
This is a powerful movie, but could be triggering for those who have experienced intense trauma.The acting is generally great, good cinematography, pacing is generally perfect. The story is a bit problematic.
Major spoilers below. If you haven't seen the movie, STOP READING THIS NOW! Come back and re-read afterwards if you are confused or want to get a different opinion.
I had trouble figuring out what the purpose of this movie was. The plot is clear, the problem is the message. There are small messages along the way that are true enough:
People still treat each other badly
People assume the worst about others motivations and actions
Some people are nicer than others
Misunderstandings are a big source of psychological pain
People suffer due to their inability to communicate
But the overall point seems to say that union with your soulmate is more important than life itself. To achieve this they create a sort of "forbidden love" situation. While there is some implication the couple will reincarnated together in a future life, giving into desire/longing is not something Buddhism encourages. A couple committing suicide are not necessarily going to be reincarnated as a couple, or even in the same realm.
It just seems like a couple of foolish lovers running away together to commit suicide because of societal judgement: "Forbidden but noble love". Some problems
(1) The "forbidden love" theme seems to be pedophilia. Setting up a parallel between gay sex and pedophilia is completely wrong. Because both behaviors are shunned by society doesn't mean they are equivalent. The issue with sex between adults and minors is an issue of consent and understanding. Sexual behavior between adults is an entirely different situation. And, BTW, Liu is actually 15 or 16. It is still too young to understand and make an informed decision, but not technically pedophilia.
(2) The couple could simply wait 2-3 years. Pob could have gotten a divorce in the meantime. In relationship timelines, this is nothing.
(3) If Liu is truly Dew, why end it at all? Because Dew is now a female? Because of the age difference (25? years).
The two could go on existing together in the current life. So maybe if they die together, they'll get reborn as a gay couple and solve the age difference at the same time?
For me, the "forbidden but noble love" theme doesn't work at all.
I'd like to see the same first arc, but a totally different second arc where Pob is processing his grief and sense of loss, especially together with Orn. Loss is a universal human experience and life is often complicated.
Finally, if you have any personal experience with suicide, you'll know nothing about it is romantic, heroic or noble.
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1ST HALF STELLAR ! 2ND HALF HOT MESS
Giving it a 7 because the first half of this morning was just stunning.... the minute the ages up the main character the story went downhill... the age gap between him and the girl was cringey to watch and I hated that he was reincarnated as a girl .... I think it's a bit ridiculous... I don't think the time jump was needed.. the story could have ended beautifully with his death and the reactions to it and I WOULD have easily given this show a 10.. ohm pawat is slowly becoming one of my favorite BL actors.. he adapts to his role so well in everything I'VE SEEN HIM Play.Was this review helpful to you?
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This is the reason why you shouldn't trust the movie's ratings all the time! The trailer was very misleading because you'll expect a normal slice of life, romantic, socially relevant, and emotionally appealing movie but it wasn't(partly)!
The movie showed a lot of issues in the beginning like how aids have caused stigma towards gay people, military camps for homosexuals, and teenage angst but the movie failed to use those to show the progress in their society. INSTEAD they proceeded to breaking the two main characters apart without explaining too much on what really happened and skipped to the present which is MANY YEARS after the first arc in which Dew died WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION and REINCARNATED AS A TEENAGE GIRL.
This is quite bothering because Phop is now a teacher and Dew's reincarnated version is his female student. There's quite an uneasy feeling when a grown old man seems to look at a teenage girl with intimacy.
For the positive side:
-aesthetically pleasing scenes
-camera work was good
-The character who played phop was good.
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HATED THE GENDER SWAP BUT NEVERTHELESS A STUNNING WORK OF ART...
Wow! I was absolutely captivated by this film! I felt my entire being drawn towards the screen, hanging on to every word and emotion! I decided to watch this movie due to Ohm Pawat (whose performance was good but I felt like he was trying too hard in his emotional scenes), but fell in love with the poignant story and the immaculate directing. The themes of regret, reincarnation, love and second chances all explored with great depth and feeling. I know that this film will stay with me for awhile and I am grateful to have experienced watching it.The only issue that I had with the film is the gender swap. Why did they decide to make the reincarnated Dew a girl instead of a guy? Was it to make it more palatable for general audiences? I'm guessing that that is the case, which is nonsensical because Love of Siam, the first Thai BL and one of the most popular Thai films, literally dominated the award season in its year.
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When the trailers for this came out last year I was so excited to watch it but now we are here and are disappointed with the story. The first part of the story was good but confusing in terms of the behavior of the students towards Dew even though some of the students were gay. Also, I don't know if some things were lost in translation because I thought the training camp was to "reeducate" the gay students and "turn" them straight and not a military like Phob's dad called it. Another annoying thing was that the story and some things that happened were just too convenient and I think some parts of the story were not effectively resolved (his wife). Furthermore, Dew's death was a stupid plot addition. Were they trying to say that a car will hit someone, stop, and then continue on to kill them? Seriously?In addition, it was quite disconcerting to see adult Phob with a 10th grader (16 years?). Lastly, was the ending just for shock value or to highlight that the "relationship" was doomed from the start or to finally rest in peace together as Phob probably wished he did.
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