Henry Edward L
Miami Beach, U.S.A.
Like a shot of tequila, just swallow: it will make you feel good.
If you’re reading this is because you want to watch this movie. Right? So, what can I tell you that doesn’t keep you from it? Something short and sweet: this movie is fun, homespun and delicious. Don’t over analyze it… take it in stride! Nothing in it makes any sense outside of this… “Six guys in love in a world where there is no girls”... LOL. Like a shot of tequila, just swallow: it will make you feel good.But since to post a review you must comply with certain specs… let me add:
The plot is entertaining. It is written to populate fifteen minutes of film, times ten, and keep you happy - so you come back. The acting is whimsical… no Oscars here; but, endearing… you will love these characters and want to bring them home to Mama. The music is sweet, like the plot is sweet, and the acting is sweet. This movie is like a cake with extra layers of puffed sugar. And the rewatch value is high… because, after all, who doesn’t like to be happy? That’s why you call happy people gay.
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The story is very well done; with a tight script and a very natural dialogue... it does not sound contrived or clichéd as in so many of these serial productions. As a matter of fact, for a series so short as this one (only four episodes), the scriptwriter has done extremely well; to the point where the twist and revelations he or she inserts at the end of the series are among the best I have seen inside this category of movies. Truly excellent - it is my favorite part of the whole undertaking.
The acting is also very good; with as good a set of lead actors as their supporting cast. The chemistry between some them, especially the lead characters, is part of what makes this movie so enjoyable.
The rewatch value is very high for two reasons: it is a short series that one can watch inside of but a few hours. Bust also because the plot is complex enough that the nuances will soon be forgotten and you will be able to enjoy it as much as you did the first time when you see it again in but a few years time.
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Story wise the plot is as silly as any plot can get; even for a BL drama. But remember, BL dramas are silly by nature (in a good way); meaning by that, that there is a great deal of cute and languishing looks in the movie, sweet and warm hugs, the tantalizing presence of unrealized furtive kisses, and gay weddings with the enthusiastic participation of all of their straight male friends... you know, the kind of thing that does not really happen in a mostly uncompromisingly heterosexual world. Therefore, if there were a category for ‘escapism’... boy!, this movie would be a 10... LOL!
The acting is what can be expected of teenagers in front of a camera, some of whom are there for their looks and with very little training in the histrionic arts. But, again... you don’t come here for the acting; you come here for the fun, and to see something cute and smile at the twists and turns of a fantasy come true. Therefore, given the premises, the acting is acceptable with regards to the teenagers. The adults are a different story, with special attention to be paid to Tee’s mother, the actress Chanokwanun Rakcheep - she did an excellent job.
Rewatch value is really low on this movie, however - to no surprise, I hope. I mean, the budget for the movie was so low, they could not even rent a real mansion to film Tee and his family. The house’s interior ended up looking more like the inside of a store, a shop, or a storage room with a collection of haphazard furniture thrown together.
Overall, however, there was very good chemistry between the two main couples: Mork and Tee, and Mork’s little brother Morn and his friend Gord. As a matter of fact, I was impressed by how well the younger couple carried their roles. The story is entertaining, though it has a couple of quirky moments; sadly however, the script was a little untidy and the editing left a great deal to be desired.
But if you’re not here looking for Oscar material, and if your purpose is to relax and enjoy a collection of happy, fairy-tale-like moments intertwined with a counter dose of sad ones... this is for you! I had a good time watching it although I would not see it again for the life of me. Rewatch value in his case is zilch… BUT, that doesn’t mean anything since, in spite of it shortfalls I had a good time watching it... ‘once’. In the end, the cute factor saved the movie for those of us who want to get silly every now and then and reach the end of a gay movie without a sour aftertaste and with the reward of happy ending.
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Just enjoyable... (don’t look to deep)
Sooooo... how do you enjoy a series like this? Well...I grew up in a cattle ranch. Some days I felt like riding a horse; and some other days I rode a donkey. And I never took the donkey for the horse, nor the horse for a donkey... LOL!
There in lies the secret: take this series for what it is! This is a feel-good-flick, with no agenda, no esoteric message, and no aim other than to make you feel good (and make a lot of easy money for the producers, of course). The series is formulaic, predictable, and utterly simple - it is the Corn Flakes of cereals... lol. This is no Shakespeare, and better even: it is not pretending to be.
The plot is silly but happy; the acting is relaxed and happy; the music is boringly happy, and I am happy to say that having seen it once... you may want to see it again.
Ps. The series has not ended yet. But: I ‘CAN’ predict the ending... ???...!
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WARNING!!!
However, the Vimeo website clearly indicated... languages: Korean and English... and I trusted them! But to our surprise, when I started up my home theater to watch this movie I discovered the english subtitles only appear on my iPad, and computer and not on the home entertainment screen in front of my friends.
Happily, me and my friends do not watch movies on iPads with earbuds while riding the bus, or at the school library.
Sadly, we do not speak Korean either and relied on the website’s description of services believing its subtitles would be available on t.v. monitors and large screen systems.
Therefore, we have had to make different plans for our afternoon of fun and relaxation, now lying by the pool on a drafty and overcast day where chilled wine makes absolutely no sense; thank you. This was NOT a very pleasant beginning for what has turned out to be a very short commercial engagement.
We obviously watched the short with a Korean friend present who translated the dialogue; but, I will never again purchase any other film from Strongberry Productions or Vimeo. I do want to warn future viewers who purchase a copy of this movie (who do not enjoy the pleasure of speaking Korean) that you will have to watch it within the small confines of an iPad… which is perfectly fine for some, but not for others, and should have been specified in the Vimeo website.
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The plot is particularly elaborate, with a couple of twists and turns that will keep the viewer enthralled most of the time - though it does break down on occasion; but in all fairness one never knows if this is the result of bad editing, writing or censorship of some sort. The movie nonetheless, remains interesting enough to retain one’s attention in an effective build up towards a surprising ending.
The acting is perhaps what leaves the most to be desired; with the exception of the actors Ting Xuan Huang and Charles Lin, both of them credited as supporting characters but holdings large roles. The two main characters, on the other hand, do not live up to the parts they play, especially the extraordinarily handsome Ting Yun Wang - who is always striking a pose. The actor Aric Chen, who plays Su Hai Qing, is also a disappointment.
Another drawback in an otherwise interesting movie is the poor quality of the mise en scène components. A super rich top executive driving an old Audi in need of wax polish? LOL (and what is with his suits making a perfectly good looking heartthrob look like a stooge?).
On the more positive side, I must mention that the lesson learned from Chen Ping Jun’s (played by Ting Xuan Huang) actions at the end of the movie are a lesson in what true love is really all about. The ending is what made the movie a movie I won’t forget.
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And then all hell broke loose: with too much concentration around Noh and Phun, which dragged on forever. All of it at the cost of what could have been very fulfilling sidelines... mainly, Pang and Pop, Ohm and Mick, and Win, Per and Mark. These were left hanging never reaching an end.
You will enjoy the first half of the drama very much. After that, it drags on and leaving all sorts of loose ends reaching the most unsatisfactory final episode I have ever seen.
Acting is good. Music is better and rewatch value is an absolutely negative -1. XD.
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“Is this the time to say that, you FAG?”
I know a translator’s slip should not spoil one’s fun, and I have tried to remain fair about the whole thing. BUT, I must admit, it was a shock and a disappointment. Actually, I was hurt and for that reason pissed off and do not know of any other way to vent my frustration than to express my feelings here.
In America and Europe the term ‘fag’ is the most derisive, insulting and humiliating hate-term you can use against a gay person. Shame on the translators and shame on anyone responsible for allowing such hateful speech on public television. To the translator of this insult I would like to say, “this world belongs to all of us - so get used to it”.
I hope the ignorant person who did this will grow a heart and learn to consider the terrible impact this word will have on young minds... including gay kids, and gay-friendly kids. After getting punched like this in the middle of a supposedly safe LB series, many vulnerable-gay ones will learn to hide even more, while the gay-friendly will learn to be less friendly.
Words are like swords: they cut!
As to the rest of the series, I found it very entertaining and well made; the chemistry a little off balance, though, with the character of Kongpob taking most of the credit. I was, nonetheless, enjoying myself up until that moment when I got slapped in the face by the unfortunate translation. I must confess I stopped watching at that point and proceed to declare it so in this here review. This is a ‘partial review’ of a good series spoiled by an ignorant translator that injected it with venom.
Ps. To the translator... I am a grown person who can take this and more; but, think of the young ones, you prick!
(Apologies to all of the rest).
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