It is all about balance and whole a lot of pain...

In not so many fancy words, I think this movie is phenomenal! Why?

• Two hours flew by in a second

• Intimate scenes are so raw and believable, and just the way I want them. If someone can do a nasty yet sensual NC scene that makes your stomach turn is Japanese. This time, the scenes are going so well along the story. Lets be honest, many Japanese movies do have explicit content that can overpower the story, or, especially dramas can lack any kind of sexual or intimate content. This does not make them bad, I am just talking about how well Egoist is balanced compared to Japanese movies, and in general.

• I enjoyed the balance between letting it go and being polite and restrained. Overall movie has that. And all of that is very nicely packed and topped with a hint of luxury and poverty.

• The whole story about financial and emotional compensation left me deeply wounded, so at the end of my short review, I would say this is not a love movie, nor a romance. This is movie filled with love by the people who were severely damaged by life and their families and they did love and they did care, the way they knew how.

• I feel I cannot pick the pieces of my heart after watching this movie and that is not that bad. It made me feel something, it made me feel a lot actually.

Read More

Ok, this was a long ride. Before you read my review, I will need to tell you a few things that might explain this whole review better:

• I watched only a few Japanese dramas. 10% of them are the ones I did not like, not at all, and 90% are absolute pure love. No middle ground.

• I dropped Prism after the 1st episode, but I was persuaded to go back, and that was my 5th attempt to drop something. I failed, again. I am glad I returned. I am glad I waited months for subs, literally a month or slightly more between the episodes.

But what makes Prism so significant to me, and why I had to review it!? I will try to be as precise as possible:

FL is gentle, delicate, imperfectly perfect, and absolute sunshine. Which made her so strong and slightly unreal, but I loved how sometimes I wanted to b***ch about her, but she said and did everything right. Her character broke me.

Dialogues are very nice, very civilized, and very down to earth. Everything about this drama is down to earth. I love the explosion of emotions, but Prism gave me the needed balance.

I was scared, the whole time that the story would walk into some silly cliche, but it did not. Thank heavens, I would be so pissed otherwise.

I loved the aesthetic, a lingering feeling of undefined relationships, a mixture of love, friendship, reality, and sacrifice. The whole story about the perseverance of memory, past, and families really had a decent depth. And I do not believe everyone would see the beauty and the ugliness of a CHANGE.

This might not be the masterpiece, but this drama did something for me, hurt me a little, shook me a little, and made me feel something, which is just enough for me.

Read More

Just another too short Korean BL with too harsh reviews

The main reason I am writing this review is because I saw too many comments by many users who are really not happy with the ending. I am more than happy with the ending, I would end it even „worse“ if it was up to me, just because I have this unhealthy love for tragedy. My favorite BL is Make or days count, so you got the picture.

This is an average Korean BL, nothing that extravagant, nothing that bad. I kinda dived into it once it started and I liked where it was going, did not expect much I just loved the flow. It worked for me.

I loved
• Chemistry
• Aesthetics
• Story

I disliked
• Too short to develop characters, romance or anything really
• I feel that story was not told entirely (Denis)

This drama has serious potential for 2nd season but if you ask me (but after checking the comments I do not think that will happen), I am very happy with cute lingering ending. I love to let my imagination run wild.

Park Jeong Woo did an amazing job, especially in the last scene. I am no expert in acting but I believed him.

Read More

Classic Horror

Ok, this is just the genre I love. I strongly believe that only Asians can make - not that original, not that innovative horror...and make my skin crawl nevertheless. That is mostly the reason I am here, watching Asian masterpieces!

In my book this is classic.

There is something so cool about Thai horrors, probably the gruesomeness (which is not dominate in this story but they just had to have at least one or two disgusting visuals) all in the purpose of the story of course.

The length of the episodes, the overall length and the open ending, or not that open, if you know what i mean are just right. The story builds fast, no long unnecessary side stories and yet it is full of them.

I do not think I will re-watch it, but in case the 2nd season happens (which is so not necessary) I would give it one more go. It is perfect Halloween season watch. So if you like creepy October this can be saved for then.

Overall: Decent horror story, do not expect something out of this world, but you might me amused. I am rating it high because I enjoyed it a lot.

Read More

VERY SUBJECTIVE ABOUT THIS PIECE OF ART

I promised myself I will write subjective review about my first, and probably last romance.

I was foolishly seduced by the visuals and fell in love with the drama in first episode. It is BEAUTIFUL and UGLY and RAW and POLISHED, all at the same time. I am not joking it is really ART.

I loved everything about this drama except the ending. No matter how you define it I just could not see the option for the „happy (or bittersweet ending)“.

--- I need to point out that this is solemnly based on my personal preferences, so please avoid the hate if possible. ---

STORY/ENDING:
In my book happy endings tend to water down the story. Not all the time, but mostly. Overall if the script is so well written, and well made like really well made, I want to be happy with whole product. I expect more than I would expect from average dramas that I watch to kill time or to just escape the daily worries.

I really needed the balance.

The story was heavy but not unbearable so that final heartbreak would make me suffer in a manner I want to suffer. Like heavy, raw and unforgettable emotion. And that would make me sad and unexplainable happy and my Dearest would be probably one of my favs of all times. (I am in therapy no worries).

If the story was even sadder, more brutal and heartbreaking, happy ending might balance it out. I am not sure, this is just me...

SPOILER:
I do accept amnesia even though it can be explained, God that man was hit in the head like billion times... I just cannot deal with memory loss it is so unoriginal and it just does not fit. It is like a cheap patch on luxurious dress.

Of course my heart breaks for Ryang Eum but this scenario is realistic. I really loved that he was not just a loyal companion and childhood friend, his love was not mistaken for anything else. Ryang Eum loved Lee Jang Hyun, maybe all the wrong reasons were involved and maybe there is a pathological or toxic connection but at least it is acknowledged. Good one k-drama, good one.

WOMEN:
I loved, loved, loved female characters, all of them. The way they all managed to live in the world fill with misogyny, the way their lives were seen as less worthy but they carried the whole world on their shoulders. I really loved WOMEN in this drama. I want to say something deep but I just have pure love for characters, their differences and developments. So complex, so satisfying.

CONCLUSION:
There are so many happy endings drama, why couldn’t I just have this one?

Read More

Just another BL you could not wait to trash!

I have been waiting for this BL since the first time I saw Until we meet again. I honestly did not care much about UWMA, but I loved Team and Win so much.

Between us is classic BL, with all its unrealistic elements, and so on. The first few episodes were discussed widely weather the NC scenes were done properly. There was discussion about consent. In my humble opinion, and I am someone who had a few love affairs and even one-night stands, I think they are executed so well. The scenes are filled have passion, not love, carrying, understanding etc, just filled with pure lust and passion as sex between the friends with benefits usually looks like. I am not entirely in love with these scenes, because there are a few tempo moments that I do not dig but I will stop myself right there. As you can see, I can talk about it all day.

Let’s go back to the story:

• A few episodes were dragged and some were rushed
• I believe some scenes should be a bit less enthusiastic (I love Manow played by Sammy, but her scenes were too much for me and I am the definition of too much as a person if you get me)
• I cannot wait for the trend you-kissed-me-on-a-cheek-I-am-so-stunned to pass because the-last-night-you-had-your-tounge-down-my-throat-like-your-life-depended-on-it ...come on. I am fan of a classic BL fantasy, but I cannot wait for this one to fade.

With apparent flaws, Between us is still BL I will probably re-watch. I just love the boys and the chemistry. It made me feel good, Sundays were tolerable, and I got my sequel I wanted so bad.

I had to rate this high, SORRY NOT SORRY!

Read More

Wisdom of the gays

I finished this movie last night, and like always, I either forget what I have watched right away or it becomes something I need to analyze deeply. This movie is one worth analyzing. It is NOT masterpiece, visual effects are just too much and lame, but there is something more to that. I will try to keep it short!

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE:
• Visual effects
• Acting is average
• Lack of intimacy (and I do not mean bed scenes)
• Lack of chemistry (not entirely, just not enough)

THINGS I LOVED:
• Story, whole story
• Encounter with every character was a story of it's own and had a deep profound meaning, I just needed to look below the surface:
* Old gay couple with a 23 years long relationship and everything that the life brings is perfect metaphor for in sickness and in health,
*"Hungry" lesbian is a symbol of a struggle of being unaccepted by her family but willing to risk and do absolutely everything just to be with the person she loves,
*Lesbian in a hotel is a symbol of making a decision work vs love etc
• End, wonderful sad ending. Even though slightly unexplained I was into it. It has some space for personal interpretation.

OVERALL:
This movie is a rough diamond. As I am visual type of person, I can not get over the visual effects, but I can appreciate the tiny details like scents, and photography that is not bad at all. So if someone has time and money this movie screams for a remake, just make it less obvious and give more time for character development, include more LGBTQ+ characters and I guarantee you an awesome movie that can be worldly famous!

Read More

Another bitter-sweet Korean BL

I rated this show entirely based on my feelings. I was not fully focused most of the time, story did not stick to me and I know why. Way to little time for character development, way to little time for love story to develop and I truly wanted more. Of course, the story made me super sad, no matter I was not that invested.

Conclusion: This is one of those bittersweet Korean BLs. You can binge watch it, and maybe get better feel of it than I did, because I watched it two episodes a week. It is not waste of time. Music is nice. Idea semi-original but I as previously said, it is not waste of time.

Read More

Good but not great

I loved the show, I actually enjoyed the slow pace. The details are so vivid and very lovely polished. The end (last few episodes) were forced and not so well executed. If felt a bit weird and the great chemistry that entered the story was somehow lost for a moment. Like the drama that should highlight the series was artificial and I didn’t like it.

It is 2021 people show affection with more than a hug, it felt a bit restricted. But this is my personal preference, I love besides chemistry a little bit of passion 😀if you know what I mean. Overall undeniably chemistry between the leads from the start and very beautiful visuals execution of the story. Good but not great!

Read More

Too short yet...

I love the way it is made, kept my attention.

Too short for any real development.

On the artsy side, this movie leaves a space for interpretation and allows individual to finish it in its own imagination. Loved the colors, and the frames are interesting. I am not entirely sure about some editing, but overall it was really good. I felt the melancholia and depression lingering in the air and water so it really made me feel something.

I was half asleep but stayed awake till the end. That is really important information because I can sleep standing in a public transportation. I am not easily kept awake. Also as a huge water and swimming fan this was pleasing, because I do fell sort of cleanse when I am in water.

I think this could be very good movie (at least an hour long). I would totally make one lol

Read More

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May

It is short, sweet, and well executed, it might be a little gloomy and a bit confusing, but I think this is what is making this movie even more artistic.

How often do we have a story with a happy couple (long term happy couple)...with normal lives, striving for perfection, reaching their dreams...supporting each other, etc
And yes I understand being scared to tell your story. We all come from different backgrounds and many factors affect us. I think this short movie made me think about myself, 20+ minutes made me think more than I have imagined. I tried so many times to tell many stories, but never my own. Why is that?

This is why this is a good movie!

Read More

Unpopular opinion - I like it

I rarely have such a strong need to write the review. Today is that day. I will try to be brief and precise. Chemistry in this show is everything. I had that feeling in my gut all the time and the boys made me believe their acting. I loved how some of the issues were executed, some not so much, but it is like 70%-30%. I enjoyed the lack of intimate scenes (even though I am big fan of these), somehow every single scene had intense intimacy and I was fulfilled. I was surprised! I started looking Drake with totally different eyes. I believed him everything. Story overall was slow and then rushed and then slow....and I had a fear of really sad ending. I literally said to myself - I cannot handle sob story (again very huge fan of sexual and sad scenes) and somehow my wish was granted. It is not happy ending, but lets say a bittersweet one. One more thing, I would love in a year or two a remake of this story with a bit more depth and heavier issues that are only glimpsing in this story. But please keep Drake, I genuinely respect him so much!

Read More

Dived right in

After watching the 1st two episodes:

This is something that triggers all the most intriguing feelings in me. After watching these episodes I am all mushy in a billion different ways. But I will try to sum it up as short as possible:

Length - so we will probably have a bit more time for character development which is not so often in Korean BLs

Plot - I just find military comeback stories very interesting. Characters are mostly full of melancholy, or if I put it plainly, they are mostly depressed. So, starting all over again with a changed mindset sounds promising…

Characters - Full of insecurities and yet so brave…

After finishing it:

I loved the pace of the story, the music, the chemistry...

I did not adore the extreme mood change of the main lead because it seemed a bit rushed. However, I really love the way it ended. If it were me, I would make this into at least 12 – 50-minute episodes (like Koreans do with they romances) so nothing would seem sudden and rushed, and I would be able to enjoy it to the fullest.

Overall:
I am all ⭐️10/10⭐️ because my heart was in the right place, and the anticipation for every Wednesday was just fine by me. It made me excited and I am all about emotions that raise the heart rate!

Read More

Long review, just like the movie

I avoided this movie for SO LONG, to be honest, one of the reasons was – the movie is almost 3 hours long. I found it on youtube, uploaded ages ago, so the fact that it will be available at any time was one of the reasons I was not in a hurry. I watched Thai BL movies and series – so many of them, so the expectation from something made in 2007...they were very low. And some more new, and fresher were straight-up rubbish, let us be honest. So I avoided it a bit.
BUT... Once I started, I had that „Dew the movie“ vibe, even though they have absolutely nothing in common... I was shortly hooked and almost 3 hours passed like 45 minutes, and not a minute more. The weirdest thing is that I caught myself praying for a happy ending like a teenage girl that I am (definitely) NOT. And the ending was... well I tried to find the right words, and BITTERSWEET was something that fitted it perfectly.

What I loved:
• Acting, boys were great
• Music was fun. It is not my cup of tea, but it nicely followed the youth, the emotions, and the overall storyline

What I didn’t like:
• Some deep issues were merely touched so I would skip some details from the story if I do not have enough time to tell them with the depth that these details require
• Ending. I love the complexity of a tragedy or unfulfilled love. The whole concept of the one that got away, secret crushes, and all the forbidden loves type of stories are my jam. I like a bit of sadness at the end. But this time was different, either I was becoming super soft and emotional, or … the ending sucked.

I understand the symbolism of the Christmas ornaments etc…I just do not understand if this ending was intentionally made to be easier for the straight and homophobic audience, or what…
I love you, I told my mom I prefer boys, you love me back, I kissed you first…but I cannot be your boyfriend. Well, it might be a teen thing, again, it has been a while since I was in their skin experiencing my first gay crush…I might felt differently back then. I do not know!

CONCLUSION: I liked the movie, I am thinking about it. I think if the movies and the series that came after 2007 analyzed this story close enough there would not be bad series today. I felt like Love of Siam has a stronger story, stronger emotion, and the stronger impact than the tones of BLs that came after. Thankfully, that is changing now.

Overall, I can say that I would be proud that in 2007, in my country I had an opportunity to watch something that resembles Love of Siam. But that was not the case!

Read More

Dark and boring

I love "darkish" and explicit content, but I was not sold on this one. Both versions left an impact so I am here, writing a review, which happens only when I am deeply affected by something. Do not be fooled by the Noir or Blanc version, the are both really dark.

ACTING is good. Kisses are overall pornographic (I have seen more subtle kissing in some porn movies - I do not mind that). Scenes outside of the context can be defined as very sexual, super erotic and even hot.

STORY is not good. Everything is toxic, dark and not polished to look pretty (which can be defined as real, or raw). However I really didn't like it at all.

CONCLUSION: If you can digest explicit content with smudged boundaries between unethical or ethical, if you tolerate porn and a bit of violence and obscenity go for it. Everything would be okay if the story is okay. Story is not strong enough to hold all the insanity.

Read More