All posts by PPBongi

“Indigo Reimagined” Series Review (Ep.1 to 7)

I know my reviews of these floundering BL series perhaps are a bit too heartfelt, but I have great admiration for struggling productions which are making an effort to tell a story in its own way, no matter what the obstacles. So, therefore, I am willing and do indeed overlook many of the production flaws so that we can understand what motivates and drives these creations- a belief in themselves and an effort to tell a story with sincerity and commitment. Indeed, that is what this series is. It is a surprisingly intense BL series full of real people with genuine problems told perhaps a bit over dramatically. But as uncomfortable as the story is, there is nonetheless an underlying veracity to its message.

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“Grand Guignol” Movie Review

Wow! What a ride this movie is! Be warned, however. This movie is a ‘hack-and-slash’ gory romp of blood and guts. So, if this is not your thing, I suggest you do not watch it. Even though I generally dislike these types of movies, I loved this one because it is so Avante-Garde. Despite what you might imagine, while it is a gay-themed movie, there is no romance here, however. Certainly not a BL by any stretch of the imagination. It is just sensual.

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“My Plantito” Series Review (Ep.1 to 7)

I really, really wanted to like this series. With every fiber of my being, I was hoping it would come through at the end with something to make me like it; but it just did not. This manifests more like an ‘afternoon school special’ or a Hallmark movie. Seemingly sweet, cute, and feels adorable and you think has a point, but it really does not. It is all so superficial. It started out much like a light romantic BL with catchy music to draw you in, assuming this will be cheery, light-hearted, and charming. Unfortunately, this series is self-absorbed, unromantic, and honestly, irritating. Save one character, the rest of them are rather shallow individuals.

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“Pure Vanilla & Pure Vanilla: Recipe for Romance” Series Review

Sometimes, something comes along that is so unexpectedly good you find yourself quietly saying. “Wow. This can’t be!” And if you watch these two objet d’art together, which will take you just around 32 minutes out of your day, it may become the most feel-good moment of your day. It might put a smile on your face, perhaps help you feel a little less jaded about what is happening in the world, and maybe, just maybe make you believe in sweetness again. And it does so within the context of trays of desserts. Effortlessly, it becomes a full-fledged BL and with more sincerity than most BLs do with their constant theatrics and feigned setups. It is also done with a gentleness and softness that is almost imperceptible until you feel its results at the end.

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“Dangerous Romance” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

Yet again, another Thai BL that, one, doesn’t live up to its expectations, and two, does not live up to its title. This was a typical formulaic standard, trite, and tropey BL that I could have written even if I were in a coma. It is pretty much epigonic. Only the names were changed.

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STAY Captures the Heart of the San Pedro International Film Festival: Meet Its Creators

Recently, the San Pedro Film Festival was held in one of the most beautiful and majestic art deco old movie theaters in the whole of the Los Angeles area. Built in the 1930’s, the Warner Grand Theater, funded by the Hollywood mogul Jack Warner way back in the day, is located in the port city of San Pedro. San Pedro feels like an isolated area of Los Angeles as it sits far from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and Los Angeles itself. But it continues to remain a thriving and very diverse community. Once a year, it features a film festival for short films of diverse backgrounds. This year one of the more interesting BLs for 2023 was chosen to be honored. That was “STAY”, which stars Sebastian Castro as Andre and Ellis Gage as Joshua in a contemporary and perhaps distinctive love story, yet all too common for a city like Los Angeles. I reviewed this series and enjoyed it considerably when it came out. But there is something still so magical about seeing films on a big screen with the booming sound, and forgive me, eating popcorn.

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“Be Mine SuperStar” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

If you spend more than a nanosecond of time analyzing this series, you will find it so logically implausible with the story so full of holes that literally makes no sense, it will make your head spin. But if you watch it merely for pure entertainment value and put yourself on the couch with ‘Grandma’ and watch it as a Soap Opera, you will love it. I loved it, so I guess I sat next to Grandma. (You will get the reference if you watch the series. I do wish she had a bigger role. She was so entertaining). In general, there are two main characters, two more or less minor characters, and a slew of supporting characters, one of whom really steals the series, while others should have been written out of the series or actually never written in.

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“Be My Favorite” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

This story is one of the most remarkable BLs in redefining the concept of what love is or at lease perceived, especially how we see it between men. It re-conceptualizes its beauty, enhances its endurance, redefines intimacy, and solidifies the virtue of a relationship. And it does this all through the magic of fantasy. This narration broke down all the traditional stereotypical Thai BL stories and told a saga so deeply personal and profoundly moving that you became a part of its journey.

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