All posts by PPBongi

Vietnamese Reviews

“Under the Oak Tree” Series Review (Ep.1 to 10)

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This series, without wanting to sound hyperbolic, is in an instant classic category and in essence prototypical. It is one of the most remarkable BLs I have ever seen or perhaps will ever see. It is that good. It is certainly unique. True to Vietnamese BLs, it is a series that digs deep into the internal onuses of humanity and its various components of human passions. I have stated this before and shall state it again. Some of the finest, if not the finest BLs come from Vietnam. They tell deeply insightful stories of humanity that have heart and aspiration and tell it in a way that underlying it all is still the message of hope. And they tell these stories in ways that if we listen and observe, can help us change to become better individuals. The narratives are just remarkable.

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Thai Reviews

“Love Sea” Series Review (Ep.1 to 10)

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This series is exceptional, surprisingly. I was not expecting it to affect me as deeply as it did, but one had to frankly get through a lot of cacophony to get to the story. But once you did, and evaluated that, it was much deeper than most viewers, I think, realized. It honestly left me emotionally drained. This series, I felt.

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Thai Reviews

“Wandee Goodday” Series Review (Ep. 1 to 12)

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This series is a dichotomous BL, bordering on being oxymoronic. Sometimes brilliant then slipping into utter banality. Occasionally poignant but mostly filled with mundane trite tediousness. Sporadic displays of serious adult behaviors but mostly overshadowed with adolescent/pubescence behavioral patterns acting like petulant teenage children instead of adults in a serious sexual relationship. Occasional story lines eliciting tears and then in the next dialogue nothing but endless dribble of cliches and platitudes. In other words, not generally reflecting real life but an idealized sanitized world peppered with a whisper of reality and an occasional homage to authenticity. The best word to describe this series is: puffery. I simply had a hard time relating to this story.

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Movie Review

“The Blue Hour” Movie Review

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This is a serendipitous find and what a find it is. Sometimes one needs to go back in order to proceed forward. Admittedly, this is a movie that goes way back and by today’s standards in the BL world might be considered ‘old’ and maybe thought of as remote. Its reviews were less than stellar, which is incredulous, and I think based on a misunderstanding of what this movie was all about. I hesitate to reference it as a BL, however. More aptly, it certainly is a gay film. A gay film highlighted by elucidations from the inner thoughts of a mind of a tortured young gay boy, struggling with his ‘coming out.’ If you see it as that, it will have more meaning.

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Thai Reviews

“Only Boo” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

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This is a Thai BL that frankly stands out for me. I had almost given up on Thai BLs because of their unoriginal story lines and sameness. Frankly, they were getting banal. And with the title of this one, it well sort of screamed out to me to skip it because of its vapidity. I am so glad I did not. I loved this series but with two caveats.

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Movie Review

“Spaceless” Movie Review

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In essence, this 20-minute short film imparts more than most BLs do in 12 episodes. Ironically, it also goes deeper emotionally than most BLs ever go as well. Additionally, it is one of the best acted BLs from Thailand I have seen in a long time. So, in that sense, this film is genuinely a paragon. As much as this is a gem, I rejected its subtle underlying message ardently and found it quite demoralizing as a gay man. Allow me to explain.

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Thai Reviews

“Two Worlds” Series Review (Ep.1 to 10)

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Frankly, it is irrelevant how many worlds this series had; even a half a dozen more would not have helped. It is just awful. I am sorry to say that as I so wanted to like this drama. However, this is again going to be one of those series that if you are a fan of the two leads (which I really am), you will perhaps enjoy this series. I tried, but for me the whole thing fell apart at the beginning- from the banal screenplay to production issues to vapid acting. All of it was just plain mediocre to subpar.

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